Top 10 Greatest Female Bowlers Of All Time (Updated List 2023)

A research published by ICC in 2018 indicated that Women Cricket has over a 300 million fans all over the world. It also stated that 70% of the women fans wanted more coverage for Women Cricket. Nevertheless, Women cricket is on the rise now a days with the introduction of Women T20 League like Men cricket. Similarly, Women Cricket have also seen some of the star women bowlers who with their great bowling skills lead their teams to victory. Today, we will be looking at Top 10 Greatest Female Bowlers of all times.

Top 10 Greatest Female Bowlers Of All Time

From Cathryn Fitzpatrick to Nooshin Al Khadeer Women Cricket have seen some of the greatest female bowlers taking up challenges and giving up their best when the team needed them. Here is the list of Top 10 Greatest Female Bowlers of all time.

1. Cathryn Fitzpatrick

Former Australian Female Bowler Cathyrn Fitzpatrick takes the top spot on our list. She is regarded as the fastest Women’s bowler in the history of cricket. At the same time, she is fastest woman bowler to complete 100 wickets in ODI cricket. From 1991 to 2006 she played 13 tests for Australia and collected 60 wickets at an average of 19.11. She also took two five wicket hauls during her career with the best bowling figures of 5/29 in a test innings. Her best performance in a single test match stats are 9/112.

Not only this, Cathryn Fitzpatrick is the 2nd highest wicket taker in ODIs for Women. During her ODI career she represented Australia in 109 matches and took 180 wickets at an average of 16.79. Her economy in ODI’s remained 3.01 with the best bowling figures of 5/14. Moreover, she also recorded 4 five wicket hauls and 7 4 wicket hauls  during her ODI career.

Cathryn became the oldest women to mark a five wicket haul on 25 February 2006. She was inducted into ICC Hall of fame in 2019. Now she earns the top spot in our list of Greatest Female Bowlers in the history of cricket.

2. Jhulan Goswami

At number 2 we have modern day Indian Women Bowler Jhulan Goswami on our countdown. She is regarded as the greatest women bowler of all times and one of the fastest women bowlers in cricket. Jhulan debuted for India in 2002. Since than, she has played 11 tests and took 41 wickets at an average of 17.63. She has three fifers and one 10 wicket hauls till now with the best bowling figures of 5/25 in her test career. Goswami holds an economy of 2.02 in tests. In 2006 she recorded her best bowling figures in a test match of 10/78 against England.

Jhulan Goswami has a splendid ODI career since her debut. She is the highest ODI wicket taker for Women in cricket. She has picked up 236 wickets in 189 ODI matches with an average of 21.47. Jhulan also recorded 2 fifers and seven 4 wicket hauls in her ODI career. She carries the best bowling figures of 6/31 with an economy of 3.29.

Goswami received ICC Women’s Player of the year award in 2007. She is the first bowler to take 200 wickets in ODI format. Above all, Jhulan Goswami earns her name on our list of Greatest Women Bowlers of all times.

3. Lisa Sthalekar

Indian born Former Australian all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar takes the 3rd spot on our list. She is the first women to score 1000 runs in International cricket and pick up 100 wickets in ODI cricket. From 2003 to 2013, she played 8 tests and took 23 wickets with an average of 20.95. Her test career recorded 1 five wicket hauls with best bowling figures of 5/30. Apart from it, her best bowling figures during a full test match are 6/114 and she retired from test cricket with an economy of 1.65.

In ODIs, Sthalker has a memorable career well. She represented Australia in 123 ODI matches and picked up 146 wickets with an average of 24.97. She had one five wicket haul and best bowling figures of 5/35 when she retired from ODI cricket. Whereas, his economy remained 3.66 economy.

And now, she earns her spot on our list of Greatest Female Bowlers in ODI Cricket.

4. Neetu David

Next We have Former Indian Bowler and Current Chairperson of BCCI Women’s Selection Committee Neetu David on our list. She holds the record for best bowling figures in test innings by a women. During her career she played the role of a left arm spinner for Indian Women team. She played 10 tests from 1995 to 2006 and took 41 wickets with an average of 18.90. Her splendid test career also marks one five wicket haul with best bowling figures of 8/53. She took four wickets three times with an economy of 1.74 during her test career.  Neetu’s best bowling figures in a test match are 9/90.

 

In addition, she also represented India in ODIs as well. She played 97 ODI matches during her career and picked up 141 wickets with an average of 16.34. Her ODI career also indicates 2 five wicket hauls with best bowling figures of 5/20. She is also the first Indian bowler to take 100 wickets in Women’s ODIs.

Above all, Neetu David marks her name on our list of Greatest Women ODI Bowlers of all times.

