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Fast bowling and spin bowling are the two approaches
by which the bowling is done in the game of cricket. The cricketers who
practice this approach are known as the fast bowlers and spin bowlers
respectively. When we talk about cricket, it was first played in England
and from there it got spread in the whole world. Today there are
millions of people in different parts of the world who actively follow
this game.
Being a fast bowler and performing well at the international level is
not at all easy as it requires lots of effort and dedication. Moreover
the player has to bowl with genuine pace. Similarly a spin bowler has to
bowl with variations so that they may create trouble for the batsman. A
cricket bowler has to give extra attention to his fitness so that he can
maintain his consistency. With the latest format introduced in the world
cricket called as twenty20, it has now become very difficult for the
bowlers to maintain consistency and their average.
Here we have made a list of the top ten best cricket bowlers which the
world cricket has seen till date. The players whose names have been
mentioned below are the true legends of the game and they have won many
matches for their country with their outstanding performances. Today
they are role models for the younger bowlers who want to pursue their
career in this game. Here follows the list.
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1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
The legendary Muttiah Muralitharan has been placed at the top most spot
here. There is no one who could challenge this great player from Sri
Lanka for this spot. He has achieved so much in his International career
that he will always be called as the best bowler in the history of the
game. He is an off break right handed bowler who has more than 1300
international wickets registered against his name. In the test cricket
he has the average of six wickets per game which is far better than any
other bowler in the whole world.
Matches Wickets Average Best
Test 133
800 22.72
9-61
ODI 339
517 23.11
7-30 |
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2. Shane Warne (Australia)
The Australian great Shane Keith Warne is at the number second spot in
our countdown. He was born on 13th September 1969 in Victoria,
Australia. His leg spin was the key for the dominance of the Australians
in the modern era of the world cricket. He made his test debut against
the mighty Indians in the year 1992 and because of his stunning
performance, the following year he was given a spot in the playing
eleven of the Australia’s ODI team against the New Zealand. He claimed
over 1000 international wickets in his cricketing career.
Matches
Wickets Average Best
Test 145
708 25.41
8-71
ODI 194
293 23.73
5-33 |
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3. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
One of the most impressive left handed fast bowlers in the world cricket
till date, Wasim Akram who used to play for Pakistan is the next player
in this list. He made his debut in the year 1984 and since then he has
been the regular player in the Pakistan’s dressing room till his
retirement. His role in the team was of all-rounder and he managed to
impress people with his performances in his cricketing career which
lasted for 19 years. He is one of the two bowlers in the history of the
test cricket to claim two hat tricks. He now acts as the bowling
consultant for various teams.
Matches Wickets Average Best
Test 104
414 23.62
7-19
ODI 356
502 23.52
5-15 |
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4. Glenn McGrath (Australia)
Glenn McGrath made his entry into the international cricket in the year
1993 and stunned each and every one with this amazing performance in his
debut series. He took more than 900 wickets in his international career
which spanned for 14 years. Today he is the role model for each and
every fast bowler in the whole world. He is also the leading wicket
taker in the ICC Cricket World Cup. He is one of the key players with
the help of which Australia managed to maintain its dominance in the
World Cricket in the 90’s. Three times he was part of the Australian
team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Matches Wickets Average Best
Test 124
563 21.64
8-24
ODI 250
381 22.02
7-15 |
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5. Dennis Lillee (Australia)
The Australian great Dennis Keith Lillee is at the number fifth place
here. He is said as to be the greatest fast bowler of his generation.
Dennis Lillee was born on 18th July 1949 in Perth. He made his one day
international and test debut against England. His international career
almost ended in the year 1984 because of the stress fracture but he
managed to make a comeback and then became the highest wicket taker in
the test cricket that year. He was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in
the year 2009. Dennis Lillee is one of the few Australian great who has
done a lot for the betterment of cricket in the country.
Matches Wickets
Average Best
Test 70
355 23.92
7-83
ODI 63
103 20.82
5-34 |
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6. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
Sir Richard Hadlee is the bowler at the number sixth spot on this list.
He represented New Zealand in the International cricket and is one of
the best all-rounders in the whole cricketing history. In the year 2009
he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the ICC. This right arm fast
bowler used to bowl with so much determination and enthusiasm that the
batsman had a fear playing against him. He made his test and one day
international debut against Pakistan in the year 1973. It was in the
year 1990 that he said goodbye to this game.
Matches Wickets Average Best
Test 86
431 22.29
9-52
ODI 115
158 21.56
5-25
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7. Anil Kumble (India)
The “Jumbo” of the Indian Cricket, Anil Kumble was born on 17th October
1970 in Bangalore. With his right arm leg spin he climbed the leaders of
success where no Indian bowler has ever managed to reach. At the moment
he is the third highest wicket taker in the Test cricket. He is the
recipient of the great Wisden Cricketers of the Year award. His accuracy
and the ability to bounce the bowl are the prime reason because of which
he managed to stun the world. He is among the few players who have taken
all ten wickets in an inning of the Test cricket and is the best bowler
that India has ever produced.
Matches
Wickets Average Best
Test 132
619 29.65
10-74
ODI 271
337 30.89
6-12
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8. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
Another great fast bowler from the West Indies, Curtly Ambrose features
at the number eighth position in our countdown. This right handed fast
bowler made his ODI as well as the Test debut against the Pakistan and
in the first series itself he showed his real character to the whole
world. At the end of this series in the year 1988, the West Indies
Cricket found a new cricketing hero in Curtly Ambrose. He was born on
21st September 1963 in Antigua, West Indies. His Yorkers were a treat
for the eyes to watch.
Matches Wickets
Average Best
Test 98
405 20.99
8-45
ODI 176
225 24.12
5-17
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9. Courtney Walsh (West Indies)
Courtney Andrew Walsh was born on 30th October 1962 and he represented
West Indies. He and Curtly Ambrose are said to the prime reason why the
West Indies cricket bloomed in the 80’s. Their partnership was
remarkable. Once he was the leading wicket takers in the Test cricket.
He had led from the front to win the Cricket World Cup trophy for his
country. This right arm fast bowler used to play with such a remarkable
intensity. He made his One Day International debut against the Sri Lanka
and Test debut against Australia.
Matches Wickets
Average Best
Test 132
519 24.44
7-37
ODI 205
227 30.47
5-1 |
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10. Waqar Younis (Pakistan)
Waqar Younis is the first name in this list and he represented Pakistan
in international cricket. People call him one of the greatest fast
bowlers which this game has ever seen. He made his one day international
debut against the Pakistan’s ache rival India in the year 1989. His
Yorkers were unplayable and even the greatest batsman at that time
feared to face this amazing fast bowler. He and Wasim Akram together
gave new heights to the Pakistan cricket. People call him the “Sultan of
Swing” and “The Toe Crusher” because of the Yorkers that he used to
bowl.
Matches Wickets
Average Best
Test 87
373 23.56
7-76
ODI 262
416 23.84
7-36
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