In cricket, a five-wicket haul (also known as a "five–for" or "fifer")[1][2] occurs when a bowler takes five or more wickets in a single innings. This is regarded by critics as a notable achievement,[3] equivalent to a century from a batter.[4]
Taking a five-wicket haul at Lord's earns the bowler a place on the Lord's honours boards.[5]
As of 2025, only thirteen cricketers have taken a five-wicket haul in all three international formats of the game (Test cricket, One Day International and Twenty20 International): Sri Lanka's Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga, India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Kuldeep Yadav, New Zealand's Tim Southee, South Africa's Imran Tahir and Lungi Ngidi, West Indies' Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph, Bangladeshi Shakib Al Hasan, Pakistani Umar Gul and Hasan Ali, and Afghan Rashid Khan.[citation needed]
In 2018, Afghan cricketer Mujeeb Zadran, aged 16, became the youngest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in an ODI.[6] In 2019, Pakistani cricketer Naseem Shah, also aged 16, became the youngest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Test match.[7] Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan is the youngest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a T20 international match; he was 18 at the time.[8]
Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the most five-wicket hauls in Test matches with 67,[9] and Pakistani Waqar Younis has taken the most five-wicket hauls in ODIs with 13.[10] The record for most five-wicket hauls in T20Is is 3, which has been achieved by 2 cricketers.[11]
By scoring a century, taking five wickets in an innings or ten wickets in a match, a player ensures that their name is added to one of the famous Honours Boards in the Pavilion.
