Discover the top 10 best swing bowlers of all time who mastered the art of swing bowling, thrilling cricket fans with their skill, precision, and magic.
Introduction
In the history of cricket, fast bowlers have often dominated the game. Whether it was Waqar Younis of the 1990s, McGrath, Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee, or Shaun Tait, all of them earned the title of speed masters in cricket history. Even today, we see extremely fast bowlers like Jofra Archer, Mitchell Starc, and Matt Henry. However, in the modern era, we rarely see the best swing bowlers in action. The biggest reason for this is the wrong policies of the ICC, and because of these faulty decisions, the careers of swing bowlers and some of the world’s greatest spinners have been put at risk. In today’s article, we will tell you about the world’s ten best swing bowlers whose magical bowling you may not have known about before.
1 Wasim Akram
In the long and glorious history of cricket, there are only a few bowlers who changed the game forever, and at the very top of that list stands Wasim Akram. When it comes to swing bowling, the first name that comes to mind is Pakistan’s legendary pacer Wasim Akram. He achieved four hat-tricks in international cricket, and because of his dangerous bowling, the world knows him as the “Sultan of Swing.” Akram took five wickets in an innings 30 times during his career, which shows his greatness and dominance as a bowler.
The famous batsman Brian Lara once said that there is hardly any batsman who does not feel fear while facing Wasim Akram. Even though he retired from cricket, fans still remember his deadly swing bowling. His performance in the 1992 World Cup final against England is unforgettable, when he dismissed two batsmen on two consecutive deliveries and snatched victory to make Pakistan the world champion.
Wasim Akram is not only Pakistan’s pride but also considered one of the best swing bowlers in the history of cricket. His skill, records, and impact on the game ensure that his name will forever remain at the very top of the list of the best swing bowlers the world has ever seen.
2 Mohammad Asif
Some people call Mohammad Asif the best swing bowler in the world, but because his career was short, many cricket fans do not fully know about his magical swing. The true value of his bowling can only be explained by the world’s greatest batsmen who faced him. Australia’s legendary batsman Ricky Ponting, when he was at the peak of his career, played against Mohammad Asif three times, and every time he lost his wicket to him. Ponting even admitted that in the history of cricket, he had never seen a bowler like Asif, whose deliveries after pitching could suddenly swing either in or out.
Sadly, Asif could only play 22 Test matches for Pakistan, where he still managed to take 105 wickets. Throughout his career, he often faced bans and restrictions that kept him away from the team. In 2010, he even tried to step into Bollywood, but that attempt failed. Despite all setbacks, Asif always remained hopeful of returning to Pakistan cricket.
Even with such a limited career, his accuracy, control, and ability to make the ball talk earned him a place among the best swing bowlers in the game. Many fans still believe that if his career had continued, he could have been remembered as one of the very greatest among the best swing bowlers of all time.
3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar can rightly be called one of the best swing bowlers in Indian cricket history. At first sight, he may look like a medium-fast bowler, but he has the ability to bowl at a speed of 140 km/h. He also has the special skill of moving the ball both ways, outswing and inswing, which makes him very dangerous for any batsman.
His full name is Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, and at present, he is known as India’s best swing bowler. With his sharp swing and consistent line, he has earned respect not only in India but also among cricket fans worldwide. Many consider him among the best swing bowlers of the modern game because of his control, accuracy, and ability to trouble even the greatest batsmen.
4 Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Amir is counted among the few cricketers in the world who are blessed with natural talent. For many cricketers, an easy debut is arranged against a weaker team, but Amir was given his debut in the 2009 World Cup at only 17 years of age against one of the best T20 teams, Sri Lanka. In his very first match, he surprised the world’s top batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene with his swing bowling. Pakistan went on to win that T20 World Cup.
In 2010, this great talent was trapped in spot-fixing and faced a long ban of five years. Even after many years, Pakistan has not found a talent like Mohammad Amir, and that is why the bowling attack is still remembered with his name. In an interview, when Virat Kohli was asked which bowler he finds the hardest to face, he replied that facing Mohammad Amir’s swing bowling is the most difficult for him.
Although Amir betrayed Pakistan once, he redeemed himself by helping the team win the 2017 Champions Trophy. This is why people still remember him in good words and consider him among the best swing bowlers in modern cricket. His story is proof that natural skill and determination can keep a bowler’s name alive among the best swing bowlers of all time.
