The debate over the greatest fast bowler of all time is one of cricket’s most passionate arguments. Everyone has an opinion. And everyone thinks they are right.
At IceCric, we have taken on the task of ranking the best fast bowlers to ever grace the pitch. It was not an easy job. Our team of cricket aficionados dug deep into the archives. We analyzed statistics. We studied match-winning performances. We looked at the sheer artistry of fast bowling across all formats.
After extensive analysis, we have our list. Here is our definitive ranking of the top five fast bowlers of all time.
Top 5 IceCric Best Fast Bowlers of All Time
1. Malcolm Marshall – The Benchmark of Excellence
Malcolm Marshall was not the tallest paceman at just 5 foot 11 inches but he made up for it with incredible skill. He was the spearhead of the fearsome West Indian pace attack during the 1980s. His numbers are simply outstanding. In 81 Test matches he took 376 wickets at an average of just 20.94. That average is the best of any bowler who has taken 200 or more Test wickets.
He also had a strike rate of 46.7 balls per wicket which shows how often he struck. His best bowling figures in a Test innings were 7 for 22 which came against England at Old Trafford in 1988. During that series he took 35 wickets at an incredible average of 12.65. He also won the 1979 Cricket World Cup with West Indies.
2. Glenn McGrath – The Metronome of Precision
Glenn McGrath was the ultimate line and length bowler who tormented batsmen with relentless accuracy. He did not rely on extreme pace like some of his peers. Instead he hit the same spot over and over again and forced batsmen to make mistakes. McGrath played 124 Test matches for Australia and claimed 563 wickets at an average of 21.64. No fast bowler in history has taken more Test wickets at a lower average than him.
He also had a strike rate of 51.95 balls per wicket. In One Day Internationals he took 381 wickets in 250 matches at an average of 22.02. McGrath holds the record for the most wickets in Cricket World Cup history with 71 scalps. His best World Cup performance was 7 for 15 against Namibia. He won three World Cup titles with Australia which is an incredible achievement. McGrath also became the fourth bowler to reach 500 Test wickets during the 2005 Ashes series.
3. Wasim Akram – The Sultan of Swing
Wasim Akram is celebrated as the finest left arm fast bowler in the history of cricket. He changed the art of fast bowling with his mastery of reverse swing. Akram played 104 Test matches for Pakistan and took 414 wickets at an average of 23.62. His strike rate was 54.6 balls per wicket.
In One Day Internationals he was a pioneer. He became the first bowler to reach 500 ODI wickets and finished his career with 502 scalps at an average of 23.52. He also holds the record for the most wickets in List A cricket with 881 dismissals. Akram played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s historic 1992 World Cup victory. Along with Waqar Younis he formed a deadly partnership and together they captured 1,705 international wickets. He remains Pakistan’s leading wicket taker in both Tests and ODIs.
4. Dale Steyn – The Modern Day Great
Dale Steyn bowled with relentless aggression and made batsmen feel uncomfortable at the crease. He is South Africa’s all time leading wicket taker in Test cricket. He played 93 Tests and claimed 439 wickets at an average of 22.95. His strike rate of 42.3 balls per wicket is better than any other bowler who has taken more than 200 Test wickets. That means he took wickets more frequently than almost anyone else in history.
Steyn was ranked the number one Test bowler in the world for a record 263 weeks. He also excelled in Asia which is rare for a fast bowler. He took 92 wickets on spin friendly pitches in the subcontinent which is the most by any non Asian paceman. He reached 400 Test wickets in just 80 matches which made him the joint fastest to that milestone. The ICC named him Test Cricketer of the Year in 2008.
5. Jasprit Bumrah – The Modern Master
Jasprit Bumrah is the only active player on this list and he is already considered an all time great. He combines pinpoint accuracy with deceptive pace and can bowl lethal yorkers at the death. Bumrah has taken 234 Test wickets in just 52 matches at an astonishing average of 19.79. That is the best bowling average of any player who has taken 200 or more Test wickets. He also has a strike rate of 42.86 balls per wicket.
In One Day Internationals he has 151 wickets in 91 matches at an average of 23.74. In T20 Internationals he has taken 121 wickets in 94 matches at an average of 18.57. He is one of the few bowlers to take 100 or more wickets in all three formats. His best Test figures are 6 for 27. He has taken 11 of his 16 five wicket hauls in Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand. His career high ICC rating of 908 points places him among the best in history.
FAQs
Q. Who is IceCric’s greatest fast bowler of all time?
A. Malcolm Marshall is ranked first by IceCric.
Q. Which fast bowler has the most World Cup wickets?
A. Glenn McGrath holds the World Cup wicket record.
Q. Which active fast bowler is on IceCric’s list?
A. Jasprit Bumrah is the only active player on the list.
Q. Who is South Africa’s leading Test wicket-taker?
A. Dale Steyn is South Africa’s top Test wicket-taker.
Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.
