10 greatest men's fast bowlers of all time ft. James Anderson and Wasim Akram
Cricket is among the most diverse sports for all that it offers the fans - artistry and flamboyance of batters, acrobatics and athleticism of fielders, and the guile and mystique of bowlers. While the beauty of each one lies in the eyes of the beholder, let us expand on the bowlers, especially the fast bowlers.
Is there a sight in cricket that is more beautiful than watching an express pacer steaming in full throttle? Run-ups that build up similar to a massive reveal in a thriller movie, rhythmic actions that give a sense of a melancholy from a violin, and the ball dancing to a pacer's commands are qualities some of the best fast bowlers have mastered over a long period.
From sporting a gentle smile off the field, some of the all-time great pacers have also been the most intimidating on the field. These contrasts, along with the aesthetic joy provided from the run-up to the release have made fast bowlers arguably the most exciting on a cricket field.
To run in tirelessly in sunny and humid conditions and deliver bouncers, yorkers, and everything in between at different speeds, lines, and lengths makes fast bowlers most admirable.
Given the challenges of equating and contextualizing different eras, it is only fair ODI and Test numbers get more weightage since several greats of the past did not have the opportunity to showcase their skills in T20s, along with a cut-off of 500 international wickets.
On that note, it is time to pay tribute to 10 of the greatest pacers in cricket history, starting with the honorable mentions.
Honorable mentions:
Kapil Dev, Courtney Walsh, Dennis Lillee, Joel Garner, Chaminda Vaas, Mitchell Starc, Stuart Broad, Brett Lee, Makhaya Ntini, Trent Boult
#10 Allan Donald - South Africa
Former South African pacer Allan Donald comes in as the final name on the top-10 pacers list.
Also called 'The White Lightning' for his intimidating bowling, Donald boasts the second-best bowling average of 22.04 among those with at least international 600 wickets. With one of the most well-rounded run-ups and actions, the Protea pacer was a terror to face for even some of the best batters of the 1990s.
The most incredible aspect of Donald's career was his equally dominant red and white-ball careers. The champion pacer picked up 272 ODI wickets at an average of 21.78 and 330 Test wickets at an average of 22.25.
Purely on impact numbers like average and strike rate, Donald would be even higher on the list but his longevity and quantitative numbers weren't as high as that of a few others.
Nevertheless, the speedster bowling at full tilt remains one of the great sights of the sport.
Allan Donald's overall International numbers:
236 matches, 602 wickets, 22.04 average, 22 five-wicket hauls
#9 James Anderson - England
The recently retired James Anderson epitomized durability, endurance, and extreme skill level in an all-in-one package during his illustrious career. The 42-year-old is 3rd all-time in international wickets and No. 1 among pacers with 991 scalps.
While his white-ball career of 287 wickets at an average of 29.30 is nothing short of brilliant, Anderson was an all-time great in the red-ball format. His 704 Test scalps is third all-time and the most among pace bowlers, with the 32 five-wicket hauls the second most by a pacer behind only Richard Hadlee.
Displaying unmatched fitness, consistency, and desire, Anderson played Test cricket for over two decades and was paramount to England's 2010/11 Ashes win in Australia and 2012/13 triumph in India.
Even in his 40s, the champion bowler was at his usual best and it felt to many like Anderson could have continued even longer - the most telling aspect of his legacy.
James Anderson's overall International numbers:
401 matches, 991 wickets, 27.28 average, 34 five-wicket hauls
#8 Dale Steyn - South Africa
Arguably the best Test bowler on impact numbers, former South African pacer Dale Steyn comes in at No. 8.
The 41-year-old finished one shy of 700 international wickets in a stellar and often scintillating 15-year career. Steyn's white-ball numbers of 260 wickets at an average of 25 are highly impressive even if the tally is slightly less for a bowler of his calibre.
Yet, those wishes and some were fulfilled in an electrifying Test career, where he picked up 439 wickets at an average of 22.95. Steyn's Test strike rate of 42.38 is the best all-time among bowlers with at least 400 wickets.
The speedster was the key figure in South Africa's golden unbeaten Test series run from 2006 to 2015, including twin series wins in Australia and England in 2008 and 2012.
Dale Steyn's overall International numbers:
265 matches, 699 wickets, 23.37 average, 29 five-wicket hauls
#7 Richard Hadlee - New Zealand
New Zealand's best Test and inarguably overall bowler Richard Hadlee earns his rightful place at No. 7 in this celebrated list. Playing in the 1970s and 80s when Test cricket was 'The format', Hadlee finished with 431 wickets at an outstanding average of 22.29.
