Best Test Bowler(s) since 2000

[Athlai]

Once more lets see who CW thinks is the best since the year 2000 in test matches. This time we shall be rating the bowlers. The qualification is onces more 20 matches and a minimum of 50 wickets.

The Bowlers


Australia

GD McGrath
297 wickets @ 20.53

SK Warne
357 @ 25.17

JN Gillespie
209 @ 27.09

B Lee
224 @ 32.24

England

SJ Harmison
205 @ 30.82

A Flintoff
191 @ 31.52

MJ Hoggard
240 @ 30.03

MS Panesar
73 @ 30.80

India

A Kumble
302 @ 29.53

Harbhajan Singh
217 @ 29.02

New Zealand

JEC Franklin
76 @ 28.19

DL Vettori
138 @ 33.98

Pakistan

Waqar Younis
94 @ 27.91

Shoaib Akhtar
135 @ 21.48

Danish Kaneria
203 @ 32.59

South Africa

SM Pollock
255 @ 24.91

M Ntini
299 @ 27.38

Sri Lanka

M Muralitharan
473 @ 18.58

WPUJC Vaas
211 @ 29.17

West Indies

CA Walsh
93 @ 19.73

Looking at these figures it does seem obvious that the batsman have dominated since the turn of the century in most cases, I've also included a few retiree's on the brink of the century but they did ALL play more than 20 test matches.

 

[haroon510]

none other than murali

where is the poll option?

 

[Athlai]

none other than murali

where is the poll option?

There you go.


I must admit there a couple who haven't yet played 20 tests that are very good (Bond/Asif).

 

[Athlai]

ARGH meant that to be a public poll, whoops.

 

[Goughy]

ARGH meant that to be a public poll, whoops.

haha, thank god. I messed my votes and at least people cant see my mistake

 

[Athlai]

Murali, McGrath, Warne in that order.

 

[Athlai]

haha, thank god. I messed my votes and at least people cant see my mistake

Hoggard?

 

[andyc]

Murali, McGrath, Warne in that order.

AWTA

 

[pasag]

Yeah went the Murali, Warne, McGrath combo.

Freaky stats for Murali tbh.

 

[Ikki]

Warne, McGrath and Murali - in that order.

 

[Flem274*]

McGrath, Murali and Bond.

Didn't vote Warne because I wanted bond, and yes I know he hasn't played 20 tests. Still reckon he'd make the top five though.

 

[Athlai]

McGrath, Murali and Bond.

Didn't vote Warne because I wanted bond, and yes I know he hasn't played 20 tests. Still reckon he'd make the top five though.

If he plays the next 10 tests he should.

 

[The Sean]

The Big Three in a class of their own IMO.

Murali's stats are bordering on the ridiculous.

 

[Ikki]

The Big Three in a class of their own IMO.

Murali's stats are bordering on the ridiculous.

Not so much when you take out Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and consider he played 40 of his 65 tests at home.

 

[NZTailender]

James Franklin criminally underrated by everyone, especially New Zealanders.

 

[Richard]

Not so much when you take out Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and consider he played 40 of his 65 tests at home.

The former yes, the latter no.

This is simply a fairly irrefutable case. Murali, Warne and McGrath stand-out heads above all.

 

[Athlai]

I don't know 353 @ 20.88 is pretty ridiculous.

(Excluding Bang and Zim)

 

[Athlai]

96 @ 20.99 playing away from the subcontinent for a spinner is also ridiculous.

 

[Ikki]

20.99 playing away from the subcontinent for a spinner is also ridiculous.

You're counting Bangladesh and Zimbabwe still, it falls to 22.

 

[Ikki]

The former yes, the latter no.

Um, he plays in the most spin-friendly conditions and it has nothing to do with his success? Warne does better in Sri Lanka than Murali does. Let that be a clue.

Also, the first 2 years of this century Warne was in some of the worst shape of his life struggling for form and health. It dents his figures tremendously.