Consistent third seamers in last decade in tests

There are too many world-class bowlers who played for most of their career as a third seamer and were equally good as a new-ball bowler. If the opening bowlers are genuine swing bowlers, third seamer will give you variety to the attack. As opening bowlers mostly depend on swing, third seamers need to have too many tricks up their sleeves like pace, bounce, line-length and reverse swing.

Brett Lee and Shoaib Akthtar are considered as the fastest bowlers in the last two decades and both of them played most of their careers as a first change bowler with Glenn McGrath-Jason Gillespie and Wasim Akram-Waqar Younis shouldering the opening bowlers duties for their respective countries. Like Lee and Akthar, few other pacers like Michael Kasprowicz, Stuart Clark, Andrew Flintoff, Tim Bresnan were also excellent one change seamers. Pat Cummins, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Lungi Ngidi are some of the promising third seamers in recent times.

Let us have a look at some of the finest third seam bowlers around the world in the last decade. Pacers are being ordered based on the number of wickets taken as a first change bowler.

---

#5. Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma is the most experienced Indian pacer currently.

Ishant Sharma is aged under 30 and he already has 11 years(2008-2018) of international experience. Even though he was taking new ball at earlier stage of his career, he is considered as a third seamer nowadays. He has been in and out of playing XI as India use to play only 2 pace bowlers in Indian subcontinent pitches. The 6 feet 4 inch tall bowler has the ability to reverse swing the ball which makes him the perfect third seamer for India.

Ishant Sharma has taken 62 wickets in 30 innings(26 matches) he played as a first change pacer.

#4. Steven Finn

Finn last played test cricket at 2016.

Renowned for hitting wickets at bowler's end with his legs while bolwing, Steve Finn last played for England in 2016. Emergence of Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Jake Ball and inconsistency in his own performance threw him out of the national contention.

During his 7 years(2010-2016) stint with England cricket, he has played 25 matches as a first change pacer out of 36 test match career till date. The 6 feet 7 inches taller still has age with his side to make a comeback. Finn has taken 80 wickets as first change bowler which is 65% of total tally of 125 wickets.

#3. Peter Siddle

Peter Siddle remembered for his tired-less long spells

Peter Siddle is one of the unsung heroes of the Australian test cricket team. Known for his long spells and producing reverse swing in the old ball, Siddle was best in business during his peak time. Brett Lee, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc were the front-line bowlers in the team when Siddle was bowling as a first change pacer.

During his 9 years(2008-2016) international carrer, Siddle has taken 82 wickets as third seamer in 50 innings (34 Tests).

#2. Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson single-handedly white washed England.

An aggressive left arm fast bowler who single-handedly won Ashes for his country. Its been 3 years since Mitchell Johnson has retired, but still he is in 2nd place in this list. (Played good 8 years of international cricket from 2008-2015). Johnson was not only effective as third fast bowler, he bowled some fantastic spells as new ball bowler as well. Many cricket fans are still wondering why did he retire at 33 when he was bowling at his best.

Mitchell Johnson took 83 wickets in 46 innings as third pacer. He played 33 matches as a third pacer in his 73 match career.

#1. Morne Morkel

Morne Morkel has been consistent over the past 12 years for South Africa

Morne Morkel has represented South Africa for 12 years(2006-2018) in whites. He was always over-shadowed by some of the South African greats in Ntini, Steyn, Philander, Rabada.

He is someone who never got the credits which he deserved. His greatest strength was his ability to bowl consistent bouncers even in flat and dusty conditions. He retired recently and signed Kolpak-deal to spend the remaining part of his career as a county player.

Morkel has taken 120 wickets in 67 innings which he played as third seamer which is close to one-third of his total tally of 306 wickets