Legendary Indian Bowler Zaheer Khan turns 44 today; have a look at his 5 top bowling performances in Test Cricket

Digital Desk: Happy birthday Zaheer Khan, the ace bowler of the Indian Cricket team turns 44 today, Zaheer Khan is acknowledged as one of India's most valuable fast bowling talents. 

When the BCCI selectors saw Zaheer's untapped potential at the end of the century, just as the nation's premier speed bowler Javagal Srinath was entering the latter stages of his career, they could not have been given a better gift.

Zaheer was a man of many skills; he had the ability to swing new balls and flip over old ones. But his greatest strength was his command of the three different cricket balls used internationally: the SG, Duke, and Kookaburra.

Here take a look at Zaheer's top five Test cricket performances as the seasoned Indian seamer celebrates his 44th birthday:

In the longest format of the game, Zaheer had his greatest performance against Bangladesh in 2010 when he took seven wickets while conceding 87 runs in the second innings of the Dhaka Test. 

India bowled out Bangladesh for 233 runs in the first innings before scoring 544 runs in the second. Zaheer's fast bowling during Bangladesh's second innings completely destroyed the host team's batting order. India eventually only needed two runs to win the game in their second innings and accomplished so without losing a single wicket.

After being bowled out for a pitiful score of 99 runs when batting first in the Hamilton Test in 2002, Team India found themselves in a tricky situation. With his pace and swing, India's pace wonder destroyed New Zealand's top order, giving them another day to fight. 

As New Zealand was dismissed for 94 runs in their first innings, he went on to pick up five wickets while conceding 29 runs. Zaheer's valiant efforts were futile, though, as New Zealand went on to win the game by four wickets.

Throughout his career, Zaheer has bowled some spectacular innings in the longest version of the game, with some of his best performances coming against India's neighbours, Bangladesh.

One such effort occurred in Dhaka in 2007, when he took five wickets while giving 29 runs. India won the match by an innings and 239 runs, and Zaheer was named player of the match for his outstanding effort.

India had a dismal visit to New Zealand in 2002-03. However, it was a watershed year for Zaheer, who thrived in the country's turbulent surroundings. During the tour, he bowled numerous notable stints, including one in the Wellington Test. 

Similar to the first encounter, India struggled in the first innings of the Wellington Test, being bowled out for 161 runs, and Zaheer was tasked with preventing the Kiwis from building a commanding lead. He also did well in his task, picking up 5 wickets for 53 runs and limiting New Zealand to 247 runs. However, the home team won by ten wickets.

In 2007, Zaheer gave an innings to remember against England in Nottingham, guiding India to a stunning seven-wicket victory. During England's first innings, he took four wickets while giving 59 runs. But he wasn't done yet, as he returned to five wickets and 75 runs in the home team's second innings.

 It was undoubtedly one of the dashing cricketer's best bowling performances, owing to the fact that he did so in the unfamiliar circumstances of England.