Ranking top 10 modern-day fast bowlers

The game of cricket has changed with time and so have the challenges for bowlers. Back in the ancient era, only Test cricket existed and bowlers had the liberty of going after wickets without concerning much about the scoring rate. However, the ODIs came into the picture in the 1970s and the economy-rate column became more significant.

As far as modern-day cricket is concerned, international cricket has three formats – Test, ODI, and T20I. With the dynamics being different in all versions, different skill sets are required to thrive across formats. Owing to the same, fast bowlers face various challenges nowadays. While pacers need to take regular wickets in Test cricket, they need to restrict the scoring rate in white-ball games.

Besides this, fast bowlers are most prone to injuries in comparison to batsmen, spinners, and wicket-keepers. Hence, it takes some beating to shine as a pacer in modern-day cricket. Nevertheless, they have been several speed merchants who have embraced this challenge, and tormented batters in different conditions. We’ll have a look at them.

Ranking top 10 modern-day fast bowlers

10. Zaheer Khan

One of the finest left-arm pacers ever, Zaheer Khan was nothing but a force to reckon with during his prime days. He led India’s bowling line-up for over a decade and did his job with utmost precision. While he made the red ball talk in the longest format, his deceptive deliveries troubled several big names in ODIs and T20Is.

Making his international debut in 2000, Zaheer burst onto the scenes with his ability to set the speed gun on fire. Due to injuries, however, his pace gradually went down with time but his lethality wasn’t dented much. His ability to swing the ball wasn’t second to many as the left-arm pacer took wickets in different parts.

In order to contain a run flow in limited-overs cricket, the talisman had several variations in his arsenal. In fact, he was instrumental in taking India to the 2011 World Cup title, scalping 21 wickets in nine outings. Overall, Zaheer took 597 wickets in his glorious international career.

9. James Anderson

You won’t see many fast bowlers creating a significant impact after turning 35. Then there’s James Anderson, swinging the red cherry like a boss at 39. The veteran England pacer has certainly aged like fine wine and only seems to get better with time. Hence, it will be interesting how far the talismanic cricketer goes.

Anderson is certainly one of the finest swing bowlers of all time, and his record speaks volumes of his prowess. The right-arm pacer can generate movement on the flattest of tracks, and his sharp mind is the cherry on the cake. As a result, the Lancashire-born cricketer is the only pacer to take over 600 wickets in Test cricket. Not to forget, he isn’t done yet.

Mostly known for his heroics in whites, Anderson has done well in limited-overs cricket as well. Despite not playing any ODI since 2015, Anderson is still England’s highest wicket-taker in the format with 269 scalps. In total, the English star has scalped 917 international wickets and the tally is set to enhance further.  

8. Trent Boult

Trent Boult has been instrumental in New Zealand’s meteoric rise in recent years. Hence, he occupies the eighth position on this elite list. The left-arm pacer can move the ball at will and many prominent batters have become victims of his brilliance. Boult is truly an all-format and an all-condition pacer, and his records speak volumes of his prowess

Making his international debut in 2012, Boult didn’t take long in becoming a vital cog of the national team. He made a deadly pair with fellow pacer Tim Southee and the duo took New Zealand to several wins across formats. Notably, Boult was also instrumental in taking the Blackcaps to not one but two ODI World Cup finals.

While he was the tournament’s joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2015 edition, Boult scalped 17 wickets in the 2019 competition. The star fast bowler also deserves credit for taking New Zealand to the title in the inaugural World Test Championship. At 32, Boult has already scalped 507 international cricket and he certainly has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

7. Shoaib Akhtar

The seventh place on this list is occupied by Shoaib Akhtar. Hailed as the Rawalpindi Express, Akhtar is indeed one of the fastest, if not the fastest, pacers to have stepped onto the cricket field. Owing to the same, his thunderbolts weren’t just challenging but intimidating for batsmen as well.

In fact, there have been many instances of players leaving the field after getting hit by Akhtar’s vicious deliveries. Although the Pakistan star might or might not be proud of this feat, nothing can defy that he was a nightmare for batters during his glory days. It has to be noted that Akhtar still holds the record of bowling the fast delivery in international cricket, 161.3 kmph against England in 2003.

Besides stilling fears in batsmen’s minds, Akhtar possessed several other weapons in his arsenal. He could generate movement off the surface and nailing yorkers and bouncers weren’t beyond his reach either. As a result, Pakistan won numerous games riding on his prowess. As far as his overall record is concerned, Akhtar scalped 444 wickets at the highest level.

6. Pat Cummins

As mentioned previously, a fast bowler is most prone to injuries than players in other departments. Australia’s Pat Cummins also faced the same challenge during his early days in international cricket. However, he overcame all those challenges and became the spearhead of the Aussie bowling attack. Now, this is what you call inspiring.

