Pakistan-West Indies series sets new records for spinners

The ongoing Pakistan-West Indies Test series has entered the history books as one of the most spin-dominated contests ever played. With challenging spin-friendly surfaces, both teams have struggled against the spinners, who have made a historic impact in this series.

In the first Test, Pakistan emerged victorious by 127 runs, but it was spinners from both sides who stole the show. The second and final Test is currently underway, with both teams dismissed for under 170 in their respective first innings. This series has seen only one instance of a team crossing 200 runs, which was Pakistan in the first innings of the opening Test. Since then, every innings has ended with totals below 200.

The 200-run mark has been reached for the second time in the series during the ongoing second innings of the West Indies, with the visitors at 203-7, leading by 212 runs.

This spin-dominated series now ranks second in Test history for the best averages by spinners in a single series. Spinners have taken 56 wickets at an average of 16.44 and a strike rate of 28.3, trailing only the 1958 New Zealand-England series, where spinners claimed 63 wickets at an astonishing average of 13.26. 

Best Averages by Spinners in a Test series: 

New Zealand vs England (1958): 63 wickets at 13.26
Pakistan vs West Indies (2025): 56 wickets at 16.44
Australia vs England (1902): 55 wickets at 16.67
South Africa vs India (2015): 95 wickets at 17.24
Pakistan vs England (2012): 75 wickets at 18.50