Test Cricket is a format that has been there for almost 150 years and there have been hundreds of great bowlers that have played test cricket for their respective nations. England and Australia were the first countries to start playing test cricket and then the likes of India, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa started playing. There have been some fast bowlers that have become the greatest fast bowlers of all time like Glenn McGrath and James Anderson.

Let’s look at the Top 10 Greatest Test Bowlers of all time:

1) Muttiah Muralitharan

There could have been a temptation to put Shane Warne at the top spot but the sheer number of more Wickets that Muttiah Muralitharan got in fewer test Matches means that he has to be the number 1 test Bowler of all time. He has played 133 Test Matches for Sri Lanka and has taken a record 800 Test Wickets. 800 Test Wickets is something that will never be duplicated again. He has taken 67 Five Wicket Hauls In Test Cricket and 22 times he has taken 10 Wickets in an innings.

2) Shane Warne

The late great Shane Warne cannot be any lower than number 2 in this list. He made leg spin bowling cool and by looking at him countless leg spinners took the ball and wanted to play cricket. He has played 145 Test Matches for Australia and in those Matches he has taken 708 Test Wickets. He could do magic with the ball and he has bowled the ball on the century in test cricket. Shane Warne took 37 Five Wicket Hauls and 10 times he has taken 10 Wickets in a test match.

3) Glenn McGrath

Even though there are a few fast bowlers above him , Glenn McGrath is number 3 on this list because he could do exceptionally well in all conditions and not just in Australia. Glenn McGrath was a special talent and he has the knack of bowling the ball in one particular spot all the time. He played 124 Test Matches for Australia and he took 563 Wickets at an amazing average of 21.64. He has taken 29 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket. He was an inspiration to so many young fast bowlers in the world.

4) Anil Kumble

The greatest test bowler that India ever saw was Anil Kumble. He was the biggest match winner in the Indian team. He played 132 Test Matches for India and in those Matches he had taken 619 Test Wickets. He has taken 35 Five Wicket Hauls and he is also one of only 3 men in test cricket history to have taken all 10 wickets in a test innings. Anil Kumble was special and he took 10 wickets in a test match 8 times.

5) James Anderson

This might be a controversial choice for some people to put Jimmy Anderson at number 5 but the other 4 Bowlers above him did very well in all conditions. Jimmy Anderson has played 183 Test Matches for England which is the second most in history. He has taken 690 Test Wickets and is just 10 wickets away from 700 Test Wickets and 19 from breaking the record of Shane Warne. He has taken 32 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket. He will be raring to go in the India tour of 5 Test Matches in February next year.

6) Dale Steyn

The best South African bowler in test cricket history has to be at the number 6 spot. For a lot of people he is the best fast bowler in the current generation because he used to trouble the batters at every ground he faced. He took 439 Test Wickets for South Africa in just 93 Test Matches. He had an average of 22.95 in his Test Career. Dale Steyn took 26 Five Wicket Hauls in his Test Career and he was the number 1 Test Bowler for the longest time.

7) Courtney Walsh

The best bowler from the great West Indies team has to be in this list because he was the first to get to the landmark of 500 Test Wickets for West Indies cricket. He played 132 Test Matches for West Indies and he took 519 Test Wickets for West Indies. He had also taken 22 Five Wicket Hauls in his career and he was the glue that kept the great West Indies team together and he had other incredible fast bowlers with him for company.

8) Richard Hadlee

The best bowler in the history of New Zealand cricket and who was a part of the great quarter of all rounders who played at the same time. Richard Hadlee was the pride of New Zealand and he played 93 Test Matches for New Zealand. He took 431 Test Wickets at an average of 22.30. The amazing thing about him is that he has taken 36 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket which is the most for a fast bowler and he has also taken 10 Wickets in a test match 9 times.

9) Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram was one of the greatest left arm fast bowlers of all time and although he may not have as many wickets as the other people but the impact that he had for Pakistan cricket is something that cannot be looked past. He played 104 Test Matches for Pakistan and he took 414 Test Wickets in his career. He had an average of 23.62 and he took 25 Five Wicket Hauls in his career. He changed the direction of Pakistan cricket and they started producing a line of fast bowling greats.

10) Ravichandran Ashwin

The 10th spot was where there were a lot of options but the sheer number of wickets he has taken and the number of test matches he has taken these wickets in gets his just past others. There was Nathan Lyon who was also in consideration but Ashwin just edged him. He has played 94 Test Matches till now and he has taken 489 Test Wickets which is an average of more than 5 Wickets per Test Match. He has taken 34 Five Wicket Hauls in his test career and 8 times he has taken 10 Wickets in a test match.

Table Representing Top 10 Greatest Test Bowlers of all time

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Greatest Test Batsman of all time