hero-image

Top 5 Test bowlers with highest ICC rating points of all time

Imran Muralitharan McGrath
The likes of Muralitharan, McGrath and Imran achieved record highs during their heydays

Even though there are various other parameters to judge the true greatness of a deserving cricketer, the official rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) stands as an accurate measure of every player's performances at any given time period. In particular, the rankings compiled by the game's governing body help immensely in determining the peak phases of the stellar careers of all legendary cricketers.

Let us now take a close look at five iconic bowlers who possess the highest rating points recorded in the long and illustrious history of Test cricket. It is pertinent to note that the system of rating the exploits of Test cricketers began in 1987 at the behest of former England skipper Ted Dexter. They were officially adopted by the ICC only in 2003. The game's apex body proceeded to rank the yesteryear greats in a retrospective manner and juxtaposed the top performers with the best of each subsequent era.


#5 Glenn McGrath - 914

Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath was the epitome of consistency right throughout his glorious career

Glenn McGrath occupies the fifth spot in the all time list of Test bowlers' rankings. His peak rating of 914 is two points higher than the corresponding tally of Tony Lock, Curtly Ambrose and Vernon Philander. The Australian metronome first ascended to the top of the Test rankings in 1996 and went on to achieve his best ever rating during August 2001.

Also Read: Glenn McGrath - The story of the boy who couldn't bowl

With 32 wickets from five Tests at a remarkable average of 16.93 and splendid strike-rate of 36.4, McGrath helped Australia thrash England 4-1 in the 2001 Ashes series. At the end of the fifth Test at The Oval, the then 31-year old reached 914 rating points. Not surprisingly, he finished 2001 as the top-ranked Test bowler in the world.

You may also like