Test cricket in 2021 has had some of the best bowling performances that we have seen in recent years. A total of ten bowlers picked a ten-wicket haul in a match this year. Ajaz Patel picked all the wickets in a single innings against India and became only the third bowler to do this in Test cricket&#8217;s history.

The first edition of the World Test Championship came to an end this year as well. India and New Zealand qualified for the tournament&#8217;s final on the back of some of the best bowling performances by their bowlers. New Zealand won the match due to the bowling efforts of its pace attack.

In the article, let&#8217;s take a look at the best Test bowler of the year 2021 for every team

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-492127 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Blessing-Muzarabani.jpg" alt="Blessing Muzarabani" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-492127" class="wp-caption-text">Blessing Muzarabani. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Blessing Muzarabani had a decent year for Zimbabwe. He picked 19 wickets in five matches at an average of 22.36. Muzarabani is currently at 50th position in the ICC Men&#8217;s Test Bowling Rankings with 391 rating points.

This year, Zimbabwe played three-Test match series against Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Muzarabani was the leading wicket-taker in all these three series.

His best bowling performance came against Afghanistan in the first Test of the two-match series. He picked four wickets in the first innings while giving away 48 runs. His bowling efforts helped <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/six-sri-lanka-women-cricketers-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-zimbabwe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zimbabwe</a> win the match by ten wickets. It was Zimbabwe&#8217;s first win since defeating Bangladesh in 2018.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-220149 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Taijul-Islam.jpg" alt="Taijul Islam" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-220149" class="wp-caption-text">Taijul Islam celebrates a wicket. (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Taijul Islam finished 2021 as the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Test cricket. He took 30 wickets in just six matches at an average of 30.5. Along with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, he became one of the best spinners in 2021. Miraz picked 25 wickets in seven matches.

Islam, who made his Test debut in 2014, enjoyed a lot of success in 2018 when he dismissed 43 batters in just seven matches. In the absence of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/playing-three-formats-is-almost-close-to-impossible-now-shakib-al-hasan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakib Al Hasan</a> from the Test squad, Islam filled his shoes perfectly. He went on to pick a five-wicket haul twice in 2021.

His best bowling efforts came against Pakistan in the first Test of Pakistan&#8217;s tour of Bangladesh. He picked seven wickets in the first innings while giving away 116 runs, and bundled up the Men in Green for a score of 286 runs.

Although, his efforts was not enough for Bangladesh to stun Pakistan. Pakistan won the match by eight wickets after coming back hard with both the bat and the ball in the second innings.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-175307 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kemar-Roach.jpg" alt="Kemar Roach Windies v England" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-175307" class="wp-caption-text">LONDON, ENGLAND &#8211; SEPTEMBER 08: Kemar Roach of the West Indies. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-jayden-seales-kemar-roach-secure-west-indies-victory-in-thriller-at-sabina-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kemar Roach</a> made his Test debut back in 2009 as a 21-years-old lad. He was bowling at 150 kmph consistently and tested some of the best batters of that era with his bowling. However, an ankle injury cut short his career, and he ultimately found himself out of the West Indies Test squad in 2016.

He came back again in 2017 with some exceptional performances in domestic cricket. In 2017, he picked 25 wickets in seven matches at an average of 25.48. Since then, he has been a regular in the West Indies team and has enjoyed a lot of success.

In 2020, when everything came to a halt, Roach took 11 wickets in four matches. But in 2021, he tried to fulfil the missed opportunities with 27 wickets in eight matches at an average of 23.88. His seven wickets in total during the second Test of South Africa tour of West Indies almost stunned the Proteas.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-483108 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Embuldeniya.jpg" alt="Lasith Embuldeniya" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-483108" class="wp-caption-text">Lasith Embuldeniya. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

In 2021, he proved that if your first name is Lasith, then you are bound to create some magic for the Sri Lankan team. Lasith Embuldeniya picked 32 wickets in just six matches at an average of 27.21. No other Sri Lankan bowler could pick over 30 wickets this year apart from him.

