Top 10 greatest Test bowlers of the 21st century ft. James Anderson, R Ashwin
Red-ball bowling has evolved a great deal along with the format's growth, but the basic principles of bowling in the right areas and finding the balance between containing runs and hunting for wickets have not changed. Bowlers, especially in recent times, have had to find ways to counter the increase in scoring rate.
Since the turn of the century, Test cricket has witnessed a brilliant crop of bowlers who took over the baton from the ones who ruled in the 90s. Spinners and seamers battled for supremacy while the conditions largely dictated the proceedings.
Although, the rise of T20 cricket and workload management have contaminated the longest format a touch, there is still enough respect towards it from both authorities and players. The changing landscape has arguably been the most hard on bowlers due to the workload, but it has not dampened their spirit by any means.
On that note, let us take a look at the top 10 greatest Test bowlers of the 21st century.
#10 Jasprit Bumrah
A bowler who is only the first entrant on this list because of his lack of experience compared to the others on it, rather than prowess, Bumrah has been a massive revelation in red-ball cricket. Breaking through as a white-ball specialist, there were doubts over how he would fare in the longest format.
However, he has proved everyone wrong as his unique skillset has emerged as tailor-made for Tests as well. The right-arm pacer is capable of bowling with the new ball and can reverse the old ball as well.
He also has a knack of hitting the areas, troubling batters from both over and around the wicket by getting the ball to move both ways. If all of those was not enough, he is also capable of unsettling batters with his variations.
He boasts an average of just 20,24 after 39 Test appearances, and 173 wickets along with it. The pacer has been proficient across all terrains, a hallmark of a generational bowler.
#9 Pat Cummins
Another bowler who will skyrocket up the list as time progresses, the Australian captain has been a relentless bowler in Tests. Equipped with traits perfect for Test cricket, he uses his tall frame and express pace to hit the deck hard. Although not the greatest swinger of the ball, he makes the most of the bounce and also gets the ball to move off the seam.
Despite making his debut 13 years ago, Cummins only has 62 Test appearances to his name. This was primarily because injuries plagued the start of his career, right after a memorable spell of 6-79 on debut.
The imperious pacer has been able to play on a consistent basis in recent times, and continues to be a threat on hard and grassy decks. He has 269 wickets at a great average of 22.53, numbers he is expected to improve on.
#8 Kagiso Rabada
South Africa have a long line of generational pacers, and Kagiso Rabada is the current spearhead with a remarkable record. His high-arm action, sheer pace and ability to move the ball in the air and off the surface make him a deadly bowler across conditions.
He recently reached the 300-wicket mark in the format, and considering that he has not even turned 30 yet, this gives him an excellent platform to finish among the greats by the time he is done.
#7 Rangana Herath
A very under-rated bowler, and perhaps one of the greatest left-arm spinners of all-time, Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath quietly raked up wickets to gather greatness. Possessing a simple and highly repeatable action, Herath could bowl long spells and probe the batters.
In subcontinent conditions, he was like a rash for the batters, consistently homing in on the right areas to get the ball to grip and turn, and force the opposition to make a mistake. In a career that spanned almost two decades, Herath played 93 Tests and finished with 433 wickets at an average of 28.07.
#6 Stuart Broad
Turning into a red-ball specialist in the latter half of his career, Broad was able to get the most out of his abilities. His tall frame and natural ability to shape the ball away from batters, and also getting it to nip it back in, made him a dangerous bowler, particularly on his own turf.
He was particularly menacing to the left-handed batters with his around-the-wicket angle. His ability to read the game, his spirit, and his longevity led him to play 167 Tests and finish with 607 wickets, the second-highest by a pacer in the history of the game.
#5 Nathan Lyon
A generational spinner who has spearheaded Australia's spin-bowling department for over a debate, Nathan Lyon is the epitome of tradition and consistency. Despite home conditions in Australia not being entirely favorable to hi his style of bowling, Lyon has cracked the formula to be successful on such tracks by being a pioneer of overspin.
Lyon has deceived batters with his ability to flight the ball, and also with the ensuing dip and bounce, particularly when the surface does not aid any grip. His relentless accuracy has also played a huge role in his success. The veteran has 530 wickets in 129 Tests at an average of 30.28.
#4 Muttiah Muralitharan
With the majority of the legendary spinner's wickets coming after 2000, Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is certainly in contention for being one of the best bowlers of the 21st century.
He ended his career as the leading wicket-taker in Tests, with his final wicket being his iconic 800th scalp. He had to overcome a lot of obstacles throughout his career surrounding the legality of his action. However, his reputation remains untarnished.
With him boasting a unique action and release, batters found it very hard to read the deliveries off his hand. He possessed a wicked doosra, which often came into play, while his orthodox off-break was as deadly, especially in the subcontinent.
#3 Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn was a certified gifted bowler, who arguably possessed all the traits needed to succeed at the highest level. Menacing to face at the peak of his powers, the pacer made lives miserable for the batters with his pace, his knack of hitting the right areas, and his ability to get the ball to behave, whether it be the brand-new ball or the old through reverse swing.
A huge fan favorite, Steyn could have lifted his already illustrious career to a whole different level had it not been for injuries. Even being marred by niggles and blows here and then on a recurring basis, he still managed to hold the No.1 ranking for bowlers for 263 consecutive weeks.
#2 Ravichandran Ashwin
One of the greatest match-winners for India in Test cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin guarantees wickets. Deadly on subcontinent conditions and against left-handed batters, Ashwin has managed to outfox batters of all types. He has evolved over the years as well, tweaking his action, and introducing variations to keep the batters on their toes.
Batters find it hard to thrive against Ashwin when the conditions found the latter. The opposition could hang on for a bit, but the spinner's prowess meant that he always had the last laugh.
Ashwin is still going strong after 103 Tests with 528 wickets to his name at an average of 23.80.
#1 James Anderson
The leading wicket-taker among pacers in Test cricket, James Anderson left behind a legacy that is almost impossible to replicate.
With a red-ball career spanning two decades, the pacer garnered a reputation as being the finest exponent of swing bowling. While he did not have the express pace or the ability to extract bounce off the pitch, he made it up with his ability to move the ball around to his liking.
With incredible longevity, an unimpeachable home record, and an overlooked record away from home, Anderson finished his career with 704 wickets in 188 Tests, which is more-than-impressive for a pacer.