Jayden Seales: Decoding his crunch bowling stats in Tests
Albeit in a losing cause, West Indies pacer Jayden Seales produced a fine bowling display against South Africa in the 2nd Test match at Providence Stadium in Guyana. Seales, who took three wickets in the first innings, further tormented SA with figures worth 6/61 in SA's second innings. He has certainly been impressive in whites. Here we decode his crunch Test stats.
Nine wickets in the game for Seales
Seales trapped opener Tony de Zorzi early in the first innings before dismissing lower-order batters Wiaan Mulder and Kagiso Rabada for ducks. His efforts meant SA were folded for 160. In his second outing, Seales broke a 79-run opening stand by dismissing de Zorzi. Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Rabada, and Nandre Burger were his other victims.
Seales clocks his best figures in Test cricket
Seales recorded figures worth 3/45 and 6/61 in the game. The 22-year-old has raced to 62 wickets across 15 Tests at an average of 23.67. He picked up his second five-wicket haul in Test cricket in addition to registering his best spell. As per ESPNcricinfo, in four matches versus the Proteas, Seales has claimed 17 wickets at 21.76.
48 wickets at home
Playing his 11th home match, Seales has raced to 48 scalps at 20.85. Both of his five-wicket hauls have come on home soil. Seales finished the recently concluded series with 12 wickets at 18.08. In four away games, he has claimed 14 wickets at 33.35. Meanwhile, only Alzarri Joseph (64) has scalped more Test wickets for WI since Seales's debut in June 2021.
Seales equaled Walsh
Meanwhile, Seales now owns the joint-2nd-best figures by a West Indies bowler at home against South Africa. Curtly Ambrose leads the way with 6-34, Bridgetown (1992). Courtney Walsh had claimed 6/61 in Port of Spain (2001). Seales equaled Walsh. The former also became the first WI bowler to claim nine wickets in a Test against SA (9/106).
Seales was WI's top wicket-taker versus England
In West Indies' recently concluded series against England held in July 2024, Seales was brilliant. He was WI's top wicket-taker with 13 scalps. He averaged 27.33, taking two four-wicket hauls and a three-fer across five outings with the ball. Seales is the leading wicket-taker for WI this year with 25 wickets at 22.84. He is one of the six bowlers with 25-plus scalps.