The 29-years-old left-arm spinner made his debut in 2019 against South Africa in Durban. Sri Lanka won that match by a mere margin of one wicket due to the batting efforts of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20-world-cup-2021-mitchell-starc-unleashes-a-breathtaking-yorker-to-dismiss-kusal-perera/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kusal Perera</a>. Perera made 153 not-out and helped the team chase a total of 304 runs.

His heroics was compared to what Stokes did in Headingley that year. Embuldeniya picked a five-wicket haul in the second innings of that match and ensured that the opponent didn&#8217;t put a lot of total on the board.

Playing the seventh match of his career against mighty England at the start of this year, Embuldeniya picked a seven-wicket haul in the first innings. He came back in the second innings to pick another three wickets and completed his first ten-wicket haul in Test cricket. However, in the second innings, Sri Lanka&#8217;s poor batting show put England back in the driver seat.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-476566 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Anrich-Nortje.jpg" alt="Anrich Nortje" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-476566" class="wp-caption-text">Anrich Nortje. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

Anrich Nortje has overshadowed <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20-world-cup-2021-match-39-england-vs-south-africa-stats-review-kagiso-rabadas-sensational-hat-trick-takes-proteas-to-consolation-win/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kagiso Rabada</a> this year. Nortje picked 25 wickets in five matches at an average of 20.76. In comparison, Rabada has picked 16 wickets in four matches. Nortje has been ruled out of the India tour of South Africa, and it will be a huge blow for the rainbow nation considering his lethal pace and accurate length.

Nortje made his Test debut in 2019 against India during South Africa&#8217;s tour to India. He went back home, picking six wickets in two matches. In 2020, Nortje played four matches and took 16 wickets, including a fifer against England in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test.

Nortje had preserved the best for 2021 as he started this year with six wickets against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg. He picked another fifer against Pakistan when South Africa went there to play two Test matches. He finished that series with nine wickets in two matches at an average of 26.88.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-550127 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shaheen-Afridi-1.jpg" alt="Shaheen Afridi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-550127" class="wp-caption-text">Shaheen Afridi. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Without a doubt, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-rizwan-is-a-better-captain-than-babar-azam-shaheen-afridi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shaheen Afridi</a> was the best bowler for Pakistan this year across all formats. He picked 47 wickets in nine matches and was the second-highest wicket-taker this year. The left-arm pacer never had an off day and looked really sharp in every game that he played.

His tally includes three five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket haul this year. Apart from two occasions, he picked at least one wicket in every innings that he bowled in. His best bowling efforts came against West Indies in Kingston during the second Test of Pakistan&#8217;s tour of the West Indies.

Shaheen picked six wickets in the first innings and four more in the second to complete a ten-wicket haul. He is currently at number three position in ICC Men&#8217;s Test Bowling Rankings with 822 rating points. His success this year can be understood by the fact that at the end of 2020, he was at 32nd position in the rankings with 481 rating points.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-522014 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ollie-Robinson-1.jpg" alt="Ollie Robinson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-522014" class="wp-caption-text">Ollie Robinson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

Ollie Robinson made his Test debut for England this year against New Zealand. He had a huge task to make his name in a team with fast bowlers like James Anderson and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/you-have-to-admire-him-for-not-walking-shane-warne-takes-a-dig-at-stuart-broad-on-2013-ashes-controversy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuart Broad</a>. He delivered for England in the very first match of his career by picking a total of seven wickets in the game.

However, ECB decided to suspend him from playing all formats of the game after his old racist and sexist tweets resurfaced. He apologised for making such disturbing comments as a teenager. This became a national issue as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to step in and ask ECB to reconsider the decision.

ECB later retracted the suspension, and Robinson was included in England&#8217;s squad against India. In his comeback, he picked a fifer and dominated the Indian batting unit throughout the series.

At the end of the four matches, he had 21 wickets across his name and was the leading wicket-taker. Thus, he became the regular for England in Test cricket. Robinson has picked 35 wickets in seven matches at an average of 20.54 in 2021.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-586572 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pat-Cummins.jpg" alt="Pat Cummins" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-586572" class="wp-caption-text">Pat Cummins. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-was-really-angry-but-i-dont-know-who-at-pat-cummins-after-missing-the-adelaide-test-due-to-covid-19-protocols/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pat Cummins</a> is one of the best bowlers in the world at this moment, and his ICC ranking is evidence of the same. Cummins is the number one bowler in the world with 904 rating points. The gap between Cummins and Ravichandran Ashwin, who is second in the rankings, is 21 points.

