Test Cricket 1970s and 1980s - Top Bowlers

 (27 November 1970 to 16 April 1990)

The terrifying duo of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.

The fearsome foursome of Roberts, Holding, Garner and Croft.

Marshall compounded the miseries of the batsmen.

This epoch of the decades of the 1970s and 1980s saw fast bowling like no other. It was also the time when some of the greatest allrounders in history paraded their wares. In fact, the leading wicket-takers in this period were four of these top-class allrounders. Richard Hadlee became the first bowler to capture 400 Test wickets. Ian Botham had 376 wickets to his name, Kapil Dev 364 and Imran Khan 358. All of them added to their tally, Hadlee finishing with a record 431 scalps. Kapil Dev pipped him towards the end of his career with 434 victims. Botham ended with 383 wickets, and Imran with 362, an era not likely to return.

One of the fiercest fast bowlers ever, Dennis Lillee had the record of 355 wickets to his name when he hung up his boots. The much-feared Malcolm Marshall and the tall and gangling Bob Willis also topped 300 wickets in this time, 329 and 325 respectively. Marshall rounded off his career with 376 wickets. Six bowlers grabbed at least 200 wickets, four of them pacemen, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Jeff Thomson, and two spinners Derek Underwood and Abdul Qadir.

Among those who appeared in this time, six bowlers ripped out more than 200 wickets in their entire careers, a myriad collection of three pacemen, one of them a left-armer, and three spinners of different varieties. Courtney Walsh had taken the record with 519 scalps, Wasim Akram called it a day 414 wickets, while Lance Gibbs too was a record-holder with a bag of 309. Bishan SinghBedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and John Snow were other members of the 200 wickets club.

Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner registered some of the best averages ever. Marshall expended 20.76 runs for each of his 329 wickets, while Garner was just a wee bit behind with 20.97 for his 259 wickets. Marshall finally walked away with an average of 20.94, having blasted out 376 wielders of the willow.

Richard Hadlee’s average was 22.23 while he prised out 415 wickets. Imran Khan was close on his heels at 22.87, having claimed 358 victims. Hadlee eventually had an average of 22.29 for his 431 wickets, while Imran’s was 22.81 in his final count of 362 wickets. Colin Croft (125 wickets at 23.30), Holding (249 wickets at 23.68) and Lillee (355 wickets at 23.92) had career averages below 24. Walsh averaged 23.88 for his 134 wickets in this period, and finally gave away 24.44 runs for each of his 519 wickets.

They were followed by Bob Willis (325 wickets at 25.20) and Andy Roberts (202 wickets at 25.61). John Snow averaged 25.85 as he snapped up 103 wickets in this person, while he finally bowed out at 26.66 for his 202 wickets.

These were the top bowlers in the decades of the 1970s and 1980s ruled by speed, speed and more speed, with spin finding it exceedingly difficult to keep pace (pun unintended). While the West Indies speed merchants were spine-chilling, every other team had great fast bowlers in their ranks.

TOP WICKET-TAKERS (minimum 100 wickets)

Richard Hadlee (New Zealand, right-arm fast) 1973-90, Tests 83, Balls 21115, Wickets 415, Average 22.23, BBI 9/52, BBM 15/123, 5WI 35, 10WM 9

Ian Botham (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1977-89, Tests 97, Balls 21281, Wickets 376, Average 28.27, BBI 8/34, BBM 13/106, 5WI 27, 10WM 4

Kapil Dev (India, right-arm fast-medium) 1978-90, Tests 106, Balls 22269, Wickets 364, Average 29.54, BBI 9/83, BBM 11/146, 5WI 21, 10WM 2

Imran Khan (Pakistan, right-arm fast) 1971-90, Tests 82, Balls 19290, Wickets 358, Average 22.87, BBI 8/58, BBM 14/116, 5WI 23, 10WM 6

Dennis Lillee (Australia, right-arm fast) 1971-84, Tests 70, Balls 18467, Wickets 355, Average 23.92, BBI 7/83, BBM 11/123, 5WI 23, 10WM 7

Malcolm Marshall (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1978-90, Tests 68, Balls 15221, Wickets 329, Average 20.76, BBI 7/22, BBM 11/89, 5WI 22, 10WM 4

Bob Willis (England, right-arm fast) 1971-84, Tests 90, Balls 17357, Wickets 325, Average 25.20, BBI 8/43, BBM 9/92, 5WI 16, 10WM –

Joel Garner (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1977-87, Tests 58, Balls 13169, Wickets 259, Average 20.97, BBI 6/56, BBM 9/108, 5WI 7, 10WM -

