Ranking the top 10 fast bowlers in world cricket currently

A straight drive down the ground might be the most pleasing aspect of cricket, but an inswinging delivery that uproots the middle stump of the batter will garner a more visceral emotion from the players and spectators alike. Fast bowling is an art that needs nourishment and proper handling as it takes a heavy toll on the personnel, be it mentally or physically. When done right, there is no more enthralling experience in the game of cricket, than watching a fast bowler in his full flow. The oohs and aahs can be heard from the crowd as they live every moment, just like the bowler. We take a look at some of the most rampant fast bowlers in the world right now: 10. Kyle Jamieson Kyle Jamieson. (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images) The giant man is still in the fledgling stage of his career but has already impressed with his abilities, especially in red-ball cricket. Jamieson uses his tall frame of 6’8″ to full effect, by generating awkward bounces for the batters. But, the right-arm quick can also surprise batters with his outstanding fuller-length deliveries. The lanky fast bowler came to the fore for the Kiwis in the World Test Championship final, with a Man of the Match performance of seven wickets in the game, which saw New Zealand win the inaugural edition of the competition. The fast bowler from Auckland breached the 50-wicket mark in just nine Test matches, the fastest New Zealander to do so and 8th fastest overall. The saying in New Zealand is that, If Boult and Southee don’t get you, Jamieson eventually will. 9. Tim Southee Tim Southee. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images) The other half of one of the most potent swing bowling duos, along with Boult, Tim Southee is one of the finest swing bowlers of this generation. An 18-year-old Southee made the headlines when he grabbed five wickets for 55 runs on his Test debut and smashed 77 runs off just 40 balls, with nine sixes in the 2nd innings. The right-arm pacer has been an ever-present member of the New Zealand squad, with over 300 appearances for the Blackcaps in international cricket. The Kiwi is the 2nd highest wicket-taker in T20Is, with 111 wickets to his name, just eight behind Shakib Al Hasan (119). Although the New Zealander hasn’t been as effective in the shorter forms of the game recently, he still troubles batters with his swing bowling in Tests. 8. Mohammed Shami Mohammed Shami. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images) Mohammed Shami’s seam presentation is hands down the best in the game. When the Indian pacer releases the ball with an upright seam, it’s a sight to behold. He is not only an aesthetically pleasing bowler but also one of the best seam bowlers in the game. Shami is known to hit the deck hard and generate seam movement from the ball. Much like Starc, the right-arm quick is a brilliant exponent of the reverse swing with the old ball and has got a destructive yorker in his locker. He was India’s standout performer in the 2015 World Cup, with 17 wickets to his name in just seven matches. Although he won’t be featuring in India’s series against South Africa, he was brilliant for his IPL side Gujarat Titans, who lifted their maiden IPL trophy this year. He returned with 20 wickets in IPL 2022 and was crucial to his team’s success. 7. Mitchell Starc Mitchell Starc of Australia. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images) A name that should probably be higher on the list, but Mitchell Starc has been inconsistent the last few years, especially in the shortest format of the game. The left-arm quick remains a threat to the batters with his ability to regularly clock over the 140 kmph mark. Starc is a part of one of the most envied bowling trios in world cricket right now, with the other two being Cummins and Hazlewood. Both Cummins and Hazlewood are most potent with the new ball. Meanwhile, Starc is at his belligerent best with the older ball, as he is one of the best at generating reverse swing in the latter stages of the innings. His reverse swinging yorkers are a sight to behold. The left-arm pacer didn’t enjoy the best of the T20 World Cups in 2021 but has shown signs of form in the recently concluded Test series against Pakistan. 6. Shaheen Afridi Shaheen Afridi. (Photo by Michael Steele-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) The prodigious left-arm pacer from Pakistan is one of the most sought-after young talents in the world. The 22-year-old is terrifyingly quick and can make the batters hop around, with the bounce he generates. The left-arm quick has a shy and gentle personality, but the batters who have faced his bowling would like to differ with that statement. Afridi is exceptional with the new ball and his probing lines, but the pacer also possesses a devastating yorker in his arsenal. The 22-year-old has already scalped 95 wickets in just 24 Tests, and with his prime years yet to come, the Pakistani quick has got the potential to become one of the modern greats of the game. 5. Josh Hazlewood Josh Hazlewood. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images) The 31-year-old fast bowler is known for his accuracy and ability in the longest format of the game. A smooth run-up and a free-flowing action instantly drew comparisons with the iconic Glenn McGrath, who was Hazlewood’s idol growing up. The right-arm quick made his ODI debut in 2010, but it wasn’t until 2014 that he got a chance to bowl with the red ball. He made an instant impact by picking up a 5-for in the 1st innings of his debut Test against India in 2014. The tall pacer went from strength to strength thereon and has established himself as one of the best Test bowlers in the world. Highly regarded in the Tests, Hazlewood has developed his limited-overs game as well in recent times. His impressive performance in the T20 World Cup and recently concluded IPL 2022, is proof of his adaptability. 4. Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo Source: ICC) Jasprit Bumrah is one of the greatest finds of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The pacer came into the limelight because of his slinging action, which was remarkably similar to his Mumbai Indian teammate, Lasith Malinga. Like the Sri Lankan legend, Bumrah too was imperious with his ability to hit the blockhole. The right-arm quick was drafted into the national side for his death bowling skills. But after the debut in the longest format of the game in 2018, the pacer added another dimension to his bowling. His unconventional action made the red ball behave unpredictably and made even world-class batters uncomfortable. The man from Gujarat has bagged 123 wickets in just 29 Tests and is one of the most feared bowlers in the limited-overs arena. The Indian team will hope that he can land them to their 2nd T20 World Cup title, later this year in Australia. 3. Trent Boult Trent Boult. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images) One of the best new-ball bowlers in the world and arguably New Zealand’s best-ever new-ball bowler, Trent Boult possesses the ability to dismantle the best of batting lineups with the new ball. But like his idol, Shane Bond, Boult too had a series of unfortunate injuries. The left-arm pacer was considered a red-ball specialist because of his ability to swing the red cherry both ways. But his quality eventually shone in the 50-over format, as he was crucial for the Blackcap’s run through to the final, in the 2015 World Cup. In 2019, he became the 4th fastest to 150 wickets in ODIs but the big prize still eluded him, as the Kiwi was part of another World cup final defeat that year. But in the summer of 2021, the pacer from New Zealand finally lifted silverware with the national team, as his side beat India to win the World Test Championship trophy. 2. Kagiso Rabada Kagiso Rabada. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images) A young Kagiso Rabada came into the limelight after a brilliant campaign with the South African side in the 2014 U-19 World Cup. The well-built pacer promised to be a future spearhead for the national side, as he was touted as a successor to the great Dale Steyn. Rabada grabbed the headlines after a sensational ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2015. He ended with mind-boggling figures of 6/16, including a hat-trick, the best figures by a debutant in ODI’s. The South African is renowned for his aggressive bowling and has 243 Test wickets in just 52 matches. Out of those, 134 have come against top Test-playing nations like Australia, England, and India. The right-arm pacer is often criticized for his over-the-top aggression and he has been reprimanded by ICC for his on-field antics in the past. But in the modern era, where players ply their trade in multiple franchise leagues all over the world, Rabada’s hostile behavior is a sight for sore eyes. 1. Pat Cummins Pat Cummins. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Over the last five years, Pat Cummins has been sensational for the Aussies. The right-arm quick was the youngest player to earn a central contract with Cricket Australia in 2011. But a series of unfortunate injuries limited the youngsters playing time. After recovering from injuries, Cummins became an integral part of the limited-overs team and featured in the 2015 World Cup-winning team. He made his return to Test cricket in 2017 and became the no. 1 ranked bowler in red-ball cricket by 2019. He is known for his ability to consistently bowl in the nagging 4th stump channel in Test cricket but is quite adept with his variations in white-ball cricket as well. The right-arm quick was handed the captaincy of the Test squad in peculiar circumstances right before the Ashes. Australia completed an emphatic 4-0 win in the series under his leadership. Cummins was the leading wicket-taker in the series, with 21 wickets to his name. The Sydney-born cricketer then led his side to a 1-0 series win against Pakistan in early 2022.

Topics

Featured Section

Current Series

IPL 2025 Auction

IPL Teams

Cricket Fantasy Tips

Cricket Stats

ICC Rankings

Interviews

Twitter Reactions

Cricket Appeal

Social Tracker

More Links

# Follow Us

Other Sports

Ranking the top 10 fast bowlers in world cricket currently

An insight into the world's best fast bowlers currently.

5. Josh Hazlewood

Latest Articles

Bumrah's Coldplay smile

Kohli confirms availability for Delhi vs Railways Ranji game

Champions Trophy 2025: India-Pakistan jersey dispute