5 most devastating fast-bowling spells in Test cricket

#1 Curtly Ambrose's spell from hell floors Australia, Perth, 1993

Curtly Ambrose at Perth, 1993

The 1st day of the deciding 5th game of the Test series between Australia and West Indies at Perth saw the greatest spell of fast bowling in cricket history when Curtly Ambrose floored the hosts with a spell that ended the Test match on the first day.

Australia were doing reasonably well, reaching 85-2 with Mark Waugh and David Boon at the crease, but soon enough, Ambrose came on to bowl, changing the complexion of the game. On a fast, bouncy pitch, the Australian batsmen had no answer to Ambrose's pace, bounce, accuracy, and seam movement and from 85-2, they crashed to 119 all out with Ambrose picking up 7 wickets for only 1 run in that spell.

West Indies won the game by an innings and 25 runs and with that, the series. Following the Test match, the curator at Perth was dismissed for having prepared a pitch that played into the hands of the West Indies in such devastating fashion.