Top 10 Best Spin Bowlers of All Time

Spin Bowlers are the vital part of a cricket team. Through their spin bowling spells they can not only make it difficult for batsman to score runs, but they also provide breakthroughs when needed. This is why one or two spin bowlers are always included in the squad of a team. Cricket fans have seen many legendary spin bowlers in the past. Today, we will be recalling Top 10 Best Spinners of all time in cricket.

Top 10 Best Spin Bowlers of All Time

From Muralitharan to Abdul Qadir, Spin bowlers have dominated over the top batsmen in cricket. With their stylish spin bowling actions and quick turns, they troubled the greatest batsmen of all times. Here is the list of Best Spin bowlers of all times in cricket.

1. Muttiah Muralitharan

Legendary Sri Lankan Right-arm off break bowler Muttiah Muralitharan tops our list of Greatest Spin bowlers of all times. He is the greatest and most successful bowler in the history of cricket. During his career from 1992 to 2011, he took 800 wickets in 133 test matches with a bowling average of 22.72. His stunning test career also marks 67 fifers and 22 ten wicket hauls. He also recorded the best bowling figures of 9/51 in test format.

Apart from it, Muralitharan grabbed 534 wickets in 350 One Day Internationals. He also recorded 10 fifers with the best bowling figures of 7/30 in the ODI format. During his period, Murali set many records in the bowling department.

He holds the world record for picking up most wickets in test (800) and most wickets in ODI (534) formats. At the same times, Murali also records most five wickets hauls (67) in tests. His ten wicket hauls numbers (22) are the most ten wickets hauls by any bowler in test cricket. He is the fastest bowler to complete 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650,700, 750 and 800 Test wickets.

If thats not all, he is the only bowler to take 50 wickets against every Test Playing nation. No doubt, he deserves the number 1 spot on our list of best spin bowlers of all times in cricket.

2. Shane Warne

At number 2, we have legendary Australian spin bowler Shane Warne on our list. He is considered as one of the greatest bowlers of all times in cricket. Moreover, he was also named the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 1994,1997 and 2004 at Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.

Shane Warne recorded 708 wickets in 145 test matches with an average of 25.41. His marvelous test career also points to 37 fifers and ten 10 wicket hauls. His best bowling figures were 8/71 in the test format. He remained best in the ODI format as well during his career.

Warney picked up 293 wickets in 194 One Day matches with an average of 25.73. His ODI career also stats a five wicket haul. His best bowling figures in ODIs were 5/33. He is the 2nd highest wicket taker in tests after Muralitharan. Therefore, he surely deserves a spot on our list of top spin bowlers in cricket.

3. Anil Kumble

Next, we have former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble on our list of best spinners in cricket. He is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in test cricket. During his career from 1990 to 2008, he recorded 619 wickets in 132 test matches with an average of 29.65. His stunning test career also indicates 35 five wicket and eight ten wicket hauls. His best test bowling figures were 10/74.

At the same time, Anil Kumble also took 337 wickets in 271 One Day matches at an average of 30.89. Moreover, he also marked two five wicket hauls in ODI format. Whereas, his best bowling figures in One Days remained 6/12.

Nicknamed Jumbo, Kumble holds the record for taking 10 wickets in a test innings. He received Wisden Cricketer of the year award in 1996. And, he became ICC Hall of fame inductee in 2015. Apart from it, he also holds the record for trapping most batsmen in leg before wicket.

Anil Kumble is the third highest wicket taker in test. Therefore, he earns a spot on our list of top spin bowlers in cricket.

4. Saqlain Mushtaq

Regarded as one of the best spinners of all times, former Pakistani right-arm off-break bowler Saqlain Mushtaq holds the 4th spot on our list. He is credited with invention of Doosra Ball in cricket. Saqlain Mushtaq was the fastest bowler to take 200 and 250 wickets in ODI format.

During his career from 1995 to 2004, he took 204 wickets in 49 test matches with an average of 29.83. Apart from it, his test career also records 13 fifers and three 10 wicket hauls. He retired from international cricket with a best test bowling figures of 8/164.

Moreover, Saqlain also picked up 288 wickets in 169 ODI matches during his career. His marvelous One Day Career points out to six five wicket hauls with a best bowling figures of 5/20. He was selected for Wisden Cricket of the year in 2000. Saqlain Mushtaq is one of only two bowlers to record a hat-trick in ODI format.

Therefore, Saqlain makes the 4th spot on our list for his achievements in One Day format.

