Zaheer Khan [Images] claimed nine wickets in an innings on Thursday to remind India's selectors about his rich talent, but missed out on the opportunity to join the ranks of a rare few who have claimed all 10 wickets.

The Indian left-arm paceman had finished with career-best figures of 9-138 overnight to reduce Essex to 186-9 in reply to Worcestershire's 650-7 declared in a Division Two County Championship match at Chelmsford ground.

The 10th wicket on Friday morning could also have been his, but a dropped catch by wicketkeeper Steven Davies allowed Darren Gough to escape and deprived him the rare clean sweep.

Ravi Bopara (67 not out) and Gough (50) took 73 runs off Zaheer's 33 balls in the first hour before Matt Mason claimed the last wicket with the score on 283.

Richard Johnson was the last player to take all 10 wickets in an innings of a Championship match, with figures of 10-45 for Middlesex against Derbyshire in 1994.

In international cricket only Jim Laker and Anil Kumble [Images] have performed the feat.