There is derived an inherent pleasure in practicing and watching the art of batting unfold itself. While mastering the many (or any) art/s of cricket, or any other game, is an arduous task, bowling is referred to a particularly laborious task. Imran Khan told Wasim Akram during Pakistan’s 1987 tour to England that to be a good bowler ‘you have to work like a dog’.
The contrast is baffling; between the adjectives used to describe the mastery of batting (‘Prince’ Lara, ‘Master Tendulkar) and that used for bowling by one of its finest exponents.
But bowlers have been the game’s most tenacious species. Fancy this fact; for each of the years between 2009 and 2016, the overall economy rate in T20 internationals has ranged between 7.11 and 7.62. Given the no holds barred approach batsmen adopt in this format, it is startling to see bowlers coming into their own and not becoming stuffed bags being punched blindfolded. Bowlers have been great and much under-rated ‘survivors’.
As much as we believe that cricket’s rules have tilted in the batsman’s favour, there have been bowlers who have seen unbelievable runs of form through their careers. In this article, we list 8 bowlers who have taken wickets by the bagful over an extended run in their careers.
#1 Imran Khan (Mar 1982-Nov 1986)
Matches – 24, Wickets – 138, Avg – 14.31, 5W – 11, 10W – 3
A shin injury that Khan suffered in 1984, kept him out of action for nearly 20 months, at a time when Imran was at the height of his powers. He famously tormented the touring Indian side in 1982/83, taking 40 wickets in the 6 match series in a display which prompted Gavaskar to say that the best way to counter Imran’s pace would be to “put a sightscreen between him and us”.
During the four-year period between March 1982 and November 1986, the former Pakistani skipper took almost 6 wickets per match at an average of 14.3. His performance in this period included 26 wickets in the series vs England in 1982, a career best 14 wicket match haul vs Sri Lanka at Lahore (1982).
One wonders if the shin injury had not put him out of action for almost 2 years, he would surely have ended with more than 400 Test wickets.
(Video Courtesy: PakistanBeats YouTube Channel)
#2 Muttiah Muralitharan (Feb 2000-Dec 2008)
Matches – 76, Wickets – 539, Avg – 19.76, 5WI – 49, 10W – 20
By the sheer strength of his numbers, Muralitharan can safely be regarded as the ‘Bradman of bowling’. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of his peak form is the fact that it lasted for almost 9 years.
In the 76 tests that he played during that period, Muralitharan took more than 7 wickets per match. Even more startling is his performance in wins; in the 36 Tests that Sri Lanka won in this period, Muralitharan took 317 (47%) of the total wickets taken by Sri Lankan bowlers, that’s a rate of almost 9 wickets per match.
And if even this is not enough, fancy this fact - in the 142 innings that he bowled in during this period, Murali went wicket-less in only 3 of them. One can safely make a case for Muralitharan being perhaps the greatest match winner since the Second World War.
(Video Courtesy: Tanveer Ahmad YouTube Channel)
#3 Malcolm Marshall (Apr 1983-Nov 1988)
Matches – 43, Wickets – 247, Avg – 18.59, 5W – 17, 10W – 3
Malcolm Marshall stood out in a team which assembled the most impressive fast bowling unit of all time. He is often regarded as the greatest fast bowler on all types of wickets and conditions. Marshall had devastating pace and more importantly, had the ability to outthink any batsman.
West Indies’ tour to India in 1983 saw Marshall announce his arrival as he took 33 wickets in the series. From then on, he took more than 20 wickets in 6 consecutive Test series, ending the juggernaut with 27 wickets vs England during their tour to WI in 1985/86.
(Video Courtesy: Chan77 YouTube Channel)
#4 Dennis Lillee (Aug 1975- Jan 1982)
Matches – 39, Wickets – 230, Avg – 22.65, 5W – 17, 10W – 6
Dennis Lillee was one of the most awe-inspiring bowlers of all time, and an idol of two great fast bowlers – Richard Hadlee and Glenn Mcgrath. While his record in Asia and West Indies is not indicative of his prowess, his overall numbers nonetheless serve as the barometer against which fast bowlers are (still) measured.
