Best bowler from each cricketing nation

Cricket as a sport is about three basic aspects on the field in terms of batting, bowling and fielding. Collectively all the three bunch up to give cricket its character. Previously there was a saying that bowlers win matches for the respective teams. But in the past two decades or so, the pointer of dominance shifted in the domain of the batsmen. And cricket is now termed a batsman’s game. Despite all that bowlers have turned things around and continue to make lives tougher for the bat wielders. Digging deep into this niche, here we try to analyse the best bowler from each cricketing nation: 1. Australia – Shane Warne: Shane Warne. (© Getty Images) The former Australian spin bowling genius Shane Warne was undoubtedly one of the greatest leg-spinners in the history of international cricket. With 793 Test wickets, Warne was literally unplayable at times. He proved how good a bowler he was bamboozling the batsmen on flat wickets with his sheer genius. He made his presence felt at the international level right at the tip of his career by delivering the ball of the century in Ashes, 1993. Also with 293 wickets in ODIs, Warnie was one of the most dominating bowlers of that era. Also read – Top 10 Highest Wicket Takers In International Cricket 2. India – Anil Kumble: Anil Kumble. (© LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) Indian legendary right-arm leg-spinner Anil Kumble is the leading wicket-taker for India in Tests till date with 619 wickets in the longest format along with 337 ODI wickets. Jumbo also is also the only Indian bowler and second after Jim Laker to own a 10-wicket haul in a single Test innings. Kumble was indeed a brilliant bowler for India and aided India’s cause on a number of occasions. Not a big turner of the ball he relied on his flipper, googly and quicker one to stun the batsmen. He stood as one of the most consistent performers for India and announced his retirement in 2008. 3. Sri Lanka: Muttiah Muralitharan: Muttiah Muralitharan. (Photo Source: AFP) This name needs no introduction. Muttiah Muralitharan perhaps the most successful spinner in world cricket. The best part of his bowling with the acute level of consistency that he brought along. With over 1300 international wickets, Muralitharan does stand to be the highest wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs. He has ruled with supremacy in both the formats. There was a time when he used to create tremors to the opposition batting line-up with his off spinners and ‘doosras’. Sri Lanka had a rich bowling attack for over a decade with his presence in the lineup. Undoubtedly, Muralitharan stands to be the best spinner Sri Lanka has ever produced. 4. Pakistan – Wasim Akram: Wasim Akram. (Photo Source: PA Photos ) The king of swing, Wasim Akram as he is called literally ruled pace bowling for Pakistan in the 90s. With 502 ODI wickets, Akram was one of the pivotal characters of the Pakistani bowling attack. Not only that, he also won a lot of matches for Pakistan through with his splendid bowling. He is still regarded as one of the best swing bowlers international cricket has seen and was also the master of reverse swing. No matter how dull and dry a pitch is, if Wasim Akram came to bowl he would have extracted something out of it. It was always for the batsmen to protect their wicket, Akram was anway going to get them out. 5. New Zealand – Daniel Vettori: Daniel Vettori. (Photo Source: AFP) The left-arm spin bowling genius Daniel Vettori was one of the most consistent bowlers in the history of New Zealand cricket. Vettori had been the breakthrough bowler for them and performed gloriously whenever he had a task at hand. He came back from retirement and opted to play the World Cup of 2015. As it happened, he stood out to be one of the most impressive spinners of the tournament. He also aided his team to proceed through to the final. But unfortunately, he was on the losing side in the final and the BlackCaps ended as runners-up. In his shining career as a genuine match-winner, Vettori struck a total of 362 Test wickets to complement his 305 ODI wickets. He was an intelligent bowler and loved to outsmart the batsmen to establish his supremacy. 6. England – James Anderson: James Anderson. (© Getty Images) Jimmy Anderson, is known for making the ball walk and talk in English summers. Indeed, with over 450 Test wickets in 116 matches, Anderson has been the spearhead of the English bowling for almost over a decade now. He held instrumental contributions for England in almost all important matches and major achievements by the team. Jimmy with a red ball in hand can make the best of the batsmen look newbies. He loves bowling with the red ball and in English conditions that suit his swing the most. Over the years he has played the role of the chief destructor for England in the longest format. 7. South Africa – Allan Donald: Allan Donald. (Photo Source: ESPNcricinfo Ltd) Well some might argue about the presence of Allan Donal in this all times bests list. South Africa does possess other heavy names in the likes of Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock. Still by virtue of consistency and the capability to pose a threat to the opposition batting, Donald stood out. Allan Donald struck a total of 330 Test wickets coupled with 272 ODI wickets in his career. In fact, right at the start of his international career, Donald shone well with the ball and also grabbed a fifer on his ODI debut. In the World Cup of 1999, he led the Protea bowling attack to great effect. By virtue of some inspiring performances, the team managed to make their way to the semi-final. 8. West Indies – Courtney Walsh: Courtney Walsh (Photo Source: Getty Images) The lethal pace bowler from the Caribbean Courtney Walsh with 519 Test wickets was one of the most feared fast bowlers in the 90s. Bowling at a fiery pace, he had a decent amount of accuracy and was known for breaking the stumps with his yorkers. Walsh’s presence made the West Indian line-up even more dangerous. Despite being a fast bowler, the breed of cricketers that are prone to injuries, Courtney Walsh was known for his significant levels of fitness. Perhaps something that made him even more special. 9. Zimbabwe – Heath Streak: Zimbabwe’s Heath Streak. (Photo by ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images) Former Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak can easy be regarded as the best bowlers to have played for the African nation. A medium pacer who loved his outswing and foxed many a batsmen with his delivery that swung at a good speed. His career was marred with issues with the board over quota and pay. Irrespective of the problems Streak served Zimbabwe cricket to the best of his abilities and prowess. The first Zimbabwean bowler to achieve 100 wickets mark in Tests; by the time he concluded his career after 65 Test matches and 189 ODIs he had 216, 239 wickets in the respective formats. 10. Bangladesh – Shakib Al Hasan: Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) If there is one cricketer from the land of Bangladesh who has been able to leave a lasting impact in international cricket it has to be Shakib Al Hasan. The all-rounder has over the years served Bangladesh cricket in all the three formats of the game and has aced. Shakib the first Bangladeshi to achieve the double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs has also held the best all-rounders position in the ICC rankings for a substantial duration. Having played 42 Tests, 157 ODIs and 54 T20Is Shakib has 147, 206 and 65 wickets in his tally in respective formats. This to go with 2823, 4398 and 1103 runs in the three forms of the game. Also read – Elite League – The Best Cricketers Ever From Each Nation

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Best bowler from each cricketing nation

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