Cummins has taken 18 wickets in just three matches this year at an average of 18.83. Cummins has been the best bowler for Australia since 2017, when he returned to the side after a gap of over six years.

His best bowling effort came against England in the first Ashes Test, which was also his first Test as Australia&#8217;s captain. Cummins picked a five-wicket haul in the first innings and complimented it by picking two more wickets in the second innings.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-528145 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kyle-Jamieson-1.jpg" alt="Kyle Jamieson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-528145" class="wp-caption-text">Kyle Jamieson. (Photo by Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Kyle Jamieson&#8217;s Test career is only ten matches old, and he has taken over 50 wickets. He is the fastest New Zealand bowler to pick 50 wickets. He took only nine matches to achieve this feat and broke the record of legendary <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/we-are-still-in-the-competition-mi-bowling-coach-shane-bond-after-loss-to-dc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shane Bond</a>, who took 12 matches to reach 50 wickets back in 2005.

He has picked 27 wickets in 2021 in five matches at an average of 17.51. Jamieson has picked three five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul this year. In the World Test Championship final, Jamieson picked the fifth five-wicket haul of his career against India. He took a total of seven wickets and won the player of the match award for his performance.

The best bowling figure for Jamieson came in January against Pakistan as he picked five wickets in the first innings and six in the second. His bowling helped New Zealand to beat Pakistan by an innings and 176 runs.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-585766 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-585766" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: Twitter/BCCI)</figcaption>

This year, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sa-vs-ind-ravi-ashwin-in-contention-for-three-match-odi-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravi Ashwin</a> is the leading wicket-taker and the only bowler to pick over 50 wickets in 2021. He has taken 52 wickets in eight matches at an average of 16.23. His tally contains a total of three five-wicket hauls.

It is the fourth time in Ashwin&#8217;s career that he has picked over 50 wickets in a calendar year. His best performance came during England&#8217;s tour of India. Ashwin picked 32 wickets in four matches at an average of 14.71 in that series. He won the player of the series award for being the leading wicket-taker.

He has taken these many wickets despite not featuring in the four-match series against England during India&#8217;s tour. Ashwin still has one match left if he plays the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. He can go on to pick some more wickets and maybe challenge Pat Cummins for the first position in the ICC Rankings.

Test cricket in 2021 has had some of the best bowling performances that we have seen in recent years. A total of ten bowlers picked a ten-wicket haul in a match this year. Ajaz Patel picked all the wickets in a single innings against India and became only the third bowler to do this in Test cricket’s history.
The first edition of the World Test Championship came to an end this year as well. India and New Zealand qualified for the tournament’s final on the back of some of the best bowling performances by their bowlers. New Zealand won the match due to the bowling efforts of its pace attack.
<h3>In the article, let’s take a look at the best Test bowler of the year 2021 for every team</h3>
<h3>1. Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_492127" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-492127" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-492127 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Blessing-Muzarabani.jpg" alt="Blessing Muzarabani" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-492127" class="wp-caption-text">Blessing Muzarabani. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Blessing Muzarabani had a decent year for Zimbabwe. He picked 19 wickets in five matches at an average of 22.36. Muzarabani is currently at 50th position in the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings with 391 rating points.
This year, Zimbabwe played three-Test match series against Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Muzarabani was the leading wicket-taker in all these three series.
His best bowling performance came against Afghanistan in the first Test of the two-match series. He picked four wickets in the first innings while giving away 48 runs. His bowling efforts helped <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/six-sri-lanka-women-cricketers-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-zimbabwe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zimbabwe</a> win the match by ten wickets. It was Zimbabwe’s first win since defeating Bangladesh in 2018.