Michael Holding (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1975-87, Tests 60, Balls 12680, Wickets 249, Average 23.68, BBI 8/92, BBM 14/149, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Derek Underwood (England, slow left-arm) 1970-82, Tests 70, Balls 17939, Wickets 230, Average 28.46, BBI 8/51, BBM 13/71, 5WI 11, 10WM 4

Abdul Qadir (Pakistan, right-arm legbreak-googly) 1977-89, Tests 63, Balls 16592, Wickets 230, Average 32.42, BBI 9/56, BBM 13/101, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Andy Roberts (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1974-83, Tests 47, Balls 11135, Wickets 202, Average 25.61, BBI 7/54, BBM 12/121, 5WI 11, 10WM 2

Jeff Thomson (Australia, right-arm fast) 1972-85, Tests 51, Balls 10535, Wickets 200, Average 28.00, BBI 6/46, BBM 9/105, 5WI 8, 10WM –

Bishan Singh Bedi (India, slow left-arm) 1971-79, Tests 48, Balls 15824, Wickets 196, Average 29.79, BBI 6/71, BBM 10/194, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India, legbreak-googly) 1971-79, Tests 42, Balls 11212, Wickets 180, Average 29.20, BBI 8/79, BBM 12/104, 5WI 14, 10WM 1

Geoff Lawson (Australia, right-arm fast) 1980-89, Tests 46, Balls 11118, Wickets 180, Average 30.56, BBI 8/112, BBM 11/134, 5WI 11, 10WM 2

Sarfraz Nawaz (Pakistan, right-arm fast-medium) 1972-84, Tests 54, Balls 13747, Wickets 177, Average 32.31, BBI 9/86, BBM 11/125, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Iqbal Qasim (Pakistan, slow left-arm) 1976-88, Tests 50, Balls 13019, Wickets 171, Average 28.11, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/118, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Terry Alderman (Australia, right-arm fast-medium) 1981-90, Tests 36, Balls 9152, Wickets 153, Average 26.68, BBI 6/128, BBM 10/151, 5WI 13, 10WM 1

Chris Old (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1972-81, Tests 46, Balls 8858, Wickets 143, Average 28.11, BBI 7/50, BBM 9/88, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Tony Greig (England, right-arm medium fast, off-break) 1972-77, Tests 58, Balls 9802, Wickets 141, Average 32.20, BBI 8/86, BBM 13/156, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Ravi Shastri (India, slow left-arm) 1981-89, Tests 69, Balls 14528, Wickets 141, Average 39.51, BBI 5/75, BBM 8/179, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Graham Dilley (England, right-arm fast) 1979-89, Tests 41, Balls 8192, Wickets 138, Average 29.76, BBI 6/38, BBM 9/128, 5WI 6, 10WM –

John Emburey (England, right-arm off-break) 1978-89, Tests 60, Balls 14227, Wickets 138, Average 36.99, BBI 7/78, BBM 7/105, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Max Walker (Australia, right-arm fast-medium) 1972-77, Tests 34, Balls 10094, Wickets 138, Average 27.47, BBI 8/143, BBM 8/143, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Courtney Walsh (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1984-90, Tests 37, Balls 7177, Wickets 134, Average 23.88, BBI 6/62, BBM 10/101, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Lance Cairns (New Zealand, right-arm medium-fast) 1974-85, Tests 43, Balls 10628, Wickets 130, Average 32.92, BBI 7/74, BBM 10/144, 5WI 6, 10WM 1

Bruce Yardley (Australia, right-arm off-break) 1978-83, Tests 33, Balls 8909, Wickets 126, Average 31.63, BBI 7/98, BBM 10/185, 5WI 6, 10WM 1

Colin Croft (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1977-82, Tests 27, Balls 6165, Wickets 125, Average 23.30, BBI 8/29, BBM 9/95, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Phil Edmonds (England, slow left-arm) 1975-87, Tests 51, Balls 12028, Wickets 125, Average 34.18, BBI 7/76, BBM 7/76, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Ewan Chatfield (New Zealand, right-arm fast-medium) 1975-89, Tests 43, Balls 10360, Wickets 123, Average 32.17, BBI 6/73, BBM 10/124, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Rodney Hogg (Australia, right-arm fast) 1978-84, Tests 38, Balls 7633, Wickets 123, Average 28.47, BBI 6/74, BBM 10/66, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Dilip Doshi (India, slow left-arm) 1979-83, Tests 33, Balls 9322, Wickets 114, Average 30.71, BBI 6/102, BBM 8/103, 5WI 6, 10WM -

