Your top ten TEST bowlers of ALL-TIME

[OverratedSanity]

With every passing series Steyn is rising up the list, just keeps producing these match winning spells. Its strange, because on numerous occasions in Australia, UAE, and now vs India and Aus at home, he's been hit around a lot, taking his average>23. And I swear as soon as that happens something snaps in him and he's like "nope" and blows the opposition away

Already in the top 3 ive ever seen tbh. Barring something dramatic, I dont see myself rating anyone except McGrath ao Marshall decisively above him.

Also, I think people are kidding themselves if they think the top tier of fast bowlers consists of 15-20 bowlers. Theres no shame in saying Lillee, Marshall, McGrath are better than Roberts, Walsh and Davidson, its basically fact

 

[Slifer]

With every passing series Steyn is rising up the list, just keeps producing these match winning spells. Its strange, because on numerous occasions in Australia, UAE, and now vs India and Aus at home, he's been hit around a lot, taking his average>23. And I swear as soon as that happens something snaps in him and he's like "nope" and blows the opposition away

Already in the top 3 ive ever seen tbh. Barring something dramatic, I dont see myself rating anyone except McGrath ao Marshall decisively above him.

Also, I think people are kidding themselves if they think the top tier of fast bowlers consists of 15-20 bowlers. Theres no shame in saying Lillee, Marshall, McGrath are better than Roberts, Walsh and Davidson, its basically fact

I wouldn't say that the top tier of fast bowlers consist of 15-20 bowlers but as there is no Bradman of fast bowling, the top 5 or so are not head and shoulders above the rest. Example Glenn Mcgrath is (IMO) either #1 or #2 all time (depending on my mood) but he is not head and shoulders (literally/figuratively) above someone like a Joel Garner sorry he just isn't. Mcgrath is obviously greater or better but not miles better.

 

[Red]

Also, I think people are kidding themselves if they think the top tier of fast bowlers consists of 15-20 bowlers. Theres no shame in saying Lillee, Marshall, McGrath are better than Roberts, Walsh and Davidson, its basically fact

That's fine, but the top tier also includes Ambrose, Trueman, Holding, Wasim, Imran and Waqar & Hadlee

 

[kyear2]

That's fine, but the top tier also includes Ambrose, Trueman, Holding, Wasim, Imran and Waqar & Hadlee

There is a clear gap between those on ors list and the names you have mentioned. At least in my estimation. Ambrose as great as he was for example just wasn't as good as Marshall and as talented as Wasim was he just wasn't as productive as McGrath and Imran just was as productive and consistent around the world as Marshall or McGrath.

 

[watson]

There are five pace bowlers who are consistently selected by enthusiasts, experts, and former players to be the greatest. They are;

Gold/Top Tier
1. Malcolm Marshall
2. Dennis Lillee
3. Wasim Akram
4. Sydney Barnes
5. Imran Khan

I think that these bowlers represent the 'Gold' or 'Top Tier' because they appear to be favoured the most often by anyone who cares about cricket. Time and time again they appear at the very top of ATG lists whether we like it or not.

 

[watson]

Therefore, the real difficulty as far as I can tell is working out the latter half of the Top 10 as the opinions are more diverse and less concentrated. However, I reckon the most nominated ATG bowlers for the bottom rungs of the ladder would be;

Silver Tier
06. Richard Hadlee
07. Glenn McGrath
08. Curtly Ambrose
09. Fred Trueman
10. Ray Lindwall

Lindwall may come as a surprise, but his name is consistently put forward by anyone remotely connected with his era. For example;

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/567907.html

And so therefore we have it - the 'Silver Tier'. Bowlers 11-15 would represent the 'Bronze Tier', to use a 'Jagarism.'

 

[the big bambino]

Ambrose no.1 for mine. Just so destructive and made the WI near on invincible.

 

[watson]

Ambrose no.1 for mine. Just so destructive and made the WI near on invincible.

Ray Illingworth nominated Ambrose and Holding as his opening bowlers of choice, so you have good company in your opinion

 

[Eds]

Glenn McGrath real hard done by to not make it into any 'gold tier'.

 

[Red]

I don't see why Marshall or McGrath or any better than Ambrose, Lindwall, Waqar or Lillee (and quite a few others).

As I've said, give me any 3 of the top 15 and I'll be happy.

 

[watson]

Glenn McGrath real hard done by to not make it into any 'gold tier'.