Lillee was in peak form between Aug 1975 and Jan 1982, during which he played 39 tests and captured 230 wickets at an average of 22.65. This was after he had recovered from a stress fracture which he suffered on a tour to the West Indies in 1973/74.
Having moulded his bowling style from a tear-away to a craftsman, Lillee emerged as the complete bowler he is still held up to be. Not many have come close to challenging that status.
(Video Courtesy: Chan77 YouTube Channel)
#5 Richard Hadlee (Aug 1983-Jul 1990)
Matches – 44, Wickets – 244, Avg – 19.52, 5WI – 22, 10WM – 6
Hadlee, like Lillee, was also a tear-away in his early playing days, and much like his idol, transformed himself into one of the most accurate fast bowlers the world has ever known. From 1983 onwards till his retirement, Hadlee took 113 wickets in matches that New Zealand won which is a whopping 44.7% of the total.
During the period in consideration, only Malcolm Marshall had taken more wickets than Hadlee (274), and it was Marshall again who had a better average (19.16). Part of which can be attributed to Marshall having played 51 matched to Hadlee’s 44. But what one must keep in mind that Hadlee had little support and was winning games all on his own.
That is a feat as rare as the talents he possessed.
(Video Courtesy: robelinda2)
#6 Rangana Herath (Dec 2011-Dec 2016)
Matches – 44, Wickets – 241, Avg – 24.63, 5WI – 22, 10WM – 7
Herath’s story can inspire a documentary or two, the way he has taken up the mantle of being Sri Lanka’s premier bowler, after being tossed around for nearly a decade, is nothing short of remarkable.
Coming into his own at the age of 33 (2011), Herath transformed into a mammoth match winner for Sri Lanka. Since Dec 2011, he has been their highest wicket taker in all circumstances by some distance. It is about time that we realise and take notice of his achievements.
(Video Courtesy: ArshsVids YouTube Channel)
#7 Shane Warne (Jan 2002-Dec 2005)
Matches – 37, Wickets – 233, Avg – 21.92, 5WI – 14, 10WM – 5
In 2000, Shane Warne was written off as quickly as he was made a sensation post the 1993 Ashes. Over a three year period between 6 March 1998 and 18 March 2001, Warne’s figures had been ordinary at best. In 23 Matches, he took only 73 wickets at an average of 38.27.
That this period included two miserable tours to India did not help his cause either. As writers prepared themselves to pen tributes to his once mighty powers, Warne was preparing himself to make a statement.
From Jan 2002 inwards till Dec 2005, Warne played in 37 tests and took a whopping 233 wickets at an average of 21.92. His numbers were helped by record breaking 2005 in which he took 96 wickets, the most ever in a calendar year. Never write off a champion.
(Video Courtesy: TOP 10 Insane – Cricket YouTube Channel)
#8 Anil Kumble (Dec 1997-Dec 2005)
Matches – 58, Wickets – 315, Average – 27.06, 5WI – 22, 10WM – 7
If the credit of India’s undefeated run at home in the 1990s can be given to one man, it would be Anil Kumble. In our customary habit of worshipping batting feats, we often sideline the efforts put in by bowlers.
For instance, everyone remembers VVS Laxman’s brilliant 281 at Kolkata vs Australia in 2001. But very few remember that Harbhajan Singh had an equally pivotal role to play in that famous win, his 13 wickets in the match deserve as much, if not more, accolade.
Anil Kumble, at the height of his powers, was amongst the best bowlers in the world. During the period in focus, only Muralitharan, McGrath, Warne and Pollock took more wickets than his 315.
But they played more number of matches than Kumble. Anil, along with Dravid, was pivotal in turning India’s test fortunes in its most fruitful period in Test history (2000s).
(Video Courtesy: WeSpeakCricket YouTube Channel)
All statistics courtesy of ESPNcricinfo
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