5 Best Test fast bowlers in the world right now

Fast bowling is quite possibly the most exciting thing in the game of cricket. It is an entertaining and fascinating aspect of the game which keeps enthralling and delights the spectators. It is always great to see the balls bowled at a blistering pace to the batsmen, though it might not be as enjoyable to the batsman himself.

Fast bowling is not just about raw pace, it is also about accuracy and outthinking the batsman.

There are a number of great fast bowlers today, so it is extremely difficult to pick the 4 best bowlers out of them. We have taken into account their consistency, pace, work-rate and match-winning performances before arriving at the list. We would have a look at them now:

#5 Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami

Shami has arguably been one of the best additions to Indian cricket in the last 5 years. Since his Test debut in 2013, he has taken 139 wickets at an average of 29.4 in 38 Test matches. Shami has been a regular feature in the Indian side for the past few years and continues to pull one remarkable performance after another. He has recently taken 6/56 against Australia to prove his class again. He has also taken 44 wickets in 2018.

Shami was also reasonably successful against England in their own backyard. He regularly clocks between 135 to 145 kilometres per hour and generates good bounce off the surface. He is not very tall for a fast bowler but makes up for this deficiency with his high-arm action and strong release.

Shami’s biggest strength as a bowler is his excellent wrist position owing to his firm grip behind the ball. This is the reason why he is always able to bowl with an upright seam and generate movement off the surface. He does not swing the ball very much but is usually reliable with his line and length.

Shami has taken wickets in this calendar year, which makes him among the most successful pacers in the world. He is also very good while bowling with the old ball and has the killer instinct and fighting attitude that a great fast bowler must have.

#4 Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins

Cummins was unfortunate to miss out on Test cricket for 5 long years because of an injury after making his debut in 2011. He has taken 71 wickets in 16 Test matches at an average of 24.8 and a strike rate of 51.5. Those stats are top-notch and underline his undeniable quality as a bowler. He is still only 25 years old and should have a long career ahead of him.

Cummins is tall and strong and can bowl long spells tirelessly. He also generates good bounce off the surface and usually bowls at the line just outside the off-stump. However, a wobbly seam position remains a concern for him. However, his control over line and length makes him a good bowler on all kinds of surfaces and one of the best pacers in the world.

#3 Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada

Rabada is one of the most improved and finest fast bowlers in the world right now. Since his excellent display against Australia in the 2016-17 Test series down under, Rabada has grown considerably as a bowler and is a genuine match winner for South Africa. He is also the spearhead of the South African bowling line-up and should Test the Pakistani batsmen considerably in the upcoming Test series.

Rabada has taken 46 wickets in Test matches in the current calendar year and 151 wickets overall in only 32 Test matches. He also has a phenomenal strike rate of 39.3, the best in the history of the game among the bowlers who have taken 150 plus wickets. His bowling average of 21.7 is also among the best of all time. He is extremely fast and can generate good bounce with his open-chested action. If he continues like this, Rabada would soon stake a claim for a place in the all-time South African eleven.

#2 James Anderson

James Anderson

Even after becoming the highest wicket-taking fast bowler of all time, Anderson shows no signs of slowing down and is continuing his good work for England. At 36, Anderson is at the business end of his career, but still has enough craft left in him to make it to the list of the greatest fast bowlers in the world. He usually is at his best in the cold and wet English weather and damp surfaces as it gives him the opportunity to swing the ball both ways. His 565 Test wickets from 145 Test matches are a testimony to his undeniable guile and hard-work.

Anderson took a bagful of wickets against India in a home series in 2018. He also bowled brilliantly in Sri Lanka, especially with the old ball, when the conditions were completely averse to pace bowling. He has taken 43 wickets in this calendar year and continues to be an inspiration to the young fast bowlers all over the world. He might retire in 2019 itself but still remains the benchmark for quality swing bowling.

#1 Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc

Starc, the left-arm fast bowler of Australia, is the best among the current lot. He has everything that a fast bowler can ask for _ height, speed, swing and bounce. He has recently developed the inswinger that comes into the right-hander and become even more lethal. He is always dangerous with the new ball and makes it swing prodigiously. He has made the Indian openers his bunnies in the ongoing Test series and should be quite a handful in the next two Tests as well.

Starc has already played 47 Tests for Australia and taken 196 wickets at 28.22. He also has a very good strike rate of 50.23. Moreover, Starc has taken 29 wickets in this calendar year and is probably at his peak as a bowler now. He also touches the 150 mark often and usually bowls at an average speed of more than 140 kmph. However, he would have to the seam position of his deliveries in order to become an even better bowler. He should serve Australian cricket for the next 4-5 years at least and end up with a handsome tally of wickets.