Top 15 List Of Most Dangerous Bowlers in World (Cricket) 2024

Cricket, often referred to as the batsman’s game, has had the pleasure of experiencing its fine share of legends who carved their names into the pages of cricketing history. Therefore, this sport would be incomplete without its bowling heroes, who have made the ball bounce and taken wickets unpredictably. Cricket’s legendary bowling has consistently left an unforgettable mark on the sport, mesmerizing fans with their bowling skills. These bowlers have constantly showcased perfection in their bowling careers, leaving a lasting impression on cricket enthusiasts.  Let’s look into the contributions of the top 15 dangerous bowlers in cricket, who have consistently made the audience ecstatic with their complex bowling skills, making them a pillar of the unique achievements of the sport.

List of 15 Most Dangerous Bowlers in Cricket

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

Muttiah Murlitharan is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who is widely recognized as the greatest spinner of all time. His career spanned over 18 years, during which he played for Sri Lanka and various club teams. Muralitharan’s bowling action involved double-jointed arms, which made him one of the most effective and controversial bowlers in the history of cricket. Despite facing criticism, Muttiah continued to leave unexpectedly exceptional performances in the cricketing sport, gaining appreciation worldwide. Muttiah Murlitharan played a total of 133 test matches and 341 ODI, 66 IPL, and 12 T20I matches in his career.

2. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

Kagiso Rabada is a South African cricketer who is known as one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He made his international debut in November 2014 for South Africa, participating in limited-overs cricket before making his debut in test cricket held in November 2015. Rabada’s bowling style is right-arm fast, and he is known for his accuracy, pace, and ability to swing the ball. By 2018, the talented athlete had managed to top both the ICC ODI and test bowler rankings at the age of 22.  Rabada has played a total of 93 ODIs, 60 tests, 56 T20Is, and 69 IPL matches in his career so far. 

3. Stuart Broad (England)

Stuart Broad, an English cricketer who is one of the greatest bowlers in the world and a talented prodigy, showcased his best-ever bowling performance on the first morning of his home test held at Trent Bridge. With the bowling style of right-arm-fast, Stuart is praised for his excellent accuracy, pace, and ability to swing the ball. The talented athlete has played 121 ODI, 56 T20I, and 149 test matches in his career. He was not able to participate in any IPL matches because the board had to rule him out because of a rib injury.

4. Pat Cummins (Australia)

Pat Cummins is an Australian cricketer who is recognized for his incredible prowess as a fast bowler worldwide. Renowned for his ability to generate a steep bounce, the talented sportsman has emerged as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers. His combination of raw speed and cricketing intelligence, along with his tenacity, made him a formidable Australian asset for the team. As of January 2023, he is rated as the number-one bowler in the world in the ICC test bowling rankings. Cummins has played a total of 93 ODIs, 56 T2OIs, 60 tests, and 45 IPL matches so far. 

5. James Anderson (England)

James Anderson, also known as “Burnley Express,” is an English fast bowler and one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the history of Test cricket. Anderson’s remarkable career is marked by his ability to smoothly swing the ball in both a conventional and reverse manner. Gifted with unbelievable accuracy and a keen cricketing mind, the talented sportsman has mastered the art of pace bowling and became England’s all-time wicket-taker. Anderson has participated in 121 ODIs, 56 T20Is, and 149 Test matches so far. He was not able to participate in any IPL match 

6. Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Jasprit Bumrah is an Indian cricketer who is recognized for his unique bowling style and his ability to bowl yorkers in the sport. He made his debut in 2016 and, since then, has become one of the best bowlers in the world. Bumrah’s remarkable career consists of numerous fine performances and records that showcased his exceptional trait of performing flawlessly under pressure. Bumrah has played over 79 ODI, 62 T20I, and 30 test matches for India. He has also played 120 IPL matches for Mumbai Indians so far.

7. Anil Kumble (India)

Anil Kumble is a former Indian captain who is renowned for his legendary career as a leg-spin bowler. Kumble’s outstanding career of 18 years has earned him the popularity of the cricketing world’s best bowling players of all time, which has earned him fame and respect both in India and internationally. He is considered one of the greatest spin bowlers and achieved a record of taking 619 wickets in test cricket, which is the third-highest number of wickets taken by a bowler ever. The talented legend was recognized for his consistency and accuracy and was gifted with the ability to bowl long spells without getting exhausted. Kumble showcased numerous exceptional performances in the field and played 42 IPL, 271 ODI’s, 1 T20I, and 132 test matches in his sports career.

8. Shaun Pollock (South Africa)

Pollock had an exceptional fast-medium bowling style, and his sports career is defined by his accuracy, consistent line and length, and his ability to generate the movement of the ball. The gifted sportsman has played a crucial role in South Africa’s pace attack, becoming one of the leading wicket-takers in both test matches and the ODI’s.  Pollock’s remarkable control and seam movement on the field made him a genuine match-winner, and he contributed exceptional performances in both batting and bowling styles, freezing his status as one of the finest South African all-rounders of all time. Shaun Pollock played 108 tests, 303 ODI’s, 12 T20Is, and 13 IPL matches in his cricketing career. 

