In another year-end poll, we decided to ask the fans to rate the five best Test bowlers who were the most consistent performers for their nation in the last 12 months. We have picked the top 5 Test bowlers who were the most productive bowlers for their respective teams. More than 3200 fans voted in the poll on the CricTracker Facebook page and crowned Indian spin ace Ravichandran Ashwin as the champion of the contest.

Ashwin who bagged 72 wickets in the calendar year was accompanied by Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah. The other three in the contention were Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc, Proteas pace sensation Kagiso Rabada and Sri Lankan veteran spinner Rangana Herath. Performances prior to the Boxing Day Tests have been taken into consideration. Here are the top 5 based on the votes.

<strong>5. Kagiso Rabada &#8211; 3% votes</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/11/Kagiso-Rabada-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-92556"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-92556" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kagiso-Rabada-1.jpg" alt="Kagiso Rabada Best Test XI" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92556" class="wp-caption-text">Kagiso Rabada (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Youngster Kagiso Rabada had a tremendous start to his international career and his success at the highest level in 2016 is a result of all the hard work and the extra yards he put in. The Proteas began the year with a series loss at the hands of England but not before Rabada had made the English batsmen toil very hard for their runs. He picked up 22 wickets in the 3-match series at an average of 21.90. In the final Test at Centurion he finished with career-best figures of 13/144.

In the next series against New Zealand, he bagged 5 wickets in 2 matches at an average of 25. Rabada came back storming in the Test series against Australia which the Proteas won by a 2-1 margin. He along with Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander were lethal with both the new and the old ball and finished the series with 15 wickets in 3 matches at an average of 22.40. His only five-wicket haul in the series came at Perth.

<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-test-batsmen-year/" target="_blank">CricTracker fan poll – 5 best Test batsmen of the year</a></strong></h6>

<strong>4. Mitchell Starc &#8211; 8% votes</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-79214"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-79214" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" alt="Mitchell Starc Australia" width="600" height="473" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-79214" class="wp-caption-text">Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc celebrates. (Photo by ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc has been the standout performer for the Aussies in an otherwise disappointing year in Test cricket. Beginning the year with a three-match Test series against Sri Lanka in August at their backyard, Starc finished the series with as many as 24 wickets from at a staggering average of 15.16 and was the only bright spot for the Aussies.

In a series were the mighty Australians were annihilated 3-0, Starc made good use of his skills and used his lethal inswinging Yorkers to good effect. On pitches that were not conducive for fast bowling, his performance was undoubtedly one of the most inspiring shows of the year.

He was not quite up to his standards in the Tests series against the Proteas at home which the hosts lost by a 1-2 margin. Though he bowled some exceptional spells in patches, he couldn’t get the breakthroughs at the crucial juncture. Despite that Starc finished as the highest wicket-taker from Australia with 14 wickets at an average of 30.

<strong>3. Rangana Herath &#8211; 9% votes</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/07/Rangana-Herath-2.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-78371"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-78371" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rangana-Herath-2.jpg" alt="Rangana Herath Sri Lanka" width="600" height="456" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-78371" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lanka&#8217;s Rangana Herath. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

It was a disappointing beginning of the year for both Sri Lanka and Rangana Herath. They began with a 3-match Test series in England and lost 0-2. Herath hardly made an impact throughout the series and finished with a handful of 7 wickets in 3 Tests at an unimpressive average of 43.28.

Sri Lanka’s next assignment was against Australia in their own territory and Herath was back to his usual best. They tamed the Aussies throughout the series and thumped them 3-0. This was the first time Sri Lanka inflicted a whitewash on any top Test playing nation. Herath was unplayable on certain occasions and finished with 28 wickets in only 3 matches at an astonishing average of 12.5. His best bowling figures came in the final Test at Colombo where he finished with figures of 13/145 in the match.

Sri Lanka then flew to Zimbabwe to play a 2-match Test series and as expected won the Test series 2-0 without much fuss. Herath who was leading the team was yet again at his sublime best and bamboozled the inexperienced batting line-up with his brilliant bowling. He finished with 19 wickets in the series at an average of just over 15.

