Best Spin Bowlers in Cricket History
Spinners have a major role in the Bowling attack of any team as they can abruptly change the game scenario. These Best Spin bowlers are known for their amazing turn, flight, and various bowling techniques which makes them the most versatile bowlers of all time in cricket history. Master the ability to spin the ball is not an easy task as it takes years of practice, patience, dedication, and hard work. Let’s discuss the Top 10 Best Spin Bowlers of All Time in Cricket History that caused batsmen to struggle with their ball-spinning techniques and skills.
Top 10 All-Time Best Spin Bowlers in Cricket History
- Rangana Herath – Sri Lanka
Leaving for South Africa, long tour, hoping to do well. Always difficult to leave the little once behind. Tanx for all your kind wishes. pic.twitter.com/PMWPI5O9BC
— Rangana Herath (@HerathRSL) December 10, 2016
Rangana Herath spent the majority of his career under the shadow of Muralitharan, but since Murali’s retirement, Herath has emerged as Sri Lanka’s undeniable spin leader. Herath achieved international recognition late in his career, but he persisted and bowled effectively with his left-arm spin. He is the world’s most prolific spinner in the post-Murali era.
Herath’s success was due to his drift and line control. His astute mind also aids in the preparation of the batsmen. The Sri Lankan spinner has 433 and 74 wickets in 93 Tests and 71 One-Day Internationals, respectively. Additionally, he appeared in 17 T20 internationals, taking five wickets for three runs against New Zealand in the 2014 World T20 quarter-final.
- Saeed Ajmal – Pakistan
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Ajmal is one of Pakistan’s most lethal off-spinners who has represented the country at the international level. He established himself as one of the world’s best bowlers as a result of his outstanding performance. Since his first test match at the age of 32, this player has established himself as one of the toughest nightmares for batsmen. Saeed Ajmal is Pakistan’s quickest cricketer to reach 100 Test wickets. His career statistics are remarkable and reflect his ability. He made only 35 Test appearances for Pakistan, but he amassed 178 dismissals. He has 184 wickets in 113 One-Day Internationals. Ajmal has also taken 85 wickets in 64 Twenty20 International matches, averaging 17.83.
- Harbhajan Singh – India
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Harbhajan Singh is widely regarded as one of India’s all-time great bowlers. Harbhajan Singh made his international debut for India in 1998, dominating the field with his Doosra. He created one of the greatest series he has ever seen. Bhaji made test match history by becoming the first Indian player to score a hat-trick. He is also the tenth Indian to appear in one hundred test matches. He is India’s third-highest Test wicket-taker, trailing only Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev. Harbhajan Singh has 417 wickets for India in 103 Tests. He made 236 One-Day International appearances and claimed 269 wickets.
- Graeme Swann – England
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Retired Englishman with a right arm on break Graeme Peter Swann became the first English off-spinner in the modern era to take ten wickets in a match since Jim Laker. Additionally, he is credited with inventing the “flying saucer ball.” Between 2008 and 2013, he took 255 wickets in 109 innings in 60 test matches, including 6/65 in an innings and 10/132 in a single test match. His average in test bowling is 29.96, and he bowls at a 2.98 economy rate.
Graeme took 17 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls in test cricket. Between 2000 and 2013, he also took 104 wickets in 79 One-Day International matches, with a best of 5/28 in an ODI. Graeme Swann has a bowling average of 27.76 in one-day internationals, an economy rate of 4.54 and has taken five wickets once. Swann, widely regarded as one of the most prolific wicket-takers in One-Day International cricket, is deserving of a place among the Top Ten Best Spin Bowlers of All Time.
- Abdul Qadir – Pakistan
🇵🇰 The late Abdul Qadir was conferred with the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s third-highest civilian award. pic.twitter.com/7HKXyEBS8i
— ICC (@ICC) March 24, 2021
Abdul Qadir, a retired right-arm leg spinner from Pakistan, is widely regarded as the bowler who “mastered the googlies, flippers, leg-breaks, and topspins.” According to former English captain Graham Gooch, “Qadir was far superior to Shane Warne.” Between 1977 and 1990, he took 236 wickets in 111 tests, including 9/56 in an innings and 13/101 in a single test match. His test bowling average is 32.80, with an economy rate of 2.71. Additionally, Abdul Qadir took five wickets 15 times in test cricket and ten wickets five times.