5. Anisa Mohammad

At number 5 we have present day West Indian Women bowler Anisa Mohammad on our list. She is the highest wicket taker in T20s for Women with her 123 wickets in 114 T20 Internationals. Anisa plays for Trinidad and Tobago in domestic cricket. She was the first bowler among Men and Women to take 100 wickets in T20s. Since her debut in 2003 she has played 122 Women ODIs and took 151 wickets with an average of 20.51. Her ODI career also marks 6 five wicket hauls with best bowling figures of 7/14.

Anisa also represents West Indies in T20s as well. Since her debut, she has participated in 111 T20s and took 120 wickets at an average of 17.30. She has 3 five wicket hauls with the best bowling figures of 5/10 in T20s. Moreover, Anisa also has 10 ODI Player of the Match and 5 T20 Players of the Match Awards to her name as well.

Above all, Anisa Mohammad deserves a spot on our list of Greatest Female Bowlers of all times.

6. Jenny Gunn

Next we have former English Cricketer Jenny Gunn on our list at the 6th spot. She played the role of right-arm slow bowler for England Women’s team in International matches. From 2004 to 2019 she played 11 tests for England and took 29 wickets with an average of 22.24. Her Test career marked one five wicket haul with the best bowling figures of 5/19. Whereas, Gunn’s economy in tests remained 1.76.

Jenny Gunn also took part in ODI format as well. Having played 144 Women ODIs till her retirement, she picked up 73 wickets at an average of 28.10. Her ODI career marks two fifers with best bowling figures of 5/22. In 2014, she was appointed as the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her service in the cricket.

Thus, Jenny Gunn earns her spot on our list of Greatest Women Bowlers of all times.

7. Stafanie Taylor

At number 7 we have modern day West Indies Women Team Captain Stafanie Taylor on our list. She was the first West Indian women cricketer to receive ICC Cricketer of the year award in 2011. Apart from it, Stafanie Taylor is also the first Women Cricketer to score a hundred and take four wickets in a Women ODI match. Since her debut in 2008, she has played 126 ODIs for West Indies and took 142 wickets at an average of 21.35. Her best bowling figures in ODIs are 4/17.

Apart from it, Taylors’ also had an superb T20 career as a bowler. She played 110 T20 matches and recorded 94 wickets at an average of 17.25. Her best bowling figures in T20s are 4/12. She is now considered as the best West Indian cricketer of all times for her performances in ICC Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup 2016 and Cricket World Cup 17 for women.

Above all, Stafanie Taylor deserves a spot on our list of greatest Women bowlers of all times.

8. Clare Taylor

Former English Fast bowler Clare Taylor earns the 8th spot on our list. She was the first women to take part in both cricket and Foot Ball World Cups. She played for England in Cricket World Cup 1993 and Foot ball World Cup 1995. Taylor was awarded with MBE in 2000 for her services in Women’s Sport.

From 1988 to 2005, Clare Taylor took 43 wickets in 16 test matches at an average of 40.44. Her best bowling figures in test remained 4/38. Whereas her economy in test remained 2.54. Clare Taylor also represented England in Women ODIs. She picked up 102 wickets in 105 Women ODIs at an average of 23.95. Her best bowling figures in ODIs were 4/13.

Therefore, Clare Taylor deserves a spot on our list of greatest female bowlers of all times.

9. Isa Guha

Born in an Indian Bengali family, the former English cricketer Isa Guha claims the 9th spot on our list. She represented England in 2005 World Cup and 2009 World Cup. Guha was a right-arm medium-fast bowler during her career. From 2001 to 2011 she played 8 tests for England and recorded 29 wickets at an average of 18.93. She had one fifer in her test career with best bowling figures of 5/40. Her best bowling figures in a test match remained 9/100 with an economy of 2.20.

 

Isa was an excellent bowler during her ODI career as well. She took 101 wickets in 83 ODIs with an average of 23.21. Her ODI career marks 2 five wicket hauls with best bowling figures of 5/14. Whereas, his economy in ODIs remained 3.73. She was ranked 1st on ICC ODI bowler rankings for women in 2008. Now, she enters her name on our list of greatest Female bowlers in Cricket.

10. Nosheen Al Khadeer

At last we have another former Indian female cricketer Nosheen Al Khadeer making up the final spot on our list. She played international cricket from 2003 to 2008. During her short career she Nosheen represented India in 5 tests and grabbed 14 wickets with an average of 26.64. Her best bowling figures in tests were 3/30. Nosheen was ranked number 1 bowler in 2003.

She had a splendid career as an ODI bowler and took 100 wickets in 78 ODIs at an average of 24.02. Her ODI career also points to one five wicket haul with the best bowling figures of 5/14. Khadeer’s economy in ODIs remained 3.30. Now, she attains her spot on our list of greatest female bowlers in cricket history.

Conclusion

So, here is our list. Who do you think should make it on our list. Let us know in the comment box.