<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-odi-bowlers-of-the-year/">CricTracker fan poll – 5 Best ODI bowlers of the year</a></strong></h6>

<strong>2. Yasir Shah &#8211; 29% votes</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/10/Yasir-Shah-of-Pakistan-celebrates-dismissing-Adil-Rashid-GettyImages-494304050.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-38781"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-38781" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yasir-Shah-of-Pakistan-celebrates-dismissing-Adil-Rashid-GettyImages-494304050.jpg" alt="Yasir Shah of Pakistan celebrates dismissing Adil Rashid" width="594" height="303" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-38781" class="wp-caption-text">Yasir Shah. (© Getty Images)</figcaption>

The leg-spinner from Pakistan made a dramatic comeback in Test cricket in July and led his country to one of the most famous victories in their cricketing history. Beginning the year with a 4-match Test series in England, Yasir Shah immediately made an impact by bagging 6 English wickets in the 1st innings of the 1st Test. He picked four wickets more in the 2nd innings to lead Pakistan to a famous victory at the Mecca of Cricket, “The Lord’s.

He was pretty ordinary in the next two Tests which Pakistan lost but came back strongly in the final Test with a 5-wicket haul and yet again led the visitors to a series-levelling win. In the following series against the Caribbean&#8217;s he was back at his best and bagged 21 wickets in the 3-match Test series at an impressive average of 26.85. He was injured during the Test series in New Zealand and played only one Test in the series which Pakistan lost 0-2.

In the first Test of the 3-match Test series against Australia at the Gabba, Shah was unimpressive and could only bag 3 wickets in the whole match which Pakistan eventually lost by 39 runs.

<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-odi-batsmen-year/">CricTracker fan poll &amp;#8211; 5 Best ODI batsmen of the year</a></strong></h6>

<strong>1. Ravichandran Ashwin &#8211; 51% votes</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/11/Making-a-comeback-from-injury-Ravichandran-Ashwin-bagged-5-51-in-the-first-innings.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-39887"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39887" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Making-a-comeback-from-injury-Ravichandran-Ashwin-bagged-5-51-in-the-first-innings.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin ICC Awards 2016" width="700" height="481" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39887" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

The Indian spin ace has had a dream run in the longest format of the game in 2016. India didn’t play a Test match during the first 7 months of the year and their first assignment was against the Carribeans in July. In the 4-match Test series in West Indies, Ashwin was pretty impressive and bagged 17 wickets in 4 matches at an impressive average of 23.17. India eventually won the series 2-0 and Ashwin played a major role in their triumph.

The No.1 all-rounder returned to familiar territory as New Zealand came to tour India in September. Ashwin who has been on a record-breaking spree created magic and spun a web around the Kiwis batsmen. He finished with 27 wickets in 3 tests at a staggering average of 17.77. His best bowling figures came in the final Test at Indore where he finished with 13/140.

Ashwin again played a very important role along with Ravindra Jadeja during their 4-0 success against England in November. He though wasn’t as lethal as in the New Zealand series but still finished the 5-match series with 28 wickets to his name. His best bowling figures of 12/167 came in the Mumbai Test where India inflicted an innings victory after conceding 400 in the 1st innings.