Wasim Akram (Pakistan, left-arm fast) 1985-90, Tests 32, Balls 7017, Wickets 111, Average 26.72, BBI 6/62, BBM 11/160, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Karsan Ghavri (India, left-arm fast, slow left-arm) 1974-81, Tests 39, Balls 3656, Wickets 109, Average 33.54, BBI 5/33, BBM 7/120, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India, right-arm off-break) 1971-83, Tests 43, Balls 11220, Wickets 109, Average 40.83, BBI 5/95, BBM 7/102, 5WI 1, 10WM –

Geoff Arnold (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1972-75, Tests 31, Balls 7134, Wickets 107, Average 28.75, BBI 6/45, BBM 9/91, 5WI 5, 10WM –

John Snow (England, right-arm fast) 1970-76, Tests 24, Balls 6044, Wickets 103, Average 25.85, BBI 7/40, BBM 8/63, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Shivlal Yadav (India, right-arm off-break) 1979-87, Tests 35, Balls 8360, Wickets 102, Average 35.09, BBI 5/76, BBM 8/118, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Lance Gibbs (West Indies, right-arm off-break) 1971-76, Tests 29, Balls 9886, Wickets 100, Average 32.32, BBI 7/98, BBM 9/143, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Vanburn Holder (West Indies, right-arm fast-medium) 1971-79, Tests 37, Balls 8202, Wickets 100, Average 32.92, BBI 6/28, BBM 8/223, 5WI 3, 10WM -

 

BEST AVERAGES (minimum 100 wickets)

Malcolm Marshall (West Indies) 1978-90, Tests 68, Balls 15221, Wickets 329, Average 20.76, BBI 7/22, BBM 11/89, 5WI 22, 10WM 4

Joel Garner (West Indies) 1977-87, Tests 58, Balls 13169, Wickets 259, Average 20.97, BBI 6/56, BBM 9/108, 5WI 7, 10WM -

Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) 1973-90, Tests 83, Balls 21115, Wickets 415, Average 22.23, BBI 9/52, BBM 15/123, 5WI 35, 10WM 9

Imran Khan (Pakistan) 1971-90, Tests 82, Balls 19290, Wickets 358, Average 22.87, BBI 8/58, BBM 14/116, 5WI 23, 10WM 6

Colin Croft (West Indies) 1977-82, Tests 27, Balls 6165, Wickets 125, Average 23.30, BBI 8/29, BBM 9/95, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Michael Holding (West Indies) 1975-87, Tests 60, Balls 12680, Wickets 249, Average 23.68, BBI 8/92, BBM 14/149, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Courtney Walsh (West Indies) 1984-90, Tests 37, Balls 7177, Wickets 134, Average 23.88, BBI 6/62, BBM 10/101, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Dennis Lillee (Australia) 1971-84, Tests 70, Balls 18467, Wickets 355, Average 23.92, BBI 7/83, BBM 11/123, 5WI 23, 10WM 7

Bob Willis (England) 1971-84, Tests 90, Balls 17357, Wickets 325, Average 25.20, BBI 8/43, BBM 9/92, 5WI 16, 10WM –

Andy Roberts (West Indies) 1974-83, Tests 47, Balls 11135, Wickets 202, Average 25.61, BBI 7/54, BBM 12/121, 5WI 11, 10WM 2

John Snow (England) 1970-76, Tests 24, Balls 6044, Wickets 103, Average 25.85, BBI 7/40, BBM 8/63, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Terry Alderman (Australia) 1981-90, Tests 36, Balls 9152, Wickets 153, Average 26.68, BBI 6/128, BBM 10/151, 5WI 13, 10WM 1

Wasim Akram (Pakistan) 1985-90, Tests 32, Balls 7017, Wickets 111, Average 26.72, BBI 6/62, BBM 11/160, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Max Walker (Australia) 1972-77, Tests 34, Balls 10094, Wickets 138, Average 27.47, BBI 8/143, BBM 8/143, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Jeff Thomson (Australia) 1972-85, Tests 51, Balls 10535, Wickets 200, Average 28.00, BBI 6/46, BBM 9/105, 5WI 8, 10WM –

Iqbal Qasim (Pakistan) 1976-88, Tests 50, Balls 13019, Wickets 171, Average 28.11, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/118, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Chris Old (England) 1972-81, Tests 46, Balls 8858, Wickets 143, Average 28.11, BBI 7/50, BBM 9/88, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Ian Botham (England) 1977-89, Tests 97, Balls 21281, Wickets 376, Average 28.27, BBI 8/34, BBM 13/106, 5WI 27, 10WM 4

