Over the years, there have been many outstanding Cricket Bowlers who have graced the game with their pace or spin. Is it the highest wicket-taking average, speed, focus, or all of the above for a player to be a spectacular bowler?
Let’s read about the players who are easily among the top bowlers in Cricket history so far.
At number five is Sir Richard Hadlee also known as the master of rhythm and swing, who was the first player to reach 400 test wickets. Hadlee broke a world record in Bangalore, India on November 12, 1988, for most test wickets.
Hadlee took 130 wickets from 23 test matches against arch-rivals Australia; ending his test career in his final bowling performance by taking 5 wickets. His skills with the ball were very difficult to match. When he retired in 1990 at the age of 39 he was recognized as one of the world’s fastest bowlers of all time.
At number four is Malcolm Marshall who played for West Indies, Barbados, Hampshire, and had a right-arm fast bowling action. He broke his left thumb fielding in a match in England. Marshall recorded 376 test wickets at an average of 20.94 which was the best for any other bowler who took more than 200 wickets. In 1983 Marshall became the undisputed supreme fast bowler learning from his teammates and combining their best characteristics in his bowling.
At number three is Shane Warne also known as Warney who played for Australia, Hampshire, ICC World XI, and many others. Warne finished second-best in test cricket, with wickets less than only Muttiah Muralitharan. He was the first to reach 700 test wickets which made him known to the world as the best leg-spin bowler in cricket history. In the 1996 World Cup, he gathered 12 wickets ending his ODI career 7 wickets short of 300.
Rolling in at number two is Sydney Barnes born as Smethwick Staffordshire who played for England, Lancashire, and Wales, taking a huge number of wickets at an average of 9. Barnes started his career when he was 19 years old as a fast bowler, playing for Warwickshire. Barnes had a right-arm medium-fast bowling style. In seven tests against South Africa, he managed to pick up 83 wickets at an average of 9. He was named as one of the ‘Six Giants of the Wisden century’.
The number one top bowler of all time is Muttiah Muralitharan also known as a spin wizard. Murali is known as the world’s best off-spinner and bowler. Taking over 1,000 international wickets, averaging 19.06, he is easily the best bowler in Cricket history. He has taken over 735 wickets in test matches at an average of 23.00. Murali had a right-arm off-break bowling style. He holds a record for having the most wickets in one-day internationals. He signed off of test cricket in 2010 with a total of 800 wickets.
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