Who is the best bowler ever to average over 30 in Test cricket?

[a massive zebra]

My vote goes to the Indian offspinner Erapalli Prasanna, a true master of flight, loop, aggression and guile.

 

[viriya]

Harbhajan Singh, Rangana Herath, James Anderson are all decent picks.

 

[harsh.ag]

Abdul Qadir. Enough said.

 

[stumpski]

Sobers?

 

[viriya]

I think this poll will have a classic "bowlers-pre-2000-were-just-better" nostalgia syndrome.

 

[stumpski]

Out of interest, what's the minimum wicket requirement in that list?

 

[Red]

Jack Gregory was awesome by all accounts.

 

[Red]

Geoff Lawson could also be very good. Enjoyed watching him bowl

 

[a massive zebra]

Out of interest, what's the minimum wicket requirement in that list?

I just selected the top 100 wicket takers in Test cricket with an average of over 30. I think it works out at about 85 wickets.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I don't know about the best, but Patterson was pure box office. Seriously fast.

 

[Red]

As was Devon Malcolm at times

 

[watson]

Prasanna was universally acclaimed as the best off-spinner since Laker, and Mailey was the first great leggie. So one of those two.

 

[viriya]

Prasanna is universally acclaimed as the best off-spinner since Laker. So him.

Best off-spinner since Laker while Prasanna was playing yes? Let's not get too crazy.

What Ashley Mallett thinks != universally acclaimed

 

[watson]

Best off-spinner since Laker while Prasanna was playing yes? Let's not get too crazy.

Gee that was a quick reply, maybe some kind record. And yes, I have heard of Murali, so tense changed and Mailey also given an honourable mention.

 

[viriya]

Gee that was a quick reply, maybe some kind record. And yes, I have heard of Murali, so tense changed and Mailey also given an honourable mention.

I was under the impression that you were going by Ashley Mallett's picks.. As I recall he picked his 5 greatest off-spinners of all-time and didn't pick Murali.. I realize he likes classical actions and he can have his own opinion on how an off-spinner should bowl, but I doubt most people would agree with him nowadays (especially with the off-spinners in international cricket today)..

 

[hendrix]

I was under the impression that you were going by Ashley Mallett's picks.. As I recall he picked his 5 greatest off-spinners of all-time and didn't pick Murali.. I realize he likes classical actions and he can have his own opinion on how an off-spinner should bowl, but I doubt most people would agree with him nowadays (especially with the off-spinners in international cricket today)..

it's possible that people classify Murali as a wrist-spinner.

 

[Maximas]

That is a solid list in the poll, I'm going for my boi of course

 

[robelinda]

Flintoff comes to mind. Could be unplayable in several countries, yet just didnt get the wickets.

 

[sledger]

Ashley Giles.

 

[viriya]

it's possible that people classify Murali as a wrist-spinner.

He would still be an off-spinner.. A wrist-spinning off-spinner.. Unless you want to create a separate category altogether.