There are bowlers who love to put a big price tag on their wicket, and just hate to get out. This attitude helps them to go on and score a big score. Few bowlers surprise everyone and go on to score a ton. Here's a list of few legendary bowlers who have scored at least a ton in Test cricket.
1) Jason Gillespie
The Aussie bowler formed a lethal opening pair with Glenn McGrath during Australia’s reign as a top Test team in the world. He was not much known for his batting, but he surprised everyone with a double ton in what happened to be his last Test for his country. Promoted to No 3 against Bangladesh in the Chattogram Test in 2006, Gillespie cracked 201 not out with 26 fours and 2 sixes. Gillespie also took 3 wickets in the match.
2) Anil Kumble
The legendary leg-spinner, who is the highest Test wicket-taker for India with 619 wickets, had always taken great pride in being a good batsman. But he seldom got the chance to prove his mettle as a batsman. But he always made the best use of the opportunity that came his way to bat in Test cricket. So, after 17 years of international cricket, he finally scored a ton (110 not out) against England in The Oval Test in 2007 to help the team score additional 156 runs for the last 3 wickets. He also has 5 fifties to his credit.
3) Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan has been a great competitor on the field, destroying the Aussies single-handedly in the Test series in 2001. He and Anil Kumble formed one of the greatest spin bowling pairs in Indian cricket. But Harbhajan started losing his control over his skills on the ball and started concentrating on batting. He struck two straight tons against New Zealand in Ahmedabad (115) and Hyderabad (111*) in the 2010 Test series. But his primary skill of running through the batting line-up with his bowling started to wane and eventually, he lost his place in the squad.
4) Sir Richard Hadlee
He is the first bowler in Test cricket to take 400 or more wickets. He ended up with 431 wickets in 86 Tests for New Zealand before the record was broken by Kapil Dev of India. But Sir Hadlee was an equally good batsman as well. He scored 2 tons in Test cricket. He scored 151* against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 1987, and 103 against West Indies at Christchurch in 1980. He also had two scores in the 90s, including one dismissed for 99.
Photo courtesy: Anil Kumble Facebook page
