Best Fast Bowlers of All Time (Pick your top 3)

R0ssei · #1 April 4, 2018, 10:45 AM

I can't create a poll with 35 42 options. hence creating a thread instead. Pick your top 3 pacers that you want to have in your Best 11 Test squad. I might have missed a few (remind me if you want any inclusion), however most names are well-renowned. In fact, some may raise your eye-brows. There are 10 from AUS, 7 from WI & SA, 6 from ENG, 4 from PAK, 3 from NZ & IND and 1 from SL & ZIM.

I've ranked them based on their S/R in test cricket. Players is RED are still playing.

1. Kagiso Rabada (SA, 2015-2018) (Mat: 30, Wk: 143, Avg: 21.59, SR: 39.2)
2. Dale Steyn (SA, 2004-2018) (Mat: 86, Wk: 419, Avg: 22.32, SR: 41.5)
3. Waqar Younis (PAK, 1989-2003) (Mat: 87, Wk: 373, Avg: 23.56, SR: 43.4)
4. Shoaib Akhtar (PAK, 1997-2007) (Mat: 46, Wk: 178, Avg: 25.69, SR: 45.74)
5. Malcom Marshall (WI, 1978-1991) (Mat: 81, Wk: 376, Avg: 20.94, SR: 46.7)
6. Allan Donald (SA, 1992-2002) (Mat: 72, Wk: 330, Avg: 22.25, SR: 47)
7. Vernon Philander (SA, 2011-2018) (Mat: 54, Wk: 204, Avg: 21.46, SR: 48.5)
8. Mitchell Starc (AUS, 2011-2018) (Mat: 43, Wk: 182, Avg: 28.17, SR: 49.3)
9. Fred Trueman (ENG, 1952-1965) (Mat: 67, Wk: 307, Avg: 21.57, SR: 49.4)
10. Joel Garner (WI, 1977-1987) (Mat: 58, Wk: 259, Avg: 20.97, SR: 50.8)
11. Richard Hadlee (NZ, 1973-1990) (Mat: 86, Wk: 431, Avg: 22.29, SR: 50.8)
12. Michael Holding (WI, 1975-1987) (Mat: 60, Wk: 249, Avg: 23.68, SR: 50.9)
13. Mitchell Johnson (AUS, 2007-2015) (Mat: 73, Wk: 313, Avg: 28.4, SR: 51.1)
14. Glenn McGrath (AUS, 1993-2007) (Mat: 124, Wk: 563, Avg: 21.64, SR: 51.9)
15. Dennis Lillee (AUS, 1971-1984) (Mat: 70, Wk: 355, Avg: 23.92, SR: 52)
16. Jeff Thomson (AUS, 1972-1985) (Mat: 51, Wk: 200, Avg: 28, SR: 52.6)
17. Brett Lee (AUS, 1999-2008) (Mat: 76, Wk: 310, Avg: 30.81, SR: 53.3)
18. Morne Morkel (SA, 2006-2018) (Mat: 86, Wk: 309, Avg: 27.66, SR: 53.3)
19. Bob Willis (ENG, 1971-1984) (Mat: 90, Wk: 325, Avg: 25.2, SR: 53.4)
20. Mathaya Ntini (SA, 1998-2009) (Mat: 101, Wk: 390, Avg: 28.82, SR: 53.4)
21. Imran Khan (PAK, 1971-1992) (Mat: 88, Wk: 362, Avg: 22.81, SR: 53.7)
22. Wesley Hall (WI, 1958-1969) (Mat: 48, Wk: 192, Avg: 26.38, SR: 54.2)
23. Curtly Ambrose (WI, 1988-2000) (Mat: 98, Wk: 405, Avg: 20.99, SR: 54.5)
24. Wasim Akram (PAK, 1985-2002) (Mat: 104, Wk: 414, Avg: 23.62, SR: 54.6)
25. Andy Roberts (WI, 1974-1983) (Mat: 47, Wk: 202, Avg: 25.61, SR: 55.1)
26. Trent Bolt (NZ, 2011-2018) (Mat: 54, Wk: 215, Avg: 27.84, SR: 56.1)
27. James Anderson (ENG, 2003-2018) (Mat: 136, Wk: 531, Avg: 27.36, SR: 56.6)
28. Ian Botham (ENG, 1977-1992) (Mat: 102, Wk: 383, Avg: 28.4, SR: 56.9)
29. Craig McDermott (AUS, 1984-1996) (Mat: 71, Wk: 291, Avg: 28.63, SR: 56.9)
30. Josh Hazlewood (AUS, 2014-2018) (Mat: 40, Wk: 151, Avg: 26.84, SR: 57.3)
31. Courtney Walsh (WI, 1984-2001) (Mat: 132, Wk: 519, Avg: 24.44, SR: 57.8)
32. Shaun Pollock (SA, 1995-2008) (Mat: 108, Wk: 421, Avg: 23.11, SR: 57.8)
33. Andrew Caddick (ENG, 1993-2003) (Mat: 62, Wk: 234, Avg: 29.91, SR: 57.9)
34. Stuart Broad (ENG, 2007-2018) (Mat: 116, Wk: 410, Avg: 29.04, SR: 58.5)
35. Ray Lindwall (AUS, 1946-1960) (Mat: 61, Wk: 228, Avg: 23.03, SR: 59.8)
36. Terry Alderman (AUS, 1981-1991) (Mat: 41, Wk: 170, Avg: 27.15, SR: 59.88)
37. Zaheer Khan (IND, 2000-2014) (Mat: 92, Wk: 311, Avg: 32.94, SR: 60.4)
38. Tim Southee (NZ, 2008-2018) (Mat: 60, Wk: 220, Avg: 30.82, SR: 60.6)
39. Heath Streak (ZIM, 1993-2005) (Mat: 65, Wk: 216, Avg: 28.14, SR: 62.7)
40. Kapil Dev (IND, 1978-1994) (Mat: 131, Wk: 434, Avg: 29.64, SR: 63.9)
41. Javagal Srinath (IND, 1991-2002) (Mat: 67, Wk: 236, Avg: 30.49, SR: 64)
42. Chaminda Vaas (SL, 1994-2009) (Mat: 111, Wk: 355, Avg: 29.58, SR: 66)

