Top 10 Fast Bowler of All Time

Cricket is said to be a batsman’s game. Bowling is not an easy task as the rules of the game are in favour of the batsman, more than the bowler and hence is always dominated by batsmen. But there are some bowlers with extraordinary talent who gave a torrid time to the batsmen during their playing days and were able to etch their names with golden letters in the history of cricket by dint of their performances with the ball. Here let’s take a look at the top 10 greatest bowlers of all time in the history of cricket.




10. Dale Steyn (South Africa 2004- Till Playing)



Only Member of our list of top 10 Best Fast Bowler of all Time, who is currently playing cricket. cricinfo says about steyn: “Dale Steyn could be just the latest nuclear-tipped arrow that South Africa have drawn from their seemingly bottomless quiver of classy fast bowlers. The trouble, for opposing batsmen, is that he is rather more than that”. he took 350 test wickets in just 69 matches. and took 123 wickets in 79 one day matches, and still going. who knows he will be at top position after completion of his career. he is also one of the all time “Fastest Bowler“.

9. Waqar Younis (Pakistan 1989-2003)




According to cricinfo.com: “The man who really put the reverse into swing. Waqar Younis bucked the 1980s trend of pitching fast and short by pitching fast and full. Not an obvious recipe for success until you factor in prodigious late inswing, which was designed to smash into the base of leg stump or the batsman’s toes.” Waqar Younis has th best strike rate of any bowler who took over 200 wickets in test matches. waqar took almost 800 international wickets with an average of under 24 per wicket in both formats. he has the world record of most five wickets hauls in one day cricket. probably was the one of Best Fast Bowler of all time.

8. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies 1988-2000)




One of the Tallest Cricketer of all time. Curtly Ambrose was 6ft 7in, who can release the ball from almost 10ft high. with lethal pace, bounce and swing, he was one of the most dangrouse fast bowler. he took 7 wickets for only 1 runs against australia at WACA 1992/93 season, that was one of the best bowling figures of all time. Curtly Ambrose took 405 test wickets in 98 matches, with an average of 20.99. and also too 225 ODI wickets in 176 matches. without ant doubt he is one of the Best Fast Bowler of all time.


7. Glenn McGrath (Australia 1993-2007)




One of the “Tallest Bowler” of all time. McGrath was the hunter of “biggest fishes”, like Bian Lara and Atherton. in my oppinion McGrath was the all time best fast bowler in term of “using the ne Ball”. with spot-on line and length McGrath took 563 test wickets in 124 matches. and he was 1st fast bowler to play 100 test matches. McGrath also 381 ODI wickets in 250 matches. with Best bowling figure of 8/24 he is one of all time greatest fast bowler of all time.

6. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies 1978-1991)




With hieght of 5/11 Marshall was not very tall like other west indians. he was one of most dangrouse swing bowler. his bowling action was trad mark. he was alot quiker than looking.Marshall took 376 test wickets in 81 matches and 157 ODI wickets in 136 matches. with an bowling average of 20.94 in test matches, he is 6th in list of top 10 Best Fast Bowlers of all time.

5. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand 1973-1990)




Unlike other fast bowler Sir Richard Hadlee was very cool and calm character on the field. but his fast bowling never been calm. he was one who give a huge boost to cricket new zealand. greatest cricketer new Zealand ever produced. Sir Richard Hadlee also was one of the Greatest All-Rounder in cricket history. he took 431 test wickets in 86 matches, with an average of 22.29. and aslo took 158 ODI wickets in 115 matches. he fifth in our list of top 10 Best fast bowlers of all time.

4. Dennis Lillee (Australia 1971-1984)




One of the Most Complete Bowler in History. Dennis Lillee broke Lance Gibbs’ World record of most wicket in test career (309). he ended up with 355 wickets in 70 test matches. Lillee was very Dangerous bowler with combination of speed and movement of the pitch and in the air. Lillee also took 113 wickets in ODI career with an average of 20.82. he is 4th in list of top 10 greatest fast bowlers.

3. Wasim Akram (Pakistan 1984-2003)




The “Sultan of Swing”. Wasim Akram regarded as greatest left-arm fast bowler ever in history of cricket. and all time best fast bowler in history of one day cricket. Wasim Akram was the bowler who can swing the ball both ways in  the air and of the pitch also. he was first bowler to reach 300, 400 and 500 ODIs wickets. Wasim took 502 wickets in his ODIs career and 414 wickets in test career. with over 900 international wickets, wasim akram is 3rd in list of top 10 Best Fast Bowlers of all time.

2. Fred Trueman (England 1952-1965)




A classical side-on action, who played for Yorkshire in county cricket. he represented England for 67 test matches. Fred Trueman was the first ever bowler in history of test cricket who reached 300 wickets milestone. he remain highest wickets taker for 13 years. overall he took 307 wicket with an average of 21.57. he recorded his best bowling figures against 8/31 against Australia. he is 2nd list of top 10 greatest fast bowlers of all time.

1. Sydney Barnes (England1901-1914)




Sydney Barnes is an English fast medium bowler. he is regarded as the greatest fast bowler of all time in the history of the cricket. Sydney Barnes made his debut against Australia 13th December 1901. Sydney Barnes played 27 test matches for England from 1901 to 1914. he took 189 wickets with an very impressive average of 16.43, which is the biggest Argument of his greatness. Sydney Barnes also took 719 wickets in his first-class career with average of 17.09 runs per wicket. undoubtedly he was the greatest fast bowler ever in cricket history.