Derek Underwood (England) 1970-82, Tests 70, Balls 17939, Wickets 230, Average 28.46, BBI 8/51, BBM 13/71, 5WI 11, 10WM 4

Rodney Hogg (Australia) 1978-84, Tests 38, Balls 7633, Wickets 123, Average 28.47, BBI 6/74, BBM 10/66, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Geoff Arnold (England) 1972-75, Tests 31, Balls 7134, Wickets 107, Average 28.75, BBI 6/45, BBM 9/91, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India) 1971-79, Tests 42, Balls 11212, Wickets 180, Average 29.20, BBI 8/79, BBM 12/104, 5WI 14, 10WM 1

Kapil Dev (India) 1978-90, Tests 106, Balls 22269, Wickets 364, Average 29.54, BBI 9/83, BBM 11/146, 5WI 21, 10WM 2

Graham Dilley (England) 1979-89, Tests 41, Balls 8192, Wickets 138, Average 29.76, BBI 6/38, BBM 9/128, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Bishan Singh Bedi (India) 1971-79, Tests 48, Balls 15824, Wickets 196, Average 29.79, BBI 6/71, BBM 10/194, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Geoff Lawson (Australia) 1980-89, Tests 46, Balls 11118, Wickets 180, Average 30.56, BBI 8/112, BBM 11/134, 5WI 11, 10WM 2

Dilip Doshi (India) 1979-83, Tests 33, Balls 9322, Wickets 114, Average 30.71, BBI 6/102, BBM 8/103, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Bruce Yardley (Australia) 1978-83, Tests 33, Balls 8909, Wickets 126, Average 31.63, BBI 7/98, BBM 10/185, 5WI 6, 10WM 1

Ewan Chatfield (New Zealand) 1975-89, Tests 43, Balls 10360, Wickets 123, Average 32.17, BBI 6/73, BBM 10/124, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Tony Greig (England) 1972-77, Tests 58, Balls 9802, Wickets 141, Average 32.20, BBI 8/86, BBM 13/156, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Sarfraz Nawaz (Pakistan) 1972-84, Tests 54, Balls 13747, Wickets 177, Average 32.31, BBI 9/86, BBM 11/125, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) 1971-76, Tests 29, Balls 9886, Wickets 100, Average 32.32, BBI 7/98, BBM 9/143, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Abdul Qadir (Pakistan) 1977-89, Tests 63, Balls 16592, Wickets 230, Average 32.42, BBI 9/56, BBM 13/101, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Lance Cairns (New Zealand) 1974-85, Tests 43, Balls 10628, Wickets 130, Average 32.92, BBI 7/74, BBM 10/144, 5WI 6, 10WM 1

Vanburn Holder (West Indies) 1971-79, Tests 37, Balls 8202, Wickets 100, Average 32.92, BBI 6/28, BBM 8/223, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Karsan Ghavri (India) 1974-81, Tests 39, Balls 3656, Wickets 109, Average 33.54, BBI 5/33, BBM 7/120, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Phil Edmonds (England) 1975-87, Tests 51, Balls 12028, Wickets 125, Average 34.18, BBI 7/76, BBM 7/76, 5WI 2, 10WM –
Shivlal Yadav (India) 1979-87, Tests 35, Balls 8360, Wickets 102, Average 35.09, BBI 5/76, BBM 8/118, 5WI 3, 10WM –

John Emburey (England) 1978-89, Tests 60, Balls 14227, Wickets 138, Average 36.99, BBI 7/78, BBM 7/105, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Ravi Shastri (India) 1981-89, Tests 69, Balls 14528, Wickets 141, Average 39.51, BBI 5/75, BBM 8/179, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India) 1971-83, Tests 43, Balls 11220, Wickets 109, Average 40.83, BBI 5/95, BBM 7/102, 5WI 1, 10WM

 

FULL CAREER

Courtney Walsh (West Indies) 1984-2001, Tests 132, Balls 30019, Wickets 519, Average 24.44, BBI 7/37, BBM 13/55, 5WI 22, 10WM 3

Kapil Dev (India) 1978-94, Tests 131, Balls 27740, Wickets 434, Average 29.64, BBI 9/83, BBM 11/146, 5WI 23, 10WM 2

Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) 1973-90, Tests 86, Balls 21918, Wickets 431, Average 22.29, BBI 9/52, BBM 15/123, 5WI 36, 10WM 9

Wasim Akram (Pakistan) 1985-2002, Tests 104, Balls 22627, Wickets 414, Average 23.62, BBI 7/119, BBM 11/110, 5WI 25, 10WM 5

