5 best bowling pairs of all time in Test cricket

Bowling is an art which does not come to everyone. Consistency, hard work, and courage are the key to becoming a champion bowler. Test matches are won by bowlers, and it becomes easier if the team has a bowling pair of the world-class.

They motivate each other, plan dismissals together, and take their team to greater heights through their superior performances. The best teams in the world of cricket have been those, who had superior bowlers. From Dennis Lillee-Jeff Thomson to Michael Holding-Andy Roberts, the list is endless.

Here are five bowling pairs who are the best of all time in the Test matches.

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#5. Ian Botham and Bob Willis

Botham and Willis talking to Steven Smith

Bob Willis made his Test debut at the age of 22 against Australia and became one of the icons of the English cricket. He was tall, lanky, and full of speed.

Willis was operated on both the knees very early in his career, but he worked hard to overcome all the physical challenges. He had a long run-up and could seam and swing the bowl on either side of the wicket.

Willis took 325 wickets at an average of 25.2 in 90 Test matches.

Ian Botham was the leading all-rounder of his generation. He was the most admired sportsman in England, and that is why he was knighted for his contribution to the English cricket.

Botham was a great swing bowler who took 383 wickets at an average of 28.4 in 102 Test matches.

Together, they shared 476 wickets in 105 innings. Their most notable performance came in against Australia at Headingley when Botham scored 199 in both innings along with 7 wickets, and Willis took 8 wickets for 43 runs.

#4. Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis

Akram and Younis

Wasim Akram was one of the best fast bowlers of his time. His round-arm action and reverse-swing gave sleepless nights to the leading batsmen of his era. Akram was equally deceptive with slower-deliveries. He made his debut in 1985 and was the backbone of Pakistani bowling attack. In 104 Test matches, he took 414 wickets at an average of 23.62.

Waqar Younis was the ideal bowling partner for Akram. He was fast, aggressive, and was famous for toe-crushing yorkers. In his prime, he was the one of the fastest ever. He took 373 wickets in 88 Test matches at an average of 23.56.

Akram and Younis took 555 wickets in 107 Test innings together. They won matches for Pakistan several times with their seam, swing and scathing pace.

#3. Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh

Ambrose and Walsh

Curtly Ambrose was a giant in the game of cricket - both in terms of personality and performances. He was menacing and fast; had the ability to generate bounce on any surface. Ambrose made his debut in 1988 and took 405 wickets at an average of 20.99 in 98 Test matches.

Courtney Walsh was a workhorse who bowled for hours and hours. He was economical and had the ability to swing the ball on either side of the wicket. Walsh took 519 wickets at an average of 24.44 in 132 Test matches.

Walsh and Ambrose took 757 wickets in partnership. Both of them dismissed Mike Atherton 17 times in Tests.

#2. James Anderson and Stuart Broad

Anderson and Broad

James Anderson has been the pillar of English bowling for almost 15 years. He is fast and menacing. Anderson has the ability to seam and swing the bowl. Aggressive on the field, and shy off it, he has been prolific with his performances. Having played 144 Test matches, he has taken 565 wickets at an average of 26.89.

Stuart Broad made his debut in 2007 and has been an integral part of English team ever since. He has the ability to produce bounce on even the dead surfaces. He may not be as consistent as Anderson, but his ability to take wickets when the team needs it the most is impressive. Broad has taken 433 wickets in 123 Test matches at an average of 28.92.

They have taken more than 800 wickets playing together. They plot dismissals together and are a nightmare for the opposition.

#1. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne

Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne Promote All*Star Cricket Match

Glenn McGrath was similar to Ambrose in his bowling approach. He was consistent with his deliveries and knew the areas to bowl. He was a great seamer, with an ability to swing the ball. In 124 Test matches, McGrath took 563 wickets at an average of 21.64 which is phenomenal.

Shane Warne is the best leg-spinner of all time. He had the ability to spin the ball at an almost right angle. He had a great cricketing sense which enabled him to plot the dismissals of the batsmen very easily. In 145 Test matches, Warne took 708 wickets at an average of 25.41.

Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne collected 980 wickets in 197 innings together. They were the pillars of Australia's near-invincibility during the 1990s and early 2000s.