Making his international debut in October 2011, an 18-year-old Cummins burst onto the scenes with his sheer pace and ability to extract bounce from the surface. Within a couple of months, he made his debut in all three formats. While many expected him to become a regular part of the Aussie team, injury dented his plans.

Nevertheless, Cummins, like a true champion, worked on his fitness and came back to the national team. As of now, he is a regular face in all formats and his numbers are phenomenal as well. In fact, it has been over 2.5 years since the pacer is holding the pinnacle position in ICC Test rankings for bowlers. As, Cummins, 28, has 312 international wickets to his name.

5. Jasprit Bumrah

One of the hottest properties in modern-day cricket, Jasprit Bumrah lands fifth on this list. After all, there’s hardly any skill set of a fast bowler which Bumrah doesn’t possess. While he can swing the ball both ways at a good pace, his précised bouncers and yorkers make him an even greater asset. Not to forget about those disguising slower deliveries.

Bumrah’s international debut in 2016 indeed ended India’s quest for a formidable fast bowler. He burst onto the scenes with his unorthodox action which added zest to his already-lethal deliveries. As a result, the pacer took regular wickets in white-ball cricket alongside containing the run flow. Although Bumrah became a force to reckon with in limited-overs cricket, many believed his action won’t allow him to thrive in Test matches.

However, the Indian speed merchant shattered all sorts of stereotypes by shining in the longest format as well. To date, he has Test five-wicket haul in South Africa, Australia, England, and West Indies. Overall, Bumrah has scalped 268 wickets in Team India colours.

4. Mitchell Johnson

Although Australia has produced many prominent fast bowlers over the years, not many were more intimidating than Mitchell Johnson. The left-arm pacer bowled with hostility and venom throughout his career and made a mark in different conditions. Riding on his prowess, Australia also won several matches across formats.

Johnson received his maiden international cap in 2005. At that time, Glenn McGrath was in the twilight of his playing and the biggest question was who’ll take his place. While filling McGrath’s shoes wasn’t easy, Johnson essayed the role with brilliance. He liked clocking good speeds and his control made him an even greater asset.

While the Queensland-born cricketer had many lethal weapons in his armoury, vicious bouncers were his trump card. Despite all the safety gears nowadays, several batters feared to tackle Johnson’s body-line bowling. This helped Johnson in shattering many stumps. Coming to his numbers, the left-arm pacer retired with 590 international wickets.

3. Brett Lee

From one Aussie speed merchant, we move to another as Brett Lee is placed third on this list. Arguably the fastest bowler ever, Lee was a potent weapon in Australia’s arsenal during their glory days of the 2000s. Batsmen hardly got any breather while facing Lee as the speedster possessed remarkable speed alongside control.

Besides speed, Lee’s natural out-swinger was his major trump card. After all, who wants to tackle a moving delivery with pace? Nailing bouncers and yorkers were also well with Lee’s reach and this helped the Aussies in winning several games. He was also instrumental in taking the Aussies to the 2003 World Cup triumph.

Although Lee somewhat lost his sheen at the fag end of his career, he remained a force to reckon with. In total, the talismanic fast bowler has as many as 718 international wickets, and that too in just 322 matches. Now, this is a phenomenal record.

2. Glenn McGrath

As mentioned above, Australia has been a land of great fast bowlers. Glenn McGrath also belongs to that category but his methods were different. Unlike Dennis Lillee, Brett Lee, or Mitchell Johnson, McGrath wasn’t known to set the speed gun on fire. He wasn’t one of the canniest either.

However, limitations didn’t restrict McGrath from becoming a great of the game. Nicknamed as the Piegon, the right-arm pacer bullied batsman with his ability to swing to ball and accurate line and length. McGrath could assess the track conditions in no time and frame his plans accordingly. This helped him in tasting success in different conditions.

He also played a crucial role in taking Australia to the World Cup thrice – 1999, 2003 and 2007. In fact, McGrath’s tally of 71 wickets is the highest for any bowler in ODI World Cups. Coming to his overall numbers, McGrath retired with 949 international wickets, most for any pacer to date.

1. Dale Steyn

Former South African pacer Dale Steyn tops this list and not many can raise their eyebrows. After all, Steyn proved his mettle in all formats and all conditions. While he created magic with the red cherry in the longest format, white-ball cricket saw him taking wickets while keeping the scoring rate down. Now, what do you want more from your pacer?

Making his international debut in 2004, Steyn didn’t really burst onto the scenes as his first few outings weren’t much impressive. However, the then youngster worked on his game and emerged as a full-fledged fast bowler. Subsequently, Steyn took the cricket world by storm by shining in different formats and conditions.

While he used bounce to good effect in Australia and South Africa, Steyn swung the ball precisely in England and New Zealand. He made a significant mark in sub-continental tracks as well. As a result, he is the joint-fastest bowler alongside New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee to take 400 Test wickets. His numbers in ODIs and T20Is aren’t ordinary either. Speaking of his numbers, Steyn took 699 wickets in his glorious international career.