Special Mentions (min 25 wickets considered):
* Robiul Islam (BAN, 2010-2014) (Mat: 9, Wk: 25, Avg: 39.68, SR: 74.4)
* Shahadat Hossain (BAN, 2005-2015) (Mat: 38, Wk: 72, Avg: 51.81, SR: 74.7)
* Mashrafe Mortaza (BAN, 2001-2009) (Mat: 36, Wk: 78, Avg: 41.52, SR: 76.7)
* Tapash Baisya (BAN, 2002-2005) (Mat: 21, Wk: 36, Avg: 59.36, SR: 93.6)
* Manjural Islam (BAN, 2001-2004) (Mat: 17, Wk: 28, Avg: 57.32, SR: 106)
* Rubel Hossain (BAN, 2009-2018) (Mat: 25, Wk: 33, Avg: 79, SR: 120.1)

* Votes will not be counted

Only pick 3.
I will count them as voting poll.

bujhee kom · #2 April 4, 2018, 10:53 AM

1. Michael Holding (WI)
2. Dennis Lillee (Aus)
3. Imran Khan (Pak)

If I could, I would add (just for me, not for this specific poll)

4. Joel Garner (WI)
5. Bob Willis (Eng)
6. Kapil Dev (Ind)

Tigers_eye · #3 April 4, 2018, 10:56 AM

Three Ws.

1. Wasim
2. Waqar
3. Wesley (Hall) Not in the list.

bujhee kom · #4 April 4, 2018, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigers_eye
Three Ws.

1. Wasim
2. Waqar
3. Wesley (Hall) Not in the list.

YEah, Dulabhai. I would pick Wesley Hall too, topnotch!

Tigers_eye · #5 April 4, 2018, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bujhee kom
YEah, Dulabhai. I would pick Wesley Hall too, topnotch!

Sir Wesley Hall.

Tigers_eye · #6 April 4, 2018, 11:00 AM

If Marshal, Garner, Roberts, Holding, and Croft terrorized batsmen on the field, Wesley would go in their dreams and terrorize there as well. He started his cricketing career as WK/Batsman. lol.

bujhee kom · #7 April 4, 2018, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigers_eye
.... would go in their dreams and terrorize there as well. He started his cricketing career as WK/Batsman. lol.

Hehehe...Lola lola korchen keno eto?? Our Mushfiquer is a wktkpr-btsmn too. Or bowling dekechen apni kokhono? Mushfiquer-er Bouncer kheye Roye-er naak bhocha hoye gechey!

"Mushfiquer- chuto-khatu...gatta-gotta...Gooti guti paye bhayanok bege dhula uriye dour-e ashlen Polton pranto theke...batsman Roye Haque dilen hishu kore pant bhijiye...Bat-e ball-e milon holo naa..kinto ball chole gelo maather bahire" - Mridha BoX Khudha

R0ssei · #8 April 4, 2018, 11:12 AM

There you go. Added another SIr.

Tigers_eye · #9 April 4, 2018, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R0ssei
There you go. Added another SIr.