He also took 132 wickets in 104 One-Day International matches between 1983 and 1993, with a best ODI finish of 5/44. Qadir has a bowling average of 26.16 in one-day internationals, an economy rate of 4.06 and has taken five wickets twice. That is why he is ranked among the Top Ten Best Spin Bowlers of All Time.
- Saqlain Mushtaq – Pakistan
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Retired right-arm off-break Saqlain Mushtaq, a Pakistani, is widely credited with inventing the “doosra.” He became the quickest bowler in One Day International history to reach 100 wickets. Between 1995 and 2004, he took 208 wickets in 86 innings in 49 test matches, with the best bowling figures of 8/164 in an innings and 10/155 in a single test match. Additionally, he has a 29.83 test-blowing average and a 2.64 economy average.
Mushtaq took five wickets 13 times and ten wickets three times in test cricket. Between 1995 and 2003, he also took 288 wickets in 169 One-Day International (ODI) matches, with a best ODI finish of 5/20. Saqlain has a bowling average of 21.78 and an economy rate of 4.29 in one-day internationals, and he has taken five wickets six times. Saqlain is deserving of being ranked among the Top Ten Greatest Spin Bowlers of All Time, as he consistently marks one of the game’s greatest bowling figures in tests.
- Anil Kumble – India
Anil Radhakrishna Kumble, a retired right-arm leg-break bowler and former captain of the Indian cricket team, is ranked fourth on the list of the Top Ten Greatest Spin Bowlers of All Time. In 1996, he was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year. He became the fourth Indian cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in February 2015. Between 1990 and 2008, Anil took 619 wickets in 236 innings in 132 test matches, with the best bowling performances being 10/74 in an innings and 14/149 in a single test match.
He has a 29.65 test bowling average and a 2.69 economy rate. Kumble took 35 wickets in test cricket and ten wickets eight times. He also took 337 wickets in 271 One-Day International matches between 1990 and 2007, with a best ODI score of 6/12. Kumble has a bowling average of 30.89 and an economy rate of 4.30 in one-day internationals, and he has taken five wickets twice.
- Shane Warne – Australia
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Shane Keith Warne, the iconic Australian right-arm leg-break bowler, was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 1994 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. Between 1992 and 2007, he took 708 wickets in 273 innings in 145 test matches, with the best bowling figures of 8/71 and 12/128 in a single test match. His blowing average is 25.41, and his economy rate is 2.65. Additionally, Warne took five wickets 37 times in test cricket and ten wickets ten times. Between 1993 and 2005, he also took 293 wickets in 194 One-Day International matches, with a best ODI result of 5/33. Warne has a bowling average of 25.73 in one-day internationals, an economy rate of 4.25, and has taken five wickets once. Without a doubt, Warne is one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time.
- Ravichandran Ashwin – India
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Ashwin is one of the most dangerous off-spinners in modern cricket. His remarkable turn has perplexed batsmen numerous times. Ashwin is the quickest Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in test cricket, having played just 18 matches. Ravichandran Ashwin has appeared in just 71 Tests but has taken 365 wickets, including 27 five-wicket hauls and seven ten-wicket hauls. He has represented India in 111 One-Day Internationals and has taken 150 wickets. Ashwin has 52 wickets in 46 T20I appearances for India. He has earned the title of a bowling all-rounder, having amassed four Test hundreds and eleven half-centuries.
- Muttiah Muralitharan – Sri Lanka
Muttiah Muralitharan is undoubtedly the Best Spin Bowler of All-Time in Cricket History. He holds the record for most ODI and Tests wickets as he took his 800th and final wicket on the final delivery of his final test match. Additionally, he has taken 534 wickets in ODIs at a strike rate of 23.08. He is the greatest spin bowler in cricket history.
He is a well-known name among spinners and is regarded as the game’s most prolific and effective off-spinner. By spinning the ball with his wrist, this player popularized the technique of deceiving the opponent. He later added Doosara, the most lethal tool in his arsenal, to his opponents. Despite the fact that his bowling action was frequently questioned, testing cleared him of any wrongdoing.
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