His 36 Test five-wicket hauls are the most by a pacer, as are his 41 overall five-wicket hauls.
Despite ODIs being limited back in the day, Hadlee impressed in his 115 appearances with 158 wickets at an average of 21.56 and an economy of 3.30.
His Test and ODI averages of 22.29 and 21.56 are third and second all-time among bowlers with 400 Test and 150 ODI wickets, respectively.
Richard Hadlee's overall international numbers:
201 matches, 589 wickets, 22.10 average, 41 five-wicket hauls
#6 Malcolm Marshall - West Indies
The fearsome West Indian pacer Malcolm Marshall gave nightmares to even the best batters of the 1980s with his pace and uncomfortable lines and lengths. While Marshall finished with terrific ODI numbers of 157 wickets at an average of 26.96 and an economy of 3.53, his Test exploits are other-worldly.
The Barbados-born speedster bagged 376 wickets an average of 20.94, which is the best all-time among bowlers with at least 200 scalps.
Marshall is also one of only six bowlers to boast a Test strike rate under 50, evidence of his ruthless wicket-taking ability.
Malcolm Marshall's overall international numbers:
217 matches, 533 wickets, 22.71 average, 22 five-wicket hauls
#5 Curtly Ambrose - West Indies
There can be no denying that former West Indies pacer Curtly Ambrose is a top-five pacer of all time, considering his numbers and also how several batters from that period call him most challenging to face.
His overall average of 22.11 across formats is third all-time among bowlers with at least 600 wickets. Ambrose's ability to produce steep bounce from an unrelenting line and length led to his brilliant ODI economy of under 3.50 - a rarity in the 1990s.
The now-61-year-old finished with 405 Test wickets at average of 20.99 - the best among bowlers with at least 400 scalps.
Curtly Ambrose's overall international numbers:
274 matches, 630 wickets, 22.11 average, 26 five-wicket hauls
#4 Waqar Younis - Pakistan
Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis terrorized batters at all stages of an innings with yorkers and unplayable reverse-swinging deliveries during the 1990s and early 2000s.
His Test strike rate of 43.49 is second only to Dale Steyn among bowlers with at least 300 wickets. Waqar finished with 373 wickets in the red-ball format, including 22 five-wicket hauls in only 87 matches.
His ODI numbers were just as sensational with 416 scalps (third all-time) and his bowling average of under 24 in both formats highlights his consistency and impact.
Waqar Younis' overall international numbers:
349 matches, 789 wickets, 23.70 average, 35 five-wicket hauls
#3 Shaun Pollock - South Africa
South Africa's Mr. Reliable Shaun Pollock comes in at No. 3, courtesy of his uncanny knack of landing a delivery on the perfect spot and making it talk on all conditions.
The former captain is eighth all-time with 829 wickets and a career economy rate of under 3. His economy rate of 3.67 in ODIs is the best among bowlers with at least 300 wickets.
Pollock also averaged under 25 in Tests and ODIs, while boasting 421 and 393 wickets, respectively.
Shaun Pollock's overall international numbers:
423 matches, 829 wickets, 23.73 average, 21 five-wicket hauls
#2 Wasim Akram - Pakistan
The 'Sultan of Swing', Wasim Akram is undoubtedly the greatest left-arm bowler of all time and has a legitimate argument for the best-ever bowler throne.
Easily the most skillful pacer in cricket history, Akram was renowned for moving the ball in the air and off the pitch both ways, while also mastering the art of reverse swing.
His yorkers were a thing of beauty and helped him bag several of his 916 international wickets - sixth all-time. Akram is the leading wicket-taker among pacers in ODIs with 502 scalps at a stunning average of 23.52 and an economy of under 4.
His Test numbers of 414 wickets at an average of 23.62, including 25 five-wicket hauls were just as impactful.
Wasim Akram's overall international numbers:
460 matches, 916 wickets, 23.57 average, 31 five-wicket hauls
#1 Glenn McGrath - Australia
The one and only Glenn McGrath tops the all-time ranking for pacers, thanks to his overall numbers and winning impact.
The former Australian pacer had the measure of several great batters of his generation and helped his side win a hat-trick of ODI World Cup titles in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
McGrath's 381 ODI wickets came at an average of 22.02 - best all-time among bowlers with 300 scalps. Similarly, his average of 21.64 remains the best all-time among bowlers with at least 500 Test wickets.
McGrath is also the all-time leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history with 71 scalps at an extraordinary average of 18.19.
Glenn McGrath's overall international numbers:
376 matches, 949 wickets, 21.76 average, 36 five-wicket hauls