<p>In another year-end poll, we decided to ask the fans to rate the five best Test bowlers who were the most consistent performers for their nation in the last 12 months. We have picked the top 5 Test bowlers who were the most productive bowlers for their respective teams.&nbsp;More than 3200 fans voted in the poll on the CricTracker Facebook page and crowned Indian spin ace Ravichandran Ashwin as the champion of the contest.</p>
<p>Ashwin who bagged 72 wickets in the calendar year was accompanied by Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah. The other three in the contention were Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc, Proteas pace sensation Kagiso Rabada and Sri Lankan veteran spinner Rangana Herath. Performances prior to the Boxing Day Tests have been taken into consideration. Here are the top 5 based on the votes.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Kagiso Rabada – 3% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_92556" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92556" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/11/Kagiso-Rabada-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-92556"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-92556" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kagiso-Rabada-1.jpg" alt="Kagiso Rabada Best Test XI" width="600" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92556" class="wp-caption-text">Kagiso Rabada (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Youngster Kagiso Rabada had a tremendous start to his international career and his success at the highest level in 2016 is a result of all the hard work and the extra yards he put in. The Proteas began the year with a series loss at the hands of England but not before Rabada had made the English batsmen toil very hard for their runs. He picked up 22 wickets in the 3-match series at an average of 21.90. In the final Test at Centurion he finished with career-best figures of 13/144.</p>
<p>In the next series against New Zealand, he bagged 5 wickets in 2 matches at an average of 25. Rabada came back storming in the Test series against Australia which the Proteas won by a 2-1 margin. He along with Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander were lethal with both the new and the old ball and finished the series with 15 wickets in 3 matches at an average of 22.40. His only five-wicket haul in the series came at Perth.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-test-batsmen-year/" target="_blank">CricTracker fan poll – 5 best Test batsmen of the year</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>4. Mitchell Starc – 8% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_79214" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-79214" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-79214"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-79214" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" alt="Mitchell Starc Australia" width="600" height="473" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-79214" class="wp-caption-text">Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc celebrates. (Photo by ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc has been the standout performer for the Aussies in an otherwise disappointing year in Test cricket. Beginning the year with a three-match Test series against Sri Lanka in August at their backyard, Starc finished the series with as many as 24 wickets from at a staggering average of 15.16 and was the only bright spot for the Aussies.</p>
<p>In a series were the mighty Australians were annihilated 3-0, Starc made good use of his skills and used his lethal inswinging Yorkers to good effect. On pitches that were not conducive for fast bowling, his performance was undoubtedly one of the most inspiring shows of the year.</p>
<p>He was not quite up to his standards in the Tests series against the Proteas at home which the hosts lost by a 1-2 margin. Though he bowled some exceptional spells in patches, he couldn’t get the breakthroughs at the crucial juncture. Despite that Starc finished as the highest wicket-taker from Australia with 14 wickets at an average of 30.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Rangana Herath – 9% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_78371" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-78371" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/07/Rangana-Herath-2.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-78371"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-78371" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rangana-Herath-2.jpg" alt="Rangana Herath Sri Lanka" width="600" height="456" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-78371" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>It was a disappointing beginning of the year for both Sri Lanka and Rangana Herath. They began with a 3-match Test series in England and lost 0-2. Herath hardly made an impact throughout the series and finished with a handful of 7 wickets in 3 Tests at an unimpressive average of 43.28.</p>
<p>Sri Lanka’s next assignment was against Australia in their own territory and Herath was back to his usual best. They tamed the Aussies throughout the series and thumped them 3-0. This was the first time Sri Lanka inflicted a whitewash on any top Test playing nation. Herath was unplayable on certain occasions and finished with 28 wickets in only 3 matches at an astonishing average of 12.5. His best bowling figures came in the final Test at Colombo where he finished with figures of 13/145 in the match.</p>
<p>Sri Lanka then flew to Zimbabwe to play a 2-match Test series and as expected won the Test series 2-0 without much fuss. Herath who was leading the team was yet again at his sublime best and bamboozled the inexperienced batting line-up with his brilliant bowling. He finished with 19 wickets in the series at an average of just over 15.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-odi-bowlers-of-the-year/">CricTracker fan poll – 5 Best ODI bowlers of the year</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>2. Yasir Shah – 29% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_38781" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-38781" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/10/Yasir-Shah-of-Pakistan-celebrates-dismissing-Adil-Rashid-GettyImages-494304050.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-38781"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-38781" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yasir-Shah-of-Pakistan-celebrates-dismissing-Adil-Rashid-GettyImages-494304050.jpg" alt="Yasir Shah of Pakistan celebrates dismissing Adil Rashid" width="594" height="303" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-38781" class="wp-caption-text">Yasir Shah. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The leg-spinner from Pakistan made a dramatic comeback in Test cricket in July and led his country to one of the most famous victories in their cricketing history. Beginning the year with a 4-match Test series in England, Yasir Shah immediately made an impact by bagging 6 English wickets in the 1st innings of the 1st Test. He picked four wickets more in the 2nd innings to lead Pakistan to a famous victory at the Mecca of Cricket, “The Lord’s.</p>
<p>He was pretty ordinary in the next two Tests which Pakistan lost but came back strongly in the final Test with a 5-wicket haul and yet again led the visitors to a series-levelling win. In the following series against the Caribbean’s he was back at his best and bagged 21 wickets in the 3-match Test series at an impressive average of 26.85. He was injured during the Test series in New Zealand and played only one Test in the series which Pakistan lost 0-2.</p>
<p>In the first Test of the 3-match Test series against Australia at the Gabba, Shah was unimpressive and could only bag 3 wickets in the whole match which Pakistan eventually lost by 39 runs.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-odi-batsmen-year/">CricTracker fan poll &amp;#8211; 5 Best ODI batsmen of the year</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>1. Ravichandran Ashwin – 51% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_39887" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39887" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/11/Making-a-comeback-from-injury-Ravichandran-Ashwin-bagged-5-51-in-the-first-innings.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-39887"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-39887" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Making-a-comeback-from-injury-Ravichandran-Ashwin-bagged-5-51-in-the-first-innings.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin ICC Awards 2016" width="700" height="481" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39887" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Indian spin ace has had a dream run in the longest format of the game in 2016. India didn’t play a Test match during the first 7 months of the year and their first assignment was against the Carribeans in July. In the 4-match Test series in West Indies, Ashwin was pretty impressive and bagged 17 wickets in 4 matches at an impressive average of 23.17. India eventually won the series 2-0 and Ashwin played a major role in their triumph.</p>
<p>The No.1 all-rounder returned to familiar territory as New Zealand came to tour India in September. Ashwin who has been on a record-breaking spree created magic and spun a web around the Kiwis batsmen. He finished with 27 wickets in 3 tests at a staggering average of 17.77. His best bowling figures came in the final Test at Indore where he finished with 13/140.</p>
<p>Ashwin again played a very important role along with Ravindra Jadeja during their 4-0 success against England in November. He though wasn’t as lethal as in the New Zealand series but still finished the 5-match series with 28 wickets to his name. His best bowling figures of 12/167 came in the Mumbai Test where India inflicted an innings victory after conceding 400 in the 1st innings.</p>
<p><amp-facebook layout="responsive" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/crictracker/posts/1450125818351468" data-embed-as="post" height="615" width="500"></amp-facebook></p>