5 James Anderson
James Anderson is counted among the world’s best fast bowlers and also among the few who can swing the ball with great skill. He is lovingly called Jimmy Anderson. He is the only fast bowler in the world who has taken the most wickets in Test cricket. Anderson made his Test debut in 2003, and today he has 575 wickets, which he achieved in only 149 matches. He is still at the second position in the ICC Test rankings.
Anderson also played World Cups for England in 2007, 2011, and 2015. In Test cricket, he is the only fast bowler in the world who has taken five wickets 27 times and ten wickets 3 times. This incredible record makes him one of the best swing bowlers of all time, and cricket fans across the globe know him by the name “Jimmy W.”
6 Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn is counted among the world’s best fast bowlers. He not only bowls with great speed but also has the ability to swing the ball. Because of his beautiful bowling action, people also know him by the names “Airborne Horse” and “Steyn Gun.” Steyn remained the number one bowler in ICC Test cricket for 2,356 days, which makes him the first bowler after the Second World War to achieve this record. In 2008, Steyn was also given the Test Cricketer of the Year award. In 2019, he said goodbye to Test cricket forever. Everyone knows that Steyn is one of the best swing bowlers in cricket history. And if still someone does not believe it, they can ask Pakistani batsmen, especially Mohammad Hafeez.
7 Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman grew up in a small town in Bangladesh. He was the youngest of six children of Abul Qasim. His father was a big cricket fan, and Rahman also loved cricket very much. That is why he used to travel 40 kilometers with his elder brother to play cricket with a tennis ball. He was inspired by the swing bowling of Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir.
In his very first international T20 match, he made an impact by dismissing Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez, sending a strong warning in world cricket. In the same year, 2015, he made his ODI debut against India and completely broke their batting lineup with his swing bowling. He took five wickets in that match, and Bangladesh won.
He continued his good form and in the second ODI, he claimed six wickets. With this, he became the only bowler in the world to take eleven wickets in the first two matches of an ODI career. He is also the only cricketer in the world who, on debut in both ODI and Test cricket, performed so well that he was awarded Man of the Match.
Because of his unique style, many fans and experts count him among the best swing bowlers in modern cricket. His consistency and skill also prove why he is remembered as one of the best swing bowlers of his generation.
8 Kulasekara Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan medium-fast bowler Kulasekara holds an important place in cricket history because of his exceptional swing bowling. While Lasith Malinga is considered Sri Lanka’s greatest bowler overall, on pitches with grass and assistance, facing Kulasekara was a real challenge even for the biggest batsmen. He represented Sri Lanka in international cricket for sixteen years and, during his career, troubled many top-class batsmen with his skills. In 2009, he was also ranked as the best bowler in ODI cricket, further proving why he is remembered among the best swing bowlers in the game’s history.
9 Irfan Pathan India
Irfan is counted among the best swing bowlers of his era. In the early days of his career, Irfan was often compared to Wasim Akram, and his swinging deliveries were extremely difficult for many batsmen to handle. Along with being a top-class bowler, he was also an excellent batsman. He made his cricket debut in 2003, and in 2006, he achieved a record that perhaps no one can ever break. In Test cricket, he took a hat-trick on the very first three balls of the opening over by dismissing Salman Butt, Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf — a unique achievement in cricket history that further strengthened his place among the best swing bowlers the game has ever seen.
10 Tim Southee New Zealand
Tim Southee is considered one of New Zealand’s famous fast bowlers. He made his debut in 2008 and, in his very first match against England, he took six wickets. Southee is not only known for his fast bowling but also for his ability to swing the ball effectively, making him one of the best swing bowlers of his time. In 2011, during a T20 match against Pakistan, he achieved a remarkable hat-trick by dismissing Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, and Umar Akmal in just three balls, a great achievement that further proved why he is counted among the best swing bowlers in cricket history.
FAQs
Q: Is Wasim Akram the greatest bowler of all time?
A: Wasim Akram is regarded as the Sultan of Swing and one of the best swing bowlers in cricket history.
Q: What was Mohammad Asif known for?
A: Mohammad Asif was known for his magical swing bowling and pinpoint accuracy.
Q: Who is best, Mohammad Amir or Jasprit Bumrah?
A: Mohammad Amir is remembered as one of the best swing bowlers of his era.
Conclusion
Swing bowling has always been an art that only a few cricketers in history truly mastered. From Dale Steyn to Wasim Akram, these legends proved why they are remembered as the best swing bowlers in the world. Their skill, records, and unforgettable moments ensure that the names of the best swing bowlers will always remain alive in cricket history.