Top 5 Test bowlers with highest ICC rating points of all time

Imran Muralitharan McGrath
The likes of Muralitharan, McGrath and Imran achieved record highs during their heydays

Even though there are various other parameters to judge the true greatness of a deserving cricketer, the official rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) stands as an accurate measure of every player's performances at any given time period. In particular, the rankings compiled by the game's governing body help immensely in determining the peak phases of the stellar careers of all legendary cricketers.

Let us now take a close look at five iconic bowlers who possess the highest rating points recorded in the long and illustrious history of Test cricket. It is pertinent to note that the system of rating the exploits of Test cricketers began in 1987 at the behest of former England skipper Ted Dexter. They were officially adopted by the ICC only in 2003. The game's apex body proceeded to rank the yesteryear greats in a retrospective manner and juxtaposed the top performers with the best of each subsequent era.


#5 Glenn McGrath - 914

Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath was the epitome of consistency right throughout his glorious career

Glenn McGrath occupies the fifth spot in the all time list of Test bowlers' rankings. His peak rating of 914 is two points higher than the corresponding tally of Tony Lock, Curtly Ambrose and Vernon Philander. The Australian metronome first ascended to the top of the Test rankings in 1996 and went on to achieve his best ever rating during August 2001.

Also Read: Glenn McGrath - The story of the boy who couldn't bowl

With 32 wickets from five Tests at a remarkable average of 16.93 and splendid strike-rate of 36.4, McGrath helped Australia thrash England 4-1 in the 2001 Ashes series. At the end of the fifth Test at The Oval, the then 31-year old reached 914 rating points. Not surprisingly, he finished 2001 as the top-ranked Test bowler in the world.

#4 Muttiah Muralitharan - 920

Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan is unarguably the greatest cricketer produced by Sri Lanka

Muttiah Muralitharan, who is the leading wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket, is also the sole specialist spinner to feature in this particular segment. His first surge to the number one spot in the ICC rankings was during January 2002. The Sri Lankan spin wizard came on top at the end of four different calendar years - 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

During July 2007, Muralitharan recorded his best ever rating of 920. At the end of the third Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Kandy, the legendary off-spinner cut a massive swathe at the top of the then table. It was indeed just reward for the affable cricketer. From the start of 2006 till that point in time, he had picked 116 wickets from just 14 Tests with a scarcely believable collection of 12 five-wicket hauls as well as 6 ten-wicket match hauls.

#3 Imran Khan - 922

Imran Khan
Imran Khan reserved his best performances for arch-rivals India

Considering his impeccable prowess with the ball and tenacious aptitude with the bat, Imran Khan has a legitimate claim for the tag of greatest all-rounder in the history of the sport. Even whilst removing his batting skills as well as leadership mettle, his record with the ball alone is enough to place him among the pantheon of greats.

When the fearsome West Indies pacers were ruling the roost during 1982, the Pakistani stalwart was retrospectively placed as the top ranked bowler in Tests. Imran's tally of 40 wickets from six matches was instrumental in Pakistan steamrolling India by a 3-0 margin in the 1982/83 series. Following the conclusion of the final Test at Karachi, the exalted fast bowler amassed as many as 922 rating points.

#2 George Lohmann - 931

George Lohmann
George Lohmann's average is the best among all bowlers with at least 100 Test wickets

George Lohmann is, quite possibly, England's first great Test bowler. His career makes for astonishing reading. From 18 Tests, he picked up 112 wickets at a jaw-dropping average of 10.75 and unprecedented strike-rate of 34.1.

Among all bowlers with at least 100 scalps in the format, his average is comfortably the best. As was the norm during those days, he operated at medium pace and still managed to torment opposition batsmen with his relentless accuracy.

Retrospective rankings reveal that he was the best bowler in less than two years since making his Test debut. Lohmann's international career spanned between 1886 and 1896. During March 1896, the seamer garnered 931 rating points. In the 3-match series on South African soil, he had wreaked havoc by pocketing as many as 35 wickets.

#1 Sydney Barnes - 932

Sydney Barnes
Sydney Barnes could swing, seam and spin the ball at sharp pace

In a memorable career spanning from 1901 to 1914, Sydney Barnes was England's most potent weapon with the ball. Apart from possessing an innate ability to swing and cut the ball either way, he could also combine off-breaks with sizzling leg-breaks. Generating stifling pace from a short run-up, his assortment of seam and spin often left opposition batsmen gasping for breath.

Extra Cover: Sydney Barnes – Cricket’s original freelancer

According to retrospective rankings, Barnes ended 1911, 1912 and 1913 as the leading bowler in Test cricket. At the time of his retirement in February 1914, he is understood to have accumulated a whopping 932 rating points. A fledgling South African side bore the brunt of his carnage. From just seven Tests against them, the medium pacer grabbed 83 scalps at an unbelievable average of 9.85.

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Edited by Ram Kumar