<h3>2. Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_220149" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-220149" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-220149 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Taijul-Islam.jpg" alt="Taijul Islam" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-220149" class="wp-caption-text">Taijul Islam celebrates a wicket. (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Taijul Islam finished 2021 as the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Test cricket. He took 30 wickets in just six matches at an average of 30.5. Along with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, he became one of the best spinners in 2021. Miraz picked 25 wickets in seven matches.
Islam, who made his Test debut in 2014, enjoyed a lot of success in 2018 when he dismissed 43 batters in just seven matches. In the absence of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/playing-three-formats-is-almost-close-to-impossible-now-shakib-al-hasan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakib Al Hasan</a> from the Test squad, Islam filled his shoes perfectly. He went on to pick a five-wicket haul twice in 2021.
His best bowling efforts came against Pakistan in the first Test of Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh. He picked seven wickets in the first innings while giving away 116 runs, and bundled up the Men in Green for a score of 286 runs.
Although, his efforts was not enough for Bangladesh to stun Pakistan. Pakistan won the match by eight wickets after coming back hard with both the bat and the ball in the second innings.

<h3>3. Kemar Roach (West Indies)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_175307" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-175307" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-175307 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kemar-Roach.jpg" alt="Kemar Roach Windies v England" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-175307" class="wp-caption-text">LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 08: Kemar Roach of the West Indies. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-jayden-seales-kemar-roach-secure-west-indies-victory-in-thriller-at-sabina-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kemar Roach</a> made his Test debut back in 2009 as a 21-years-old lad. He was bowling at 150 kmph consistently and tested some of the best batters of that era with his bowling. However, an ankle injury cut short his career, and he ultimately found himself out of the West Indies Test squad in 2016.
He came back again in 2017 with some exceptional performances in domestic cricket. In 2017, he picked 25 wickets in seven matches at an average of 25.48. Since then, he has been a regular in the West Indies team and has enjoyed a lot of success.
In 2020, when everything came to a halt, Roach took 11 wickets in four matches. But in 2021, he tried to fulfil the missed opportunities with 27 wickets in eight matches at an average of 23.88. His seven wickets in total during the second Test of South Africa tour of West Indies almost stunned the Proteas.

<h3>4. Lasith Embuldeniya (Sri Lanka)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_483108" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-483108" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-483108 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Embuldeniya.jpg" alt="Lasith Embuldeniya" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-483108" class="wp-caption-text">Lasith Embuldeniya. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
In 2021, he proved that if your first name is Lasith, then you are bound to create some magic for the Sri Lankan team. Lasith Embuldeniya picked 32 wickets in just six matches at an average of 27.21. No other Sri Lankan bowler could pick over 30 wickets this year apart from him.
The 29-years-old left-arm spinner made his debut in 2019 against South Africa in Durban. Sri Lanka won that match by a mere margin of one wicket due to the batting efforts of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20-world-cup-2021-mitchell-starc-unleashes-a-breathtaking-yorker-to-dismiss-kusal-perera/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kusal Perera</a>. Perera made 153 not-out and helped the team chase a total of 304 runs.
His heroics was compared to what Stokes did in Headingley that year. Embuldeniya picked a five-wicket haul in the second innings of that match and ensured that the opponent didn’t put a lot of total on the board.
Playing the seventh match of his career against mighty England at the start of this year, Embuldeniya picked a seven-wicket haul in the first innings. He came back in the second innings to pick another three wickets and completed his first ten-wicket haul in Test cricket. However, in the second innings, Sri Lanka’s poor batting show put England back in the driver seat.

<h3>5. Anrich Nortje (South Africa)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_476566" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-476566" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-476566 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Anrich-Nortje.jpg" alt="Anrich Nortje" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-476566" class="wp-caption-text">Anrich Nortje. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Anrich Nortje has overshadowed <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20-world-cup-2021-match-39-england-vs-south-africa-stats-review-kagiso-rabadas-sensational-hat-trick-takes-proteas-to-consolation-win/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kagiso Rabada</a> this year. Nortje picked 25 wickets in five matches at an average of 20.76. In comparison, Rabada has picked 16 wickets in four matches. Nortje has been ruled out of the India tour of South Africa, and it will be a huge blow for the rainbow nation considering his lethal pace and accurate length.
Nortje made his Test debut in 2019 against India during South Africa’s tour to India. He went back home, picking six wickets in two matches. In 2020, Nortje played four matches and took 16 wickets, including a fifer against England in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test.
Nortje had preserved the best for 2021 as he started this year with six wickets against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg. He picked another fifer against Pakistan when South Africa went there to play two Test matches. He finished that series with nine wickets in two matches at an average of 26.88.