5. Daniel Vettori

Former New Zealand cricketer Daniel Vettori earns the 5th spot on our list of Greatest Spinners of all times in cricket. Known for his accuracy, flight and guile, he is the 8th cricketer to score 3,000 runs and take 300 wickets in test history. During his career, Vettori took 362 wickets in 113 test matches with an average of 34.36. His test career also states 20 fifers and three ten wicket hauls with best bowling figures of 7/87.

In addition, Daniel Vettori also recorded 305 wickets in 295 ODIs at his retirement. He has the bowling average of 31.71 with two five wicket hauls in One Day format. He achieved best bowling figures of 5/7 in ODIs. Daniel Vettori was the first left leg-spinner to take 300 wickets in Test and ODIs.

Above all, he deserves a spot on our list of best spinners in cricket.

6. Rangna Herath

Next we have former Sri Lankan leg spinner Rangna Herath at number 6 on over list. He is considered one of the greatest leg spinners of all times. Rangna Herath is the most successful left arm leg spinner in the history of cricket. During his career from 1999 to 2018, he took 433 wickets in 93 test at an average of 28.08. His test career also records 34 five wicket and 9 ten wicket hauls. His best test bowling figures were 9/127.

 

Apart from tests, Rangna Herath also took 74 wickets in 71 ODI matches with an average of 31.91. His best bowling figures 4/20 in the One Days. Hearth also participated in 17 T20 Internationals picking up 17 wickets with the best bowling figures of 5/3.

For his marvelous achievements in Cricket, Rangna Herath enters his name on our list.

7. Harbhajan Singh

At number 7, we have from Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh on our list. He is the second highest wicket taker off spinner after Muralitharan. He was the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Test format. From 1998 to 2013, Bhajji took 417 wickets in 103 test matches at an average of 32.46. His test career also stats 25 fifers and five ten wicket hauls with the best bowling figures of 8/84.

Harbhajan also grabbed 269 wickets in 236 ODI matches at an average of 33.35. His ODI career also records three five wicket hauls with best bowling figures of 5/31. He is the third Indian to have highest number of wickets in test.

Above all, Harbhajan deserves a spot on our list.

8. Ravichandran Ashwin

Present Indian all-rounder Ravichandran books the 8th spot on our list of best spinners in cricket. He is the fastest Indian bowler to take 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 wickets in test cricket. Ashwin is considered one of the best spin of this generation. Since his debut in 2010, he has taken 413 wickets in 79 test matches with an average of 24.56. His test career also indicates 30 fifers and seven ten wicket hauls with the best bowling figures of 7/59.

In ODI format, Ravichandran Ashwin has been a successful bowler for India as well so far. He has picked up 150 wickets in 111 ODI matches at an average of 32.91. His best bowling figures in ODIs are 4/25. He has also taken 52 wickets in 46 T20 matches as well.

Ashwin received ICC Test Player of the year award and ICC best Cricketer of the year ward in 2016. Thus, he earns his place on our list of Greatest Spinners in Cricket.

9. Abdul Qadir

Late Pakistani leg spinner Abdul Qadir Khan deserves the 9th spot on our list. He is regarded as one of the greatest leg spinners of all times. Yahoo Cricket described him as the master of googlies, the flippers, the leg-breaks and the top-spins. Former English Captain Graham Coach said about him that he was even finer than Shane Warne.

From 1977 to 1993, Qadir represented Pakistan in 67 test matches and took 236 wickets at an average of 32.31. His Test Career records 15 fifers and five ten wicket hauls with the best bowling figures of 9/56 in a innings. Apart from it, Qadir also played ODI cricket and took 132 wicket in 104 One Day matches at an average of 26.16. He recorded two five wicket hauls with best bowling figures of 5/44 in ODI format.

His Younger Son Usman Qadir now represents Pakistan in T20 and ODI formats. He was the greatest leg spinners of his area and surely deserves a spot on our list.

10. Shahid Afridi

Widely Regarded as one of the best hard hitters in cricket, Legendary Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi also makes the final spot on our list. He is the 2nd highest wicket taker leg spinner after Muralitharan in ODIs. During his career from 1996 to 2018, he took 48 wickets in 27 matches at an average of 35.60. He holds only one fifer in his test career with best bowling figures of 5/52.

However, he had a splendid career as a bowler in ODI format. He played 398 ODI matches for Pakistan during his career and took 395 wicket at an average of 34.51. He has nine fifers in ODIs with best bowling figures of 7/12. Moreover, he his the third highest wicket taker Pakistani and 5th highest wicket taker over all in ODI format.

Shahid Afridi is one of the greatest all-rounder in cricket of all times and he deserves a spot on our list.