Have you ever wondered who are the best bowlers in the world throughout the history of Cricket? Well, if you are curious to know, this article can help you out.
Each bowler contributes something different to the game, whether they are fast pacers or expert spinners. This article discusses the reasons behind and successes of some bowers that make them special.
The finest bowlers, according to game-savvy viewers, don’t simply bowl a wonderful ball, they also adjust, plan, and remain composed under pressure. In their unique ways, these Best bowlers of all time set the bar for others in the Test, ODI, and T20 formats.
Stats of Top 5 Best Bowlers In The World Ever
Here, we will discuss the 5 best bowlers in the world along with their complete stats. These great bowlers made incredible plays, claimed a ton of wickets, and set records that new bowlers want to surpass. To get detailed information about each of these bowlers, make sure to go through this blog until the end.
| S. No. | Bowler’s Name | Country | Total Wickets In All Formats | International Career |
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 1347 | 1992-2011 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 1001 | 1992-2007 |
| 3 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 949 | 1993-2007 |
| 4 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 916 | 1984-2003 |
| 5 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 829 | 1995-2008 |
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
Many people consider Muttiah Muralitharan to be one of the best bowlers in the world, averaging more than six wickets per Test match. He is the only bowler to have more than 530 One Day International (ODI) wickets and 800 Test wickets. Muralitharan was a member of the 1996 Cricket World Cup-winning Sri Lankan squad. He has an ODI average of 23.00, his highest average across all game formats, and a first-class average of 19.06. His iconic doosra, which no one has been able to master like him, is said to be his most powerful weapon.
2. Shane Warne
Warne, one of the best cricketers of all time, represented Victoria, Hampshire, the Melbourne Stars, and Australia as a lower-order right-handed batsman and right-arm leg spin bowler. He has taken 798 and 293 wickets in his 145 Test and 195 ODI appearances, respectively. Warne played for Australia, which won the Cricket World Cup in 1999. After Australia defeated England in the 2006–07 Ashes series, he announced his retirement from international cricket. Warne’s mastery of leg spin, which was seen to be a dying talent at the time, transformed cricket thinking.
3. Glenn McGrath
Throughout his career, McGrath was renowned for his ability to keep a precise line and length. His consistency allowed him to become one of the most successful, economical, fast, and best bowlers in the world of his time. In 250 ODIs and 124 test matches, he claimed 381 and 563 wickets, respectively. McGrath played on the Australian squad that won the 1999 Cricket World Cup, the 2003 Cricket World Cup, and the 2007 Cricket World Cup, which was their third consecutive World Cup victory. He took the deciding wicket of Zaheer Khan in the 2003 final. Additionally, McGrath was a part of the squad that took home the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.
4. Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram known as the “Sultan of Swing” was a quick left-handed bowler who claimed more than 400 Test wickets and set records for both List A cricket (881) and ODIs (502). He has a remarkable average of 23.62 in Test matches across 104 appearances. In Test cricket, he is one of just three bowlers to record two hat-tricks, while in ODI cricket, he is one of just three to do so. He captained Pakistan to the 1999 Cricket World Cup finals when they were defeated by Australia by eight wickets. He was a member of the Pakistani team that won the Cricket World Cup in 1992.
5. Shaun Pollock
Shaun Pollock was renowned for his metronomic accuracy, which allowed him to generate pressure by bowling exact lines and lengths every time. Pollock was South Africa’s preferred bowler, taking 829 international wickets with best figures of 7/87. The 1998 ICC Knockout Trophy, the only ICC trophy South Africa has ever won, was won by the team Pollock was a part of. Pollock currently commentates on South African cricket matches on SuperSport. He received his induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in November 2021.
Top 5 Test Cricket Bowlers Of All Time
Find out about the top 5 test cricket bowlers of all time along with their complete Test stats in the table below.
| S. No. | Bowler’s Name | Number Of Test Matches Played | Number Of Wickets | Playing Span |
| 1. | Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) | 133 | 800 | 1992-2010 |
| 2. | Shane Warne (Australia) | 145 | 798 | 1992-2007 |
| 3. | JM Anderson (England) | 188 | 744 | 2003-2024 |
| 4. | A Kumble (India) | 132 | 619 | 1990-2008 |
| 5. | SCJ Broad (England) | 167 | 604 | 2007-2023 |
Top 5 ODI Cricket Bowlers In The World Ever
Go through the table and explore the best 5 ODI bowlers along with their entire statistics.
| S. No. | Bowler’s Name | Number Of ODI Matches Played | Number Of Wickets | Playing Span |
| 1. | Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) | 350 | 534 | 1993-2011 |
| 2. | Wasim Akram (Pakistan) | 356 | 502 | 1984-2003 |
| 3. | Waqar Younis (Pakistan) | 262 | 416 | 1989-2003 |
| 4. | Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) | 322 | 400 | 1994-2008 |
| 5. | Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 398 | 395 | 1996-2015 |
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Top 5 T20I Bowlers In The Cricket History
Scroll down to the table to learn about the top bowlers along with their records in detail.
| S. No. | Bowler’s Name | Number Of T20I Matches Played | Number Of Wickets | Playing Span |
| 1. | TG Southee (New Zealand) | 126 | 164 | 2008 – Present |
| 2. | Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) | 96 | 161 | 2015 – Present |
| 3. | Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) | 129 | 149 | 2006 – Present |
| 4. | IS Sodhi (New Zealand) | 119 | 138 | 2014 – Present |
| 5. | Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) | 106 | 132 | 2015 – Present |
Conclusion
The top 5 best bowlers In the world ever have had a lasting impact on the sport thanks to their exceptional talent, dependability, and versatility. Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, and Shaun Pollock are among the greats who have redefined bowling standards and won appreciation for their skill. As the best bowlers the sport has ever seen, their contributions go beyond records, motivating upcoming generations. Their skill is still acknowledged everywhere in the world.
FAQ
Q. Who is the best bowler in history?
A. Muttiah Muralitharan is regarded as the best bowler in the history of cricket throughout every formats.
Q. Who is India’s greatest bowler?
A. Whenever, it is asked about the India’s greatest bowler, one name that comes to everyone’s mind is Anil Kumble. He is the only Indian bowler to take 619 wickets in 132 test matches.
Q. Who is known as King of bowler?
A. Wasim Akram, also known as Sultan of Swings is referred to as the king of bowler.
Q. Who is India’s fastest bowler?
A. The fastest ball bowled by an Indian is currently held by Umran Malik. With a speed of 157 km/h in an IPL 2022 match, he established himself as a reliable weapon in Indian cricket’s pace attack.
Q. Who is the world’s fastest bowler?
A. Shoaib Akhtar is known as the world’s fastest bowler with a bowling speed of 161.3 km/h.