<h3>6. Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_550127" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-550127" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-550127 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shaheen-Afridi-1.jpg" alt="Shaheen Afridi" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-550127" class="wp-caption-text">Shaheen Afridi. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Without a doubt, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-rizwan-is-a-better-captain-than-babar-azam-shaheen-afridi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shaheen Afridi</a> was the best bowler for Pakistan this year across all formats. He picked 47 wickets in nine matches and was the second-highest wicket-taker this year. The left-arm pacer never had an off day and looked really sharp in every game that he played.
His tally includes three five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket haul this year. Apart from two occasions, he picked at least one wicket in every innings that he bowled in. His best bowling efforts came against West Indies in Kingston during the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies.
Shaheen picked six wickets in the first innings and four more in the second to complete a ten-wicket haul. He is currently at number three position in ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings with 822 rating points. His success this year can be understood by the fact that at the end of 2020, he was at 32nd position in the rankings with 481 rating points.

<h3>7. Ollie Robinson (England)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_522014" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-522014" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-522014 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ollie-Robinson-1.jpg" alt="Ollie Robinson" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-522014" class="wp-caption-text">Ollie Robinson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Ollie Robinson made his Test debut for England this year against New Zealand. He had a huge task to make his name in a team with fast bowlers like James Anderson and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/you-have-to-admire-him-for-not-walking-shane-warne-takes-a-dig-at-stuart-broad-on-2013-ashes-controversy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuart Broad</a>. He delivered for England in the very first match of his career by picking a total of seven wickets in the game.
However, ECB decided to suspend him from playing all formats of the game after his old racist and sexist tweets resurfaced. He apologised for making such disturbing comments as a teenager. This became a national issue as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to step in and ask ECB to reconsider the decision.
ECB later retracted the suspension, and Robinson was included in England’s squad against India. In his comeback, he picked a fifer and dominated the Indian batting unit throughout the series.
At the end of the four matches, he had 21 wickets across his name and was the leading wicket-taker. Thus, he became the regular for England in Test cricket. Robinson has picked 35 wickets in seven matches at an average of 20.54 in 2021.

<h3>8. Pat Cummins (Australia)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_586572" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-586572" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-586572 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pat-Cummins.jpg" alt="Pat Cummins" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-586572" class="wp-caption-text">Pat Cummins. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-was-really-angry-but-i-dont-know-who-at-pat-cummins-after-missing-the-adelaide-test-due-to-covid-19-protocols/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pat Cummins</a> is one of the best bowlers in the world at this moment, and his ICC ranking is evidence of the same. Cummins is the number one bowler in the world with 904 rating points. The gap between Cummins and Ravichandran Ashwin, who is second in the rankings, is 21 points.
Cummins has taken 18 wickets in just three matches this year at an average of 18.83. Cummins has been the best bowler for Australia since 2017, when he returned to the side after a gap of over six years.
His best bowling effort came against England in the first Ashes Test, which was also his first Test as Australia’s captain. Cummins picked a five-wicket haul in the first innings and complimented it by picking two more wickets in the second innings.

<h3>9. Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_528145" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-528145" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-528145 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kyle-Jamieson-1.jpg" alt="Kyle Jamieson" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-528145" class="wp-caption-text">Kyle Jamieson. (Photo by Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Kyle Jamieson’s Test career is only ten matches old, and he has taken over 50 wickets. He is the fastest New Zealand bowler to pick 50 wickets. He took only nine matches to achieve this feat and broke the record of legendary <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/we-are-still-in-the-competition-mi-bowling-coach-shane-bond-after-loss-to-dc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shane Bond</a>, who took 12 matches to reach 50 wickets back in 2005.
He has picked 27 wickets in 2021 in five matches at an average of 17.51. Jamieson has picked three five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul this year. In the World Test Championship final, Jamieson picked the fifth five-wicket haul of his career against India. He took a total of seven wickets and won the player of the match award for his performance.
The best bowling figure for Jamieson came in January against Pakistan as he picked five wickets in the first innings and six in the second. His bowling helped New Zealand to beat Pakistan by an innings and 176 runs.

