Who was the second bowler in the history of Test cricket to take all 10 wickets in a single innings?

Introduction / Context:
Taking all 10 wickets in a single innings of a Test match is one of the rarest and most remarkable feats in cricket. Only a very small number of bowlers have ever achieved this milestone. Knowing who did it first and who followed is a favourite topic in cricket general knowledge questions. This question specifically asks about the second bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in an innings, a record closely associated with Indian cricket history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The format is Test cricket.
• The achievement is taking all 10 wickets in a single innings.
• We are asked about the second bowler to achieve this feat.
• The options are Jim Laker, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Anil Kumble, and Wasim Akram.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, English off spinner Jim Laker was the first bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, doing so against Australia in 1956. Many years later, Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble repeated this rare feat against Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi. This made Kumble the second bowler in Test history to claim all 10 wickets in an innings. Lakshmipathy Balaji and Wasim Akram are excellent bowlers but have not taken 10 wickets in a single Test innings. The correct approach is to recall this sequence and identify Anil Kumble as the second bowler after Jim Laker to reach the 10 wicket milestone.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the first bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, which was Jim Laker of England. Step 2: Remember that this feat was later matched by an Indian bowler, Anil Kumble, who achieved it against Pakistan. Step 3: Note that Kumble performance made him the second bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in one innings. Step 4: Check the options and confirm that Lakshmipathy Balaji and Wasim Akram, while notable bowlers, did not achieve this specific record. Step 5: Select Anil Kumble as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling some specific match details. Anil Kumble 10 wicket haul came in a Test match in Delhi, where he finished with figures of 10 for 74 against Pakistan, a performance often replayed in cricket highlights. Commentators frequently mention that he became only the second bowler in Test history, after Jim Laker, to take all 10 wickets in an innings. No similar historic second place reference is made for Balaji or Akram. This repeated emphasis in cricket coverage confirms that Kumble is the correct choice for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jim Laker: He was the first bowler to take 10 wickets in a Test innings, not the second. He started the record, which Kumble later matched.
Lakshmipathy Balaji: A capable Indian fast bowler who took important wickets but never claimed all 10 in a single Test innings.
Wasim Akram: One of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history, but his achievements do not include a 10 wicket innings in Tests; he is known more for his overall wicket tally and swing bowling skills.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse first and second in such record based questions. Some candidates pick Jim Laker because they remember his name strongly associated with the 10 wicket achievement, without noticing that the question asks specifically for the second bowler. Another mistake is to choose a famous bowler like Wasim Akram simply based on reputation, not on the specific record mentioned. To avoid these errors, always pay close attention to the wording of the question and recall the exact sequence of historical achievements: Laker first, Kumble second.

Final Answer:
The second bowler in Test cricket history to take all 10 wickets in a single innings was Anil Kumble, so option C is correct.