It's difficult to know whether a bowler has been selected as an ATG bowler because of his bowling skills alone, or whether the selection has been biased by his additional batting skills - hence the selection of Imran over McGrath (for example). However, can we really look at bowling skills alone as both bowling and batting skills are necessary to help win a Test match? In other words, how often has the tail saved or won a Test match when all seems lost?

But since Imran probably has the best record over a decade of any bowler in the history of cricket, then we really have to give him the benefit of the doubt;

Blogs: Test players: a look into their best decades | Cricket Blogs | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[kyear2]

There are five pace bowlers who are consistently selected by enthusiasts, experts, and former players to be the greatest. They are;

Gold/Top Tier
1. Malcolm Marshall
2. Dennis Lillee
3. Wasim Akram
4. Sydney Barnes
5. Imran Khan

I think that these bowlers represent the 'Gold' or 'Top Tier' because they appear to be favored the most often by anyone who cares about cricket. Time and time again they appear at the very top of ATG lists whether we like it or not.

I would include the following using your criteria.

01. Malcolm Marshall
02. Glenn McGrath
03. Dennis Lillee
04. Sydney Barnes
05. Wasim Akram

06. Curtly Ambrose
07. Fred Trueman
08. Dale Steyn
09. Richard Hadlee
10. Michael Holding

11. Imran Khan
12. Joel Garner
13. Allan Davidson
14. Allan Donald
15. Ray Lindwall

For mine Akran wouldn't make the top 5 or possibly top 10, but he is held in high regard. At the end of the day though Marshall, Lillee, Barnes and Akram are held above all the others by the experts, enthusiasts former players and journalists. That much is evident from articles and ATG team selections.

 

[watson]

I would include the following using your criteria.

01. Malcolm Marshall
02. Glenn McGrath
03. Dennis Lillee
04. Sydney Barnes
05. Wasim Akram

06. Curtly Ambrose
07. Fred Trueman
08. Dale Steyn
09. Richard Hadlee
10. Michael Holding

11. Imran Khan
12. Joel Garner
13. Allan Davidson
14. Allan Donald
15. Ray Lindwall

For mine Akran wouldn't make the top 5 or possibly top 10, but he is held in high regard. At the end of the day though Marshall, Lillee, Barnes and Akram are held above all the others by the experts, enthusiasts former players and journalists. That much is evident from articles and ATG team selections.

Because such Top 10 lists are a reflection of the prevailing zytgeist they are probably best estimated by historians and authors. In other words, students of the game of cricket who read and study the most. A lot of us on CW do read a fair amount of literature, but probably won't claim to have read or authored as much as Fred. So I would be interesting in seeing Fred's list of Top 10 pace bowlers.

 

[Red]

Fred'll chuck Larwood in to the mix.

 

[watson]

Fred'll chuck Larwood in to the mix.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Perhaps Fred should name his Top 11 so we can then know who the proper Top 10 should be

 

[smash84]

i would be interested in knowing who Richie Benaud's top 10 pace bowlers will be.

Also would be interested in knowing Chappell's top 10 since he just loves attacking bowlers. Ian Chappell's top 10 probably read something like

Lillee
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hadlee
Wasim
etc

 

[the big bambino]

Its interesting to see Trueman preferred to Statham over the passing years when at the time selectors often preferred the latter. Statham made tours where Trueman was left behind and it might be his publicity and fame causes him to be overrated in comparison to his contemporaries.

 

[Red]

i would be interested in knowing who Richie Benaud's top 10 pace bowlers will be.

Also would be interested in knowing Chappell's top 10 since he just loves attacking bowlers. Ian Chappell's top 10 probably read something like

Lillee
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hadlee
Wasim
etc

Benaud selected Lillee, Barnes and Imran (as all-rounder) in his first XI.

His shortlist was Lindwall, Trueman, McGrath, Larwood, Lillee and Barnes.

 

[smash84]

Was McGrath in his shortlist?

So I guess that must be his top 6. Can't be sure because I think Richie rated Hadlee quite highly as a bowler (and Imran too) but they both ended up in the all rounders category.

 

[Red]

Was McGrath in his shortlist?

So I guess that must be his top 6. Can't be sure because I think Richie rated Hadlee quite highly as a bowler (and Imran too) but they both ended up in the all rounders category.

McGrath was shortlisted as a bowler

ARs shortlisted were Miller, Sobers, Imran, Botham, Hadlee and Kapil.