<h3>10. Ravi Ashwin</h3>
<figure id="attachment_585766" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-585766" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-585766 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-585766" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: Twitter/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
This year, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sa-vs-ind-ravi-ashwin-in-contention-for-three-match-odi-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravi Ashwin</a> is the leading wicket-taker and the only bowler to pick over 50 wickets in 2021. He has taken 52 wickets in eight matches at an average of 16.23. His tally contains a total of three five-wicket hauls.
It is the fourth time in Ashwin’s career that he has picked over 50 wickets in a calendar year. His best performance came during England’s tour of India. Ashwin picked 32 wickets in four matches at an average of 14.71 in that series. He won the player of the series award for being the leading wicket-taker.
He has taken these many wickets despite not featuring in the four-match series against England during India’s tour. Ashwin still has one match left if he plays the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. He can go on to pick some more wickets and maybe challenge Pat Cummins for the first position in the ICC Rankings.

Test cricket in 2021 has had some of the best bowling performances that we have seen in recent years. A total of ten bowlers picked a ten-wicket haul in a match this year. Ajaz Patel picked all the wickets in a single innings against India and became only the third bowler to do this in Test cricket&#8217;s history.
The first edition of the World Test Championship came to an end this year as well. India and New Zealand qualified for the tournament&#8217;s final on the back of some of the best bowling performances by their bowlers. New Zealand won the match due to the bowling efforts of its pace attack.
<h3>In the article, let&#8217;s take a look at the best Test bowler of the year 2021 for every team</h3>
<h3>1. Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_492127" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-492127" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-492127 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Blessing-Muzarabani.jpg" alt="Blessing Muzarabani" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-492127" class="wp-caption-text">Blessing Muzarabani. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Blessing Muzarabani had a decent year for Zimbabwe. He picked 19 wickets in five matches at an average of 22.36. Muzarabani is currently at 50th position in the ICC Men&#8217;s Test Bowling Rankings with 391 rating points.
This year, Zimbabwe played three-Test match series against Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Muzarabani was the leading wicket-taker in all these three series.
His best bowling performance came against Afghanistan in the first Test of the two-match series. He picked four wickets in the first innings while giving away 48 runs. His bowling efforts helped <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/six-sri-lanka-women-cricketers-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-zimbabwe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zimbabwe</a> win the match by ten wickets. It was Zimbabwe&#8217;s first win since defeating Bangladesh in 2018.

<h3>2. Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_220149" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-220149" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-220149 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Taijul-Islam.jpg" alt="Taijul Islam" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-220149" class="wp-caption-text">Taijul Islam celebrates a wicket. (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Taijul Islam finished 2021 as the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Test cricket. He took 30 wickets in just six matches at an average of 30.5. Along with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, he became one of the best spinners in 2021. Miraz picked 25 wickets in seven matches.
Islam, who made his Test debut in 2014, enjoyed a lot of success in 2018 when he dismissed 43 batters in just seven matches. In the absence of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/playing-three-formats-is-almost-close-to-impossible-now-shakib-al-hasan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakib Al Hasan</a> from the Test squad, Islam filled his shoes perfectly. He went on to pick a five-wicket haul twice in 2021.
His best bowling efforts came against Pakistan in the first Test of Pakistan&#8217;s tour of Bangladesh. He picked seven wickets in the first innings while giving away 116 runs, and bundled up the Men in Green for a score of 286 runs.
Although, his efforts was not enough for Bangladesh to stun Pakistan. Pakistan won the match by eight wickets after coming back hard with both the bat and the ball in the second innings.

<h3>3. Kemar Roach (West Indies)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_175307" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-175307" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-175307 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kemar-Roach.jpg" alt="Kemar Roach Windies v England" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-175307" class="wp-caption-text">LONDON, ENGLAND &#8211; SEPTEMBER 08: Kemar Roach of the West Indies. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-jayden-seales-kemar-roach-secure-west-indies-victory-in-thriller-at-sabina-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kemar Roach</a> made his Test debut back in 2009 as a 21-years-old lad. He was bowling at 150 kmph consistently and tested some of the best batters of that era with his bowling. However, an ankle injury cut short his career, and he ultimately found himself out of the West Indies Test squad in 2016.
He came back again in 2017 with some exceptional performances in domestic cricket. In 2017, he picked 25 wickets in seven matches at an average of 25.48. Since then, he has been a regular in the West Indies team and has enjoyed a lot of success.
In 2020, when everything came to a halt, Roach took 11 wickets in four matches. But in 2021, he tried to fulfil the missed opportunities with 27 wickets in eight matches at an average of 23.88. His seven wickets in total during the second Test of South Africa tour of West Indies almost stunned the Proteas.

