7 great bowlers who never topped the ICC Test rankings chart

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New Zealand v Bangladesh - 2nd Test: Day 4

Kagiso Rabada recently became the youngest bowler to achieve the No.1 ranking in Tests. While a bowler of Rabada's caliber being No.1 isn't surprising, the outpouring of emotions was raw and a sight to behold. The symbolism of the moment wasn't lost on anyone.

Being No.1 in the world is a big deal, and rightly so.

James Anderson is the current No.1 bowler in the world. Anderson sits pretty atop with 887 ranking points, the top spot has been a long time coming for Jimmy and he would like to savor the moment for as long as he possibly can.

Sydney Barnes leads the All-Time ratings list with 931 points to his name while Dale Steyn has spent the most days (2300+) at the No.1 position since WWII.

Being the best in the world is a dream all athletes have, but only a select few achieve it.

Rafael Nadal recently said that if it weren't for Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, he would have been No.1 for a longer period. Nadal has spent more than 150 weeks at the top.

There are some 'great' bowlers who have not been able to get the No.1 ranking even once in their careers.

Following is a look at 7 great bowlers who never became world No. 1. One of them still has a chance and if he gets there it would be one of the great stories of our time.


#7 Makhaya Ntini (South Africa)

South Africa v England - 1st Test Day Three
Ntini was an under-rated bowler for South AfricaBEST RATING: 863 (December 30, 2006)

BEST RANKING: 2 (April 13, 2006)

Makhaya Ntini rarely gets a look-in when we talk about the great bowlers of this generation, but his numbers are as impressive as it gets. Ntini took 390 wickets in 101 Tests at an average of 28. He was even better in South Africa's victories, taking 233 wickets at 22 in 50 victorious Test matches.

Ntini became the No. 2 bowler in April 2006 but was denied the top spot by Muttiah Muralidharan. He achieved his career high rating of 863 later that year after taking 8 wickets in a match against India at Durban, but it wasn't good enough to get him the top spot held by Muralitharan, who lead Ntini by a ridiculous margin of 50 points.

Post the rankings, it was a steady decline for Ntini. He struggled to get in the South African ranks and fell agonizingly short of 400 Test wickets.

#6 Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)

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Herath had only 78 wickets to his name when he turned 33 and he has 411 wickets now

BEST RATING: 867 (November 10, 2016)

BEST RANKING: 2 (November 29, 2012)

Opinions may vary on Rangana Herath, but there is no doubt that he is one of the greatest bowlers the game has ever seen. Herath has 411 wickets to his name and has single-handedly kept Sri Lanka afloat in Test cricket over the past couple of years.

Herath struggled to break into the team because of Murali, and when it came to the rankings table, it was Dale Steyn who blocked his way.

Herath reached his career best rating of 867 points in November 2016, and while he passed Steyn, he could not get past Ravichandran Ashwin, who lead the ranking chart with 900 points to his name.

#5 Harbhajan Singh (India)

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Harbhajan Singh was the first Indian bowler to take a Test hat-trick

BEST RATING: 765 (December 16, 2002)

BEST RANKING: 4 (July 29, 2003)

Harbhajan Singh had a fascinating career- he was the No.2 spinner for India during Anil Kumble's time, and when his time came to bask in the sunshine, he was replaced by Ashwin. Nevertheless, Harbhajan had a fantastic career, taking 417 wickets at an average of 32. While the numbers are not that impressive, he played a crucial role in changing Indian Cricket's lousy reputation in the early part of the 21st century.

Harbhajan's career best rating of 765 came in December 2002 which was good enough to get him the 5th spot in the rankings behind Shaun Pollock, Shane Warne, Murali and Glenn McGrath. His highest ranking of 4 came in July 2003, as Warne slipped in the rankings.

Harbhajan was a consistent performer, but was never a real contender for the top spot.

#4 Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

Leicester v Pakistan
Akram sits at 72nd position in the ICC all-time rating list

HIGHEST RATING: 830 (October 2, 1994)

HIGHEST RANKING: 2 (October 14, 1990)

Wasim Akram is arguably the greatest fast-bowler in cricket's history. He is the only bowler to have taken 400+ wickets in both Test and ODI cricket. Akram played 104 Tests and took 414 wickets at an impressive average of 23. A closer look at the stats suggest that while the Pakistani was a very consistent performer, he never had a great streak, which is almost necessary to get you to the top of the charts.

Akram attained the No.2 ranking in October 1990, but was a staggering 90 points behind Malcolm Marshall. He achieved his career high rating of 830 against Australia in October 1994, but it only got him the 4th spot behind Sir Curtly Ambrose, Waqar Younis and Warne.

The quality of bowlers in Akram's generation was ridiculous, unfortunately he wasn't able to pierce through them.

#3 Kapil Dev (India)

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Kapil Dev retired as the leading wicket-taker in Test History with 434 scalps to his name

BEST RATING: 877 (January 19, 1980)

BEST RANKING: 2 (December 18, 1979)

Kapil Dev is the greatest bowler India has ever produced and he was directly responsible for cricket becoming a major sensation in India. Dev took 434 wickets in his career, and retired as the leading wicket-taker in Test history.

Dev, alongside Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee and Ian Botham defined cricket for almost 2 decades and while they enhanced each other's legacy, it denied Dev the podium finish.

The Indian achieved his career best rating of 877 against Pakistan in January after taking 11 wickets against them in Chennai but it wasn't good enough to get past Botham, who sat atop with 897 points to his name.

Dev achieved the No.2 ranking in his career again, but No.1 was a bridge too far for him.

#2 Courtney Walsh (West Indies)

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Courtney Walsh was the first bowler to 500 Test wickets

BEST RATING: 867 (August 21, 2000)

BEST RANKING: 2 (July 30, 1990)

Courtney Walsh became the No.2 bowler for the first time in July 1990, and a decade later he achieved his career high rating of 867, but it only got him the 3rd spot behind Pollock and McGrath.

Walsh was the last great West-Indian fast-bowler and he went to places where nobody did. He was the first bowler to take 500 wickets in Test history and ended his career with 519 wickets, the most by an any bowler at that point.

The only thing Walsh didn't possess was the No.1 ranking. Cricket fans look back at 1990s with much nostalgia, and while it is grating at times, the fact that Walsh was never the No.1 bowler tells you everything you need to know about the standards of fast bowling in the 1990s.

#1 Anil Kumble (India)

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Anil Kumble is the third-highest wicket taker in Test history

BEST RATING: 859 (January 30, 1994)

BEST RANKING: 2 (October 22, 1995)

Anil Kumble played 132 Tests in his career, taking 619 wickets at an average of 29.65. Kumble was the greatest match-winner India had and with his grit and determination, he fought many a lonely battle for India with the ball in hand.

With 619 wickets, a Test hundred at The Oval and a victory as a Captain in Perth, the only jewel missing in Kumble's crown was the No.1 ranking.

Kumble achieved his career high-rating of 859 in January 1994, but it only got him the 4th spot behind Waqar, Ambrose and Warne. Kumble rose to No.2 in the rankings in October 1995, but was unable to get past Ambrose.

Hr was ranked No.5 after his 10-wicket haul against Pakistan in Delhi but was never able to climb the summit.

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Edited by Sarah Waris