Top 10 non-Asian fast bowlers who have done well in Asia

There have been several fast bowlers who have performed very well in the flat wickets of the subcontinent. Some of their exploits have helped their teams win some memorable matches in Asia.Here’s a look at the best among them. Note: The bowlers listed here have played a minimum of 10 matches and have at least picked up 20 wickets in Asia and are listed based on their average.

#10 Bob Willis

Bob Willis

One of Englands best fast bowlers, Bob Willis played 15 Tests in Asia, taking 44 wickets at an average of 23.22. His best bowling figures of 6 for 53 came againstIndia atBangalore in January 1977. He also picked up 5 for 27 at Kolkata on New Years day of 1977.

#9 Shaun Pollock

Shaun Pollock

Not the quickest, but one of the sharpest bowlers to have played the game, Shaun Pollock picked up 60 wickets in 17 Testmatches in the subcontinent at an average of 23.18. His best bowling figures of 6 for 78 came against Pakistan atFaisalabad in 2003. His another memorable performance in Asia came in 1997 against the same opposition on the same ground when he picked up 5 for 37.

#8 Malcolm Marshall

Malcolm Marshall

Probably themost complete fastbowler to have ever played the game, Marshall picked up 71 wickets in 19 matches in Asia at an average of 23.05. His best bowling figures came against India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata where he took 6 for 37. His overall career bowling average of 20.94 is the best among fast bowlerswho have picked up 200 or more wickets in Test cricket. He, unfortunately, passed away in November 1999 at the age of 41.

#7 Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath

One of the most successful fast bowlers to have played the game, McGrath took a total of 72 wickets in 19 matches that he played in Asia at an average of 23.02. His best bowling figures came against Pakistan atKarachi in October 1998 where he picked up 5 for 66. He also played a key role in Australias historic series triumph in India in 2004, picking up 14 wickets in 4 Test matches at an average of 25.42. However, he hadonly one 5-wicket haul in the subcontinent.

#6 Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn

Possibly the best fast bowler in modern-day cricket, Dale Steyn has taken 84 wickets in the 17 Test matches that he has played in the sub-continent at an average of 22.64. His best bowling figures of 7 for 51came against India in Nagpur. This spell helped his side record a famous win over the hosts. It was also MS Dhonis first loss as Indian Test captain. His another memorable performance came 2 years earlier in Ahmedabad, where he picked up 5 for 23 to help skittle out India for a mere 74 in their firstinnings.

#5 John Lever

John Lever

John Lever played only a total of 21 Test matches for England, out of which 11were played in the subcontinent. In those 11 Tests, he picked41 wickets that included three five-wicket hauls and one10-wicket haul at an average of 22.58. His bowling figures of 7 for 46 came against India atDelhi in December 1976. Despite being a consistent performer for his county side Essex, theleft-arm pacers international appearances were limited to 43.

#4 Sir Richard Hadlee

Sir Richard Hadlee

Richard Hadlee may not have been the quickest bowler around, but he certainly was mighty effective. In the 13 Test matches that he played in the subcontinent, he picked up 68 wickets at an average of 21.58, withbest figures of 6 for49 against India atMumbai in 1988. One of the most memorable moments of his career came in India,when he picked up Arun Lal in a Test match atBangalore in 1988 to become the highest wicket-taker in Test history at the time.

#3 Courtney Walsh

Courtney Walsh

One of the best fast bowlers to play the game and the first cricketer to take 500 wickets in Test cricket history, Courtney Walsh had a successful time bowling in Asia. In the 17 Tests that he played, he picked up 77 wickets at an average of 20.53. His best figures were 6 for 79, whichhe recorded against India atMumbai in 1994. This wasalso the famous series where Vinod Kambli was bounced out,and it was the start of the endas far as the Indian southpawsTest career was concerned.

#2 Sir Wes Hall

Wes Hall

A genuine fast bowler with a very long run-up, Wes Hall picked up 54 wickets in a total of 11 matches that he played in Asia. His best bowling figures were 6 for 50, whichhe recorded against India atKanpur in 1958. He picked up threefive-wicket hauls and one10-wicket haul. Averaging20.05, he was the first West Indian cricketer to pick up ahat-trick, achievingthe feat against Pakistan in 1959.

#1 Alan Davidson

Alan Davidson

The Australian left-arm pacer had a terrific time bowling on the flat and dry pitches of the sub-continent. He picked up a total of 44 wicketsat an astonishing average of 17.93in 10 matches, whichincluded two 5-wicket hauls and one10-wickethaul. Auseful lower batsman, he recorded his best figures of 7 for 93,against India at Kanpur in December 1959.