<h3>4. Lasith Embuldeniya (Sri Lanka)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_483108" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-483108" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-483108 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Embuldeniya.jpg" alt="Lasith Embuldeniya" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-483108" class="wp-caption-text">Lasith Embuldeniya. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
In 2021, he proved that if your first name is Lasith, then you are bound to create some magic for the Sri Lankan team. Lasith Embuldeniya picked 32 wickets in just six matches at an average of 27.21. No other Sri Lankan bowler could pick over 30 wickets this year apart from him.
The 29-years-old left-arm spinner made his debut in 2019 against South Africa in Durban. Sri Lanka won that match by a mere margin of one wicket due to the batting efforts of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20-world-cup-2021-mitchell-starc-unleashes-a-breathtaking-yorker-to-dismiss-kusal-perera/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kusal Perera</a>. Perera made 153 not-out and helped the team chase a total of 304 runs.
His heroics was compared to what Stokes did in Headingley that year. Embuldeniya picked a five-wicket haul in the second innings of that match and ensured that the opponent didn&#8217;t put a lot of total on the board.
Playing the seventh match of his career against mighty England at the start of this year, Embuldeniya picked a seven-wicket haul in the first innings. He came back in the second innings to pick another three wickets and completed his first ten-wicket haul in Test cricket. However, in the second innings, Sri Lanka&#8217;s poor batting show put England back in the driver seat.

<h3>5. Anrich Nortje (South Africa)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_476566" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-476566" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-476566 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Anrich-Nortje.jpg" alt="Anrich Nortje" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-476566" class="wp-caption-text">Anrich Nortje. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Anrich Nortje has overshadowed <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20-world-cup-2021-match-39-england-vs-south-africa-stats-review-kagiso-rabadas-sensational-hat-trick-takes-proteas-to-consolation-win/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kagiso Rabada</a> this year. Nortje picked 25 wickets in five matches at an average of 20.76. In comparison, Rabada has picked 16 wickets in four matches. Nortje has been ruled out of the India tour of South Africa, and it will be a huge blow for the rainbow nation considering his lethal pace and accurate length.
Nortje made his Test debut in 2019 against India during South Africa&#8217;s tour to India. He went back home, picking six wickets in two matches. In 2020, Nortje played four matches and took 16 wickets, including a fifer against England in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test.
Nortje had preserved the best for 2021 as he started this year with six wickets against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg. He picked another fifer against Pakistan when South Africa went there to play two Test matches. He finished that series with nine wickets in two matches at an average of 26.88.

<h3>6. Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_550127" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-550127" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-550127 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shaheen-Afridi-1.jpg" alt="Shaheen Afridi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-550127" class="wp-caption-text">Shaheen Afridi. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Without a doubt, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammad-rizwan-is-a-better-captain-than-babar-azam-shaheen-afridi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shaheen Afridi</a> was the best bowler for Pakistan this year across all formats. He picked 47 wickets in nine matches and was the second-highest wicket-taker this year. The left-arm pacer never had an off day and looked really sharp in every game that he played.
His tally includes three five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket haul this year. Apart from two occasions, he picked at least one wicket in every innings that he bowled in. His best bowling efforts came against West Indies in Kingston during the second Test of Pakistan&#8217;s tour of the West Indies.
Shaheen picked six wickets in the first innings and four more in the second to complete a ten-wicket haul. He is currently at number three position in ICC Men&#8217;s Test Bowling Rankings with 822 rating points. His success this year can be understood by the fact that at the end of 2020, he was at 32nd position in the rankings with 481 rating points.

