Friday, 24 April 2020 marks exactly 17 years since former Proteas spinner Paul Adams completed the first half of a maiden 10-wicket haul in Test match cricket.

Adams had taken eight against India in Kanpur in 1996 and six against Australia in Cape Town in 2002, but had to wait until 2003 for a first 10-for in Test cricket.

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He was relatively experienced in a bowling attack that featured debutants Charl Willoughby and Alan Dawson on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2003.

Adams ensured the promising work put in by the hosts’ top order was undone by dismissing middle-order batsmen Akram Khan, Mohammad Ashraful and Alok Kapali in quick succession. The removals of tail-enders Enamul Haque and Mashrafe Mortaza followed, completing a first-innings haul of five for 37.

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Adams later added five for 69 in the the third innings, as South Africa won by an innings and 60 runs. His match haul of 10 for 106 didn’t earn the Player of the Match award, though, which instead went to Test debutant and double-centurion Jacques Rudolph.

This was Adams’ only 10-for in 45 Tests. He added eight against Pakistan in Lahore in 2003, but never again reached the heights achieved against Bangladesh earlier that year.

Photo: Gallo Images