<p>In another year-end poll, we decided to ask the fans to rate the five best Test bowlers who were the most consistent performers for their nation in the last 12 months. We have picked the top 5 Test bowlers who were the most productive bowlers for their respective teams. More than 3200 fans voted in the poll on the CricTracker Facebook page and crowned Indian spin ace Ravichandran Ashwin as the champion of the contest.</p>
<p>Ashwin who bagged 72 wickets in the calendar year was accompanied by Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah. The other three in the contention were Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc, Proteas pace sensation Kagiso Rabada and Sri Lankan veteran spinner Rangana Herath. Performances prior to the Boxing Day Tests have been taken into consideration. Here are the top 5 based on the votes.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Kagiso Rabada &#8211; 3% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_92556" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92556" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/11/Kagiso-Rabada-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-92556"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-92556" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kagiso-Rabada-1.jpg" alt="Kagiso Rabada Best Test XI" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92556" class="wp-caption-text">Kagiso Rabada (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Youngster Kagiso Rabada had a tremendous start to his international career and his success at the highest level in 2016 is a result of all the hard work and the extra yards he put in. The Proteas began the year with a series loss at the hands of England but not before Rabada had made the English batsmen toil very hard for their runs. He picked up 22 wickets in the 3-match series at an average of 21.90. In the final Test at Centurion he finished with career-best figures of 13/144.</p>
<p>In the next series against New Zealand, he bagged 5 wickets in 2 matches at an average of 25. Rabada came back storming in the Test series against Australia which the Proteas won by a 2-1 margin. He along with Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander were lethal with both the new and the old ball and finished the series with 15 wickets in 3 matches at an average of 22.40. His only five-wicket haul in the series came at Perth.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-test-batsmen-year/" target="_blank">CricTracker fan poll – 5 best Test batsmen of the year</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>4. Mitchell Starc &#8211; 8% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_79214" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-79214" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-79214"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-79214" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Starc.jpg" alt="Mitchell Starc Australia" width="600" height="473" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-79214" class="wp-caption-text">Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc celebrates. (Photo by ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc has been the standout performer for the Aussies in an otherwise disappointing year in Test cricket. Beginning the year with a three-match Test series against Sri Lanka in August at their backyard, Starc finished the series with as many as 24 wickets from at a staggering average of 15.16 and was the only bright spot for the Aussies.</p>
<p>In a series were the mighty Australians were annihilated 3-0, Starc made good use of his skills and used his lethal inswinging Yorkers to good effect. On pitches that were not conducive for fast bowling, his performance was undoubtedly one of the most inspiring shows of the year.</p>
<p>He was not quite up to his standards in the Tests series against the Proteas at home which the hosts lost by a 1-2 margin. Though he bowled some exceptional spells in patches, he couldn’t get the breakthroughs at the crucial juncture. Despite that Starc finished as the highest wicket-taker from Australia with 14 wickets at an average of 30.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Rangana Herath &#8211; 9% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_78371" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-78371" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/07/Rangana-Herath-2.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-78371"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-78371" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rangana-Herath-2.jpg" alt="Rangana Herath Sri Lanka" width="600" height="456" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-78371" class="wp-caption-text">Sri Lanka&#8217;s Rangana Herath. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>It was a disappointing beginning of the year for both Sri Lanka and Rangana Herath. They began with a 3-match Test series in England and lost 0-2. Herath hardly made an impact throughout the series and finished with a handful of 7 wickets in 3 Tests at an unimpressive average of 43.28.</p>