<h3>7. Ollie Robinson (England)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_522014" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-522014" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-522014 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ollie-Robinson-1.jpg" alt="Ollie Robinson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-522014" class="wp-caption-text">Ollie Robinson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Ollie Robinson made his Test debut for England this year against New Zealand. He had a huge task to make his name in a team with fast bowlers like James Anderson and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/you-have-to-admire-him-for-not-walking-shane-warne-takes-a-dig-at-stuart-broad-on-2013-ashes-controversy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuart Broad</a>. He delivered for England in the very first match of his career by picking a total of seven wickets in the game.
However, ECB decided to suspend him from playing all formats of the game after his old racist and sexist tweets resurfaced. He apologised for making such disturbing comments as a teenager. This became a national issue as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to step in and ask ECB to reconsider the decision.
ECB later retracted the suspension, and Robinson was included in England&#8217;s squad against India. In his comeback, he picked a fifer and dominated the Indian batting unit throughout the series.
At the end of the four matches, he had 21 wickets across his name and was the leading wicket-taker. Thus, he became the regular for England in Test cricket. Robinson has picked 35 wickets in seven matches at an average of 20.54 in 2021.

<h3>8. Pat Cummins (Australia)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_586572" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-586572" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-586572 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pat-Cummins.jpg" alt="Pat Cummins" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-586572" class="wp-caption-text">Pat Cummins. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-was-really-angry-but-i-dont-know-who-at-pat-cummins-after-missing-the-adelaide-test-due-to-covid-19-protocols/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pat Cummins</a> is one of the best bowlers in the world at this moment, and his ICC ranking is evidence of the same. Cummins is the number one bowler in the world with 904 rating points. The gap between Cummins and Ravichandran Ashwin, who is second in the rankings, is 21 points.
Cummins has taken 18 wickets in just three matches this year at an average of 18.83. Cummins has been the best bowler for Australia since 2017, when he returned to the side after a gap of over six years.
His best bowling effort came against England in the first Ashes Test, which was also his first Test as Australia&#8217;s captain. Cummins picked a five-wicket haul in the first innings and complimented it by picking two more wickets in the second innings.

<h3>9. Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_528145" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-528145" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-528145 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kyle-Jamieson-1.jpg" alt="Kyle Jamieson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-528145" class="wp-caption-text">Kyle Jamieson. (Photo by Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Kyle Jamieson&#8217;s Test career is only ten matches old, and he has taken over 50 wickets. He is the fastest New Zealand bowler to pick 50 wickets. He took only nine matches to achieve this feat and broke the record of legendary <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/we-are-still-in-the-competition-mi-bowling-coach-shane-bond-after-loss-to-dc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shane Bond</a>, who took 12 matches to reach 50 wickets back in 2005.
He has picked 27 wickets in 2021 in five matches at an average of 17.51. Jamieson has picked three five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul this year. In the World Test Championship final, Jamieson picked the fifth five-wicket haul of his career against India. He took a total of seven wickets and won the player of the match award for his performance.
The best bowling figure for Jamieson came in January against Pakistan as he picked five wickets in the first innings and six in the second. His bowling helped New Zealand to beat Pakistan by an innings and 176 runs.

<h3>10. Ravi Ashwin</h3>
<figure id="attachment_585766" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-585766" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-585766 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-585766" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: Twitter/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
This year, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sa-vs-ind-ravi-ashwin-in-contention-for-three-match-odi-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravi Ashwin</a> is the leading wicket-taker and the only bowler to pick over 50 wickets in 2021. He has taken 52 wickets in eight matches at an average of 16.23. His tally contains a total of three five-wicket hauls.
It is the fourth time in Ashwin&#8217;s career that he has picked over 50 wickets in a calendar year. His best performance came during England&#8217;s tour of India. Ashwin picked 32 wickets in four matches at an average of 14.71 in that series. He won the player of the series award for being the leading wicket-taker.
He has taken these many wickets despite not featuring in the four-match series against England during India&#8217;s tour. Ashwin still has one match left if he plays the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. He can go on to pick some more wickets and maybe challenge Pat Cummins for the first position in the ICC Rankings.

The below-mentioned bowlers rose to the occasion and showed their mettle.

Team-wise best Test bowler of the year 2021

Test cricket in 2021 has had some of the best bowling performances that we have seen in recent years. A total of ten bowlers picked a