9. Shane Warne (Australia)

The former Australian bowler was considered one of the best leg-spin bowlers in the history of cricket. His remarkable career was defined by his extraordinary ability to prodigiously turn cricket balls and deceive even the most accomplished batsmen. The gifted athlete’s unique combination of leg-spin and charismatic personality made him a cricket icon. Warne’s record of 1,001 international wickets, ability to read batsmen’s minds, and numerous exceptional performances have consolidated his status as one of the true cricketing legends in the eyes of cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Shane Warne has played 108 tests, 303 ODIs, 12 T20Is, and 13 IPL matches so far.

10. Brett Lee (Australia)

Brett Lee was a talented former Australian player who participated in all four formats of the sport. He was recognized as one of the fastest bowlers in the world during his international career. During his time representing Australia, the gifted bowler won multiple ICC titles with teams such as the 2003 ICC World Cup, the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy, the 2007 cricket world cup, and the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy. Brett’s ability to swing the ball, generate raw pace, and extract bounce from various pitches made him an important force for the Australian team. The talented sportsman excelled at the image of extreme speed over a decade. Lee played 76 tests, 55 T20I’s, 221 ODI’s, and 55 IPL matches in his entire cricketing career. 

11. Shoiab Akhtar (Pakistan)

Shoaib Akhtar, also recognized by the name “Rawalpindi Express”, is a former Pakistani cricket sensation known for his incredible pace and aggressive fast bowling. Akhtar’s career was marked by his ability to consistently bowl at a speed exceeding 150 kilometers per hour, making him one of the fastest bowlers in the history of the sport. His aggressive approach combined with the ability to swing the ball created numerous memorable moments in international cricket. He has also been involved in several controversies during his career, often accused of his unsportsmanlike conduct. Akhtar has played 46 tests, 163 ODIs, 15 T20Is, and 28 IPL matches so far.

12. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

Lasith Malinga, a former Sri Lankan cricketing legend, is renowned for his unorthodox sling-action style of bowling and his unique ability to deliver pinpoint yorkers at unimaginable speeds. His aggressive round-arm action made him a tough competitor for balling. The fearless sportsman is recognized for his toe-crushing yorkers, which earned him the nickname “Slinga Malinga”. His fiery performances have an undeniable impact on the world of international cricket. Malinga has played 30 Tests, 226 ODI’s, 84 T20Is, and 122 IPL matches in his cricketing career.

13. Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Mitchell Starc a former Australian bowler, is known for his swing, fast pace, and ability to generate a reverse swing with precision. Marc’s cricketing career is marked by his ability to breach the 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour) mark, solidifying his position as one of the fastest bowlers in contemporary cricket. His unique left-arm pace style and his ability to deliver lethal yorkers have earned him the reputation of being the most devastating bowler in all formats of the game. Starc’s skills and versatility to deliver balls in crunch situations have earned him a place among the elite fast bowlers of his generation. Mitchell Starc has played 30 tests, 226 ODI’s, 84 T20Is, and 122 IPL matches so far in the game. 

14. Dale Steyn (South Africa)

The former South African cricketer Dale Steyn is one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Indian cricket. He had the capability to express pace, ability, and fierce aggression to move the ball in both ways, which gained him appreciation worldwide. His accurate line and length, along with his potent bouncer, have seen him dominate the skills of a batsman in all formats of the game. Steyn’s relentless pace and unwavering competitiveness have made him a true match-winner and the cornerstone of South Africa’s pace attack for many years. The talented prodigy has played 93 tests, 125 one-day internationals, 47 T20Is, and 95 IPL matches in his career so far.

15. Sir Curtly Ambrose (England)

Sir Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose was a legendary West Indian fast bowler renowned for his devastating pace and remarkable accuracy. His incredible sports career was marked by his flawless ability to generate steep bounces in the toughest of cricketing momentum. Sir Ambrose has overwhelmed the cricketing world with numerous memorable performances that have frozen his position as one of the most fearsome and successful fast bowlers in the history of West Indian cricket. The extraordinary sports star’s legacy was the symbol of West India’s dominance in the cricket world during the 1990s.  The legendary sports star played 98 tests and 176 ODI matches in his entire cricketing career.

Cricket history is incomplete without these exceptional bowlers. They have justified the fact that bowling is not just about delivering the ball and getting a wicket but is instead an art of creating magic with each delivery. Their outstanding contributions will always be on the pages of cricket history, inspiring generations of aspiring bowlers to come. Cricket wouldn’t have been the same without these extraordinary athletes.