top cricket bowlers of all time

Top Cricket Bowlers of all Time

1. Matthew Hoggard
67 Test matches; 248 wickets; 30.50 average; 7 61 BBI; 56 strike rate Starting off this list is one of Englands most consistent modern bowlers, Matthew Hoggard. A regular on the team sheet during the early part of the 21st century, Hoggard was a tremendous performer with the new and old ball. He was especially potent when there was swing in the air, even against the strongest batting lineups. Hoggard may not have been the most explosive bowler in the world, but his consistency stood him in good stead.
2. Kenny Benjamin
26 Test matches; 92 wickets; 30.27 average; 6 66 BBI; 55.7 strike rate One of a number of superb West Indian pace bowlers to make this list, Kenny Benjamin joins at No. 49. Even as the team started to crumble, Benjamin helped hold everything together with his deadly pace and steepling bouncers. He will perhaps consider himself unlucky to have played only 26 Tests, but he looked rather impressive in doing so.
3. Trent Boult
25 Test matches; 92 wickets; 27.45 average; 6 40 BBI; 55.7 strike rate A bowler who should move up this list as his career goes on is Trent Boult, who is currently at No. 48 but has the ability to make further progress. Alongside fellow New Zealander Tim Southee, Boult has formed one of the most potent seam partnerships in the world with the new ball. The left armer has shown himself to be capable of taking wickets almost anywhere, but he is especially dangerous when the ball is swinging. Look for Boult to move up this list in the coming years.
4. Bruce Reid
27 Test matches; 113 wickets; 24.63 average; 7 51 BBI; 55.2 strike rate Another tall left armer joins the list next, as Australian Bruce Reid makes an appearance. A bowler who was limited by injury, Reid still managed to have a superb impact in limited opportunities. Unfortunately, his body could not quite cope with international cricket, but he managed to torment England even so. His 13 wickets at Melbourne in the 1990 91 Ashes were a particular highlight.
5. Andy Roberts
47 Test matches; 202 wickets; 25.61 average; 7 54 BBI; 55.1 strike rate Having terrified batsmen the world over, Andy Roberts makes his appearance after a stellar career that saw him pick up over 200 Test wickets. An intelligent bowler who always kept his emotions in check, Roberts bowled with sheer pace but also with a good deal of cunning. His bouncer was always regarded as one of the best, too, and even as his pace dropped he continued to take wickets. Later in his career, his ability to swing the ball made up for a lack of pace, hence Roberts makes this list.
6. Damien Fleming
20 Test matches; 75 wickets; 25.89 average; 5 30 BBI; 55.0 strike rate It is often said that if Damien Fleming were to have been born in any country other than Australia, he would have played 100 Tests or more. Using swing at a good pace, he was overshadowed tremendously by his Australian counterparts but still managed a decent return in just 20 games. It seems unfortunate, then, that he fell behind the likes of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee, and was unable to fulfill his tremendous potential.
7. Muttiah Muralitharan
133 Test matches; 800 wickets; 22.72 average; 9 51 BBI; 55.0 strike rate A surprising entry comes at No. 44, as Muttiah Muralitharan comes in much lower down than might have been expected. He was always a restrictive bowler, hence his low average, but he would find wickets came after building sustained pressure and a hold over a batsman. Often, his turning deliveries would beat the bat and go through for a dot ball, meaning his strike rate is pushed a little higher than perhaps it could have been. However, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.
8. Jason Gillespie
71 Test matches; 259 wickets; 26.13 average; 7 37 BBI; 54.9 strike rate Jason Gillespie follows after a successful career in which he managed to make himself one of Australias top fast bowlers. Alongside Glenn McGrath, he terrorised batsmen all over the world with his combination of pace and swing. He may have had an even greater impact had it not been for a number of injuries, but he still did well to take over 250 wickets. Gillespies strike rate could have been even higher, had more of the plays and misses that he forced been edged behind.
9. Chris Tremlett
12 Test matches; 53 wickets; 27.00 average; 6 48 BBI; 54.7 strike rate Whether Chris Tremlett comes back into Test cricket and improves his position in this list remains to be seen. What we do know is that in just 12 Tests, he showed himself to be very potent indeed and capable of causing batsmen all sorts of problems. His form in the 2010/11 Ashes was incredible as he took advantage of Australias bouncy pitches, although he could not replicate that form last winter in the same country. He may yet return to international cricket.
10. Stuart Clark
Another hugely talented Australian paceman, Stuart Clark is someone else who would surely have played more Tests had it not been for the greats that stood in his way. As it was, in his 24 matches he managed to take almost 100 wickets by using his height to good effect. It seems a little unfortunate that his opportunities were so limited, both by injury and by the competition. However, he showed himself to be more than capable of having an impact in international cricket.