During the first cricket Test at Chennai between India and Bangladesh, India’s R. Ashwin scored 113 runs and had 6/88. He had performed this difficult task on four occasions.
*103, 5/156 vs West Indies – Mumbai 2011-12
*113, 7/83 vs West Indies- St. John’s 2016
*106, 5/43 vs England- Chennai 2020-21 (2nd test)
*113, 6/88 vs Bangladesh- Chennai 2024 -25
Ian Botham had accomplished this very rare double on five occasions
=103, 5/73 vs New Zealand- Christchurch 1977-78
=108, 8/34 vs Pakistan- Lord’s 1978
=114, 6/58 & 7/48 vs India- Bombay 1979-80
=149 n.o, 6/95 vs Australia-Leeds 1981
=138, 5/59 vs New Zealand- Wellington 1983-84
During his career for England, Botham represented England in 102 Tests, scored 5200 runs with 14 centuries and had an average of 33.54. He took 383 Test wickets at an average of 28.40.
R. Ashwin, too had represented India in an equal number of tests (102). He has 3423 runs with six centuries for an average of 26.74. However, in bowling, he has a better average than Botham. He has taken 527 Test wickets at an average of 23.65.
But, it is sad to notice that, Sri Lanka has still not produced any Test cricketer who was able to score a Test century and take five or more wickets in the same Test.
However, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh were able to produce the under mentioned Test cricketers.
=P.A. Strang (Zimbabwe) 106 n.o & 5/ 212 vs Pakistan – Sheikhupura 1996
=Shakib Al Hasan(Bangladesh) 144 & 6/82 vs Pakistan – Dhaka 2011-12, 137 and 5/80,5/44 vs Zimbabwe – Khulna 2014-15
=Sohag Gazi (Bangladesh) 101 n.o & 6/77 vs New Zealand – Chittagong 2013-14
However, the following Sri Lankan cricketers had shown their capabilities in Test cricket as all-rounders.
=M.D.K. Perera vs Australia- 64, 4/29 & 6/70 Galle 2016
=R.J. Ratnayake vs England- 52, 5/69 Lord’s 1991
=G.F. Labrooy vs New Zealand- 70 n.o, 3/48 & 4/42 – Auckland 1990-91
=C Vass vs New Zealand- 51 and 6/87 New Zealand 1994-95
=C. Vass vs West Indies- 54 n.o., 3/48 & 5/61- Providence 2007-08
=L. Malinga vs India- 64, 2/55 & 5/50 Galle 2010
=M.D.K. Perera vs Pakistan – 58, 3/72 & 5/98 Dubai 2017-18