<p>Sri Lanka’s next assignment was against Australia in their own territory and Herath was back to his usual best. They tamed the Aussies throughout the series and thumped them 3-0. This was the first time Sri Lanka inflicted a whitewash on any top Test playing nation. Herath was unplayable on certain occasions and finished with 28 wickets in only 3 matches at an astonishing average of 12.5. His best bowling figures came in the final Test at Colombo where he finished with figures of 13/145 in the match.</p>
<p>Sri Lanka then flew to Zimbabwe to play a 2-match Test series and as expected won the Test series 2-0 without much fuss. Herath who was leading the team was yet again at his sublime best and bamboozled the inexperienced batting line-up with his brilliant bowling. He finished with 19 wickets in the series at an average of just over 15.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-odi-bowlers-of-the-year/">CricTracker fan poll – 5 Best ODI bowlers of the year</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>2. Yasir Shah &#8211; 29% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_38781" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-38781" style="width: 594px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/10/Yasir-Shah-of-Pakistan-celebrates-dismissing-Adil-Rashid-GettyImages-494304050.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-38781"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-38781" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yasir-Shah-of-Pakistan-celebrates-dismissing-Adil-Rashid-GettyImages-494304050.jpg" alt="Yasir Shah of Pakistan celebrates dismissing Adil Rashid" width="594" height="303" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-38781" class="wp-caption-text">Yasir Shah. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The leg-spinner from Pakistan made a dramatic comeback in Test cricket in July and led his country to one of the most famous victories in their cricketing history. Beginning the year with a 4-match Test series in England, Yasir Shah immediately made an impact by bagging 6 English wickets in the 1st innings of the 1st Test. He picked four wickets more in the 2nd innings to lead Pakistan to a famous victory at the Mecca of Cricket, “The Lord’s.</p>
<p>He was pretty ordinary in the next two Tests which Pakistan lost but came back strongly in the final Test with a 5-wicket haul and yet again led the visitors to a series-levelling win. In the following series against the Caribbean&#8217;s he was back at his best and bagged 21 wickets in the 3-match Test series at an impressive average of 26.85. He was injured during the Test series in New Zealand and played only one Test in the series which Pakistan lost 0-2.</p>
<p>In the first Test of the 3-match Test series against Australia at the Gabba, Shah was unimpressive and could only bag 3 wickets in the whole match which Pakistan eventually lost by 39 runs.</p>
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<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/crictracker-fan-poll-5-best-odi-batsmen-year/">CricTracker fan poll &amp;#8211; 5 Best ODI batsmen of the year</a></strong></h6>
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<h4><strong>1. Ravichandran Ashwin &#8211; 51% votes</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_39887" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-39887" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/11/Making-a-comeback-from-injury-Ravichandran-Ashwin-bagged-5-51-in-the-first-innings.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-39887"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-39887" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Making-a-comeback-from-injury-Ravichandran-Ashwin-bagged-5-51-in-the-first-innings.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin ICC Awards 2016" width="700" height="481" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-39887" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Indian spin ace has had a dream run in the longest format of the game in 2016. India didn’t play a Test match during the first 7 months of the year and their first assignment was against the Carribeans in July. In the 4-match Test series in West Indies, Ashwin was pretty impressive and bagged 17 wickets in 4 matches at an impressive average of 23.17. India eventually won the series 2-0 and Ashwin played a major role in their triumph.</p>
<p>The No.1 all-rounder returned to familiar territory as New Zealand came to tour India in September. Ashwin who has been on a record-breaking spree created magic and spun a web around the Kiwis batsmen. He finished with 27 wickets in 3 tests at a staggering average of 17.77. His best bowling figures came in the final Test at Indore where he finished with 13/140.</p>
<p>Ashwin again played a very important role along with Ravindra Jadeja during their 4-0 success against England in November. He though wasn’t as lethal as in the New Zealand series but still finished the 5-match series with 28 wickets to his name. His best bowling figures of 12/167 came in the Mumbai Test where India inflicted an innings victory after conceding 400 in the 1st innings.</p>
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CricTracker fan poll – 5 best Test bowlers of the year

In another year-end poll, we decided to ask the fans to rate the five best Test bowlers who were the most consistent performers for their nation in the last