Thank you. Last nomination: Rabada.

roman · #10 April 4, 2018, 11:53 AM

Joel Garner
Malcom Marshal
Michael Holding

The next big 3 for me are

Imran Khan
Wasim Akram
Waqar Yunis

bujhee kom · #11 April 4, 2018, 12:32 PM

Dear R0ssei,
How do you feel about Test Fast bowler Fazal Mahmood of Pakistan (Pakistan's first 3 decades of test cricket, post independence)? I think that he was exceptional.

R0ssei · #12 April 4, 2018, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bujhee kom
Dear R0ssei,
How do you feel about Test Fast bowler Fazal Mahmood of Pakistan (Pakistan's first 3 decades of test cricket, post independence)? I think that he was exceptional.

Well, really can't comment on players who played years before I was even born. But his SR is around 70 for which I don't want to list him here. However if more like you want him, then sure.

I added Rabada coz he will probably be in the top 10 bowlers of all time if he has a long career. Plus there are Bolt, Southee, Broad, Anderson, then why not him?

bujhee kom · #13 April 4, 2018, 12:38 PM

I also admire Malcolm Marshall and Jeff Thompson!

mufi_02 · #14 April 4, 2018, 02:57 PM

where is Taskin?

no taskin no vote.

bujhee kom · #15 April 4, 2018, 03:01 PM

Yeah no Forhad Reza?

And where is Shadahat Hussain?

tiger1000 · #16 April 4, 2018, 03:40 PM

Dale steyn
Malcolm Marshall
Glen mcgrath

Likes of wasim and lillee up there too

Rinathq · #17 April 4, 2018, 04:20 PM

Abul Hasan
Taskin Ahmed
Rubel Hossain....... be scared...... be very scared

Gowza · #18 April 4, 2018, 05:18 PM

I'm gonna g to say:

Marshall
McGrath
Holding

Marshall I believe is the best of all time, McGrath was exceptional in a mainly batsman's world and Holding I think is just very underrated (he averaged 23 at home and away from home, he averaged under 25 everywhere except for NZ don't know why his record is so poor there).

Honourable mentions: Lillee, lindwall, Hadlee, Steyn, Imran, ambrose, garner. Donald, Walsh, Miller, Wasim.

Rabada is terrific though, he's one of my favourites ever but don't think it's fair to pick him due to not having played enough yet (Procter was awesome but he barely played).

Garner is a good pick, he actually did average 25 or under everywhere he played though it didn't include India, actually Joel averaged las than 20 in 3 countries.

The top fast bowlers are so close together it's very hard to pick just 3, it would depend heavily on conditions and the criteria given (is it for one match or for a series? Or for an entire season? Do they play in Asia, or Australia or Africa or all of these places?.

tiger1000 · #19 April 4, 2018, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gowza
I'm gonna g to say:

Marshall
McGrath
Holding

Marshall I believe is the best of all time, McGrath was exceptional in a mainly batsman's world and Holding I think is just very underrated (he averaged 23 at home and away from home, he averaged under 25 everywhere except for NZ don't know why his record is so poor there).

Honourable mentions: Lillee, lindwall, Hadlee, Steyn, Imran, ambrose, garner. Donald, Walsh, Miller, Wasim.

Rabada is terrific though, he's one of my favourites ever but don't think it's fair to pick him due to not having played enough yet (Procter was awesome but he barely played).

Garner is a good pick, he actually did average 25 or under everywhere he played though it didn't include India, actually Joel averaged las than 20 in 3 countries.

The top fast bowlers are so close together it's very hard to pick just 3, it would depend heavily on conditions and the criteria given (is it for one match or for a series? Or for an entire season? Do they play in Asia, or Australia or Africa or all of these places?.

The thing with holding is, he played with that deadly pace attack that meant he was fresh all the way through, great too watch, but made it easier for all of them.

DinRaat. · #20 April 4, 2018, 08:02 PM

Down voted thread owner is racist.

R0ssei · #21 April 5, 2018, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DinRaat.
Down voted thread owner is racist.

I will count your 3 votes for Starc

Tigers_eye · #22 April 5, 2018, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R0ssei
I will count your 3 votes for Starc

I protest. Starc can only be counted as 1. Not 3.

The rules were set at the beginning. Otherwise I would have had Wesley for #1, #2, #3, ...#10.

DinRaat. · #23 April 5, 2018, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R0ssei
I will count your 3 votes for Starc

Racist as in you didn't include any bangladeshi's

Yankees · #24 April 5, 2018, 06:56 PM

1. Steven Smith
2. David Warner
3. Cameron Bancroft

because why would only batsmen plan to ball tamper? Ergo these guys must be the best fast bowlers I have ever seen.

R0ssei · #25 April 5, 2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankees
1. Steven Smith
2. David Warner
3. Cameron Bancroft

because why would only batsmen plan to ball tamper? Ergo these guys must be the best fast bowlers I have ever seen.

Or at least, they know better about reverse swing.