Cricket in Australia has usually been about speed. The bouncy pitches, the fast outfields and a long tradition of great pacers have always made life tough for spinners. Teams often think twice before including more than one frontline spinner in their ODI sides. Yet, cricket has a way of surprising us. On a handful of special days, spin bowlers managed to outshine the pacers and picked up more than ten wickets in a single match, something you don’t see often in Australia.
Here is a list of 3 rare matches in which spinners bagged more than 10 wickets in ODIs played in Australia:
1. Aus vs Pak (12 wickets at Adelaide, 1996):
One such moment came in Adelaide back in 1996. Pakistan had made 223 after a useful 102-run stand between Aamer Sohail and Mohammad Wasim. Shane Warne, as always, was dangerous, taking four wickets, and even Michael Bevan chipped in with two through his part-time spin. But when Australia came out to chase, it was Saqlain Mushtaq who spun a web around them. His 5 for 29 not only destroyed the batting lineup but also left him as the most economical bowler of the day. With Shahid Afridi taking a wicket too, Pakistan bowled Australia out for 211, pulling off a win that showed spinners could succeed even on unhelpful pitches.
2. Aus vs Pak (11 wickets at Sydney, 1997):
The very next year, in 1997 at Sydney, spin magic struck again. Saqlain Mushtaq was once more at the center of it, this time grabbing 3 for 23 in a tidy spell that included two maiden overs. Mushtaq Ahmed and Shahid Afridi chipped in with a wicket each, making life difficult for the Australian batters. Even though Shane Warne gave his best all-round performance, scoring 11 runs and then taking 4 for 37, it was not enough. Pakistan chased down the target with ease, winning by four wickets. Shane Warne still walked away with the Player of the Match award but in truth, the game was another victory for Pakistan’s spinners.
3. Aus vs SA (11 wickets at Cairns, 2025):
Fast forward to Cairns in 2025 and the story repeated itself in a modern setting. South Africa batted first and posted 296, thanks to three solid half-centuries. For Australia, Travis Head surprisingly stood out with the ball, taking four wickets, while Adam Zampa got one. But the real drama came in the second innings. Keshav Maharaj tore through Australia’s middle order, removing batters from No. 3 to No. 7. His spell left Australia reeling at 89 for 6 before Mitchell Marsh fought hard with an 88 that kept faint hopes alive. Debutant Prenelan Subrayen also picked up a wicket and in the end, Australia fell well short as South Africa cruised to victory.
These matches are rare but they remind us of cricket’s unpredictability. In a country built for fast bowlers, spinners occasionally rise to the occasion, changing the rhythm of the game and proving that even in Australia, the ball doesn’t always have to come down at lightning pace to make an impact.