Ian Botham (England) 1977-92, Tests 102, Balls 21815, Wickets 383, Average 28.40, BBI 8/34, BBM 13/106, 5WI 27, 10WM 4

Malcolm Marshall (West Indies) 1978-91, Tests 81, Balls 17584, Wickets 376, Average 20.94, BBI 7/22, BBM 11/89, 5WI 22, 10WM 4

Imran Khan (Pakistan) 1971-92, Tests 88, Balls 19458, Wickets 362, Average 22.81, BBI 8/58, BBM 14/116, 5WI 23, 10WM 6

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) 1958-76, Tests 79, Balls 27115, Wickets 309, Average 29.09, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 18, 10WM 2

Derek Underwood (England) 1966-82, Tests 86, Balls 21862, Wickets 297, Average 25.83, BBI 8/51, BBM 13/71, 5WI 17, 10WM 6

Abdul Qadir (Pakistan) 1977-90, Tests 67, Balls 17126, Wickets 236, Average 32.80, BBI 9/56, BBM 13/101, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Bishan Singh Bedi (India) 1966-79, Tests 67, Balls 21364, Wickets 266, Average 28.71, BBI 7/98, BBM 10/194, 5WI 14, 10WM 1

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India) 1964-79, Tests 58, Balls 15963, Wickets 242, Average 29.74, BBI 8/79, BBM 12/104, 5WI 16, 10WM 2

John Snow (England) 1965-76, Tests 49, Balls 12021, Wickets 202, Average 26.66, BBI 7/40, BBM 10/142, 5WI 8, 10WM 1

Sarfraz Nawaz (Pakistan) 1969-84, Tests 55, Balls 13951, Wickets 177, Average 32.75, BBI 9/86, BBM 11/125, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Terry Alderman (Australia) 1981-91, Tests 41, Balls 10181, Wickets 170, Average 27.15, BBI 6/47, BBM 10/151, 5WI 14, 10WM 1

Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India) 1965-83, Tests 57, Balls 14877, Wickets 156, Average 36.11, BBI 8/72, BBM 12/152, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Ravi Shastri (India) 1981-92, Tests 80, Balls 15751, Wickets 151, Average 40.96, BBI 5/75, BBM 8/179, 5WI 2, 10WM –

John Emburey (England) 1978-95, Tests 64, Balls 15391, Wickets 147, Average 38.40, BBI 7/78, BBM 7/105, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Geoff Arnold (England) 1967-75, Tests 34, Balls 7650, Wickets 115, Average 28.29, BBI 6/45, BBM 9/91, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Vanburn Holder (West Indies) 1969-79, Tests 40, Balls 9095, Wickets 109, Average 33.27, BBI 6/28, BBM 8/223, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Top Bowlers

29 March 1946 to 10 March 1970

The fearsome Australian post-World War II pair of pacemen Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller with their record-breaking successor Dennis Lillee.

The devastating English fast bowling duo of the 1950s and 1960s Fred Trueman and Brian Statham chat with greats of yesteryear Sydney Barnes and Frank Woolley, with Colin Cowdrey in the background, 1960.

The post-World War II period saw some top-class bowlers emerge, pacemen as well as spinners. In many ways, it was also an era of great pairs of bowlers. The English new-ball duo of Fred Trueman and Brian Statham were the top wicket-takers, with 307 and 252 wickets respectively. Needless to say, Trueman also held the record of most wickets in Test history at that time. Frank ‘Typhoon’ Tyson created havoc alongside them for five years, capturing 76 wickets in his 17 Tests at a terrific average of 18.56.

The Australian Richie Benaud followed with his leg-spin and googlies, bagging 248 wickets, which was the highest for his country until the legendary Dennis Lillee went past him in the early 1980s. Benaud’s Test career coincided with one of the greatest left-arm pacemen ever, Alan Davidson. He prised out 186 wickets of his own. Their compatriot, the fast bowler Graham McKenzie was next after Benaud with 239 wickets. McKenzie played another three Tests in the home Ashes series after this period, capturing 7 more wickets.

England’s fast-medium Alec Bedser troubled even the greatest of them all, Don Bradman, for some time, getting the great man caught at short-leg by Len Hutton a number of times. He had 236 wickets to his name.

Aussie speedster Ray Lindwall came next with 228 wickets. In tandem with the mercurial allrounder Keith Miller, conjured one of the most fearsome duets. Miller scalped 170 batsmen.

The lanky West Indies off-spinner Lance Gibbs picked up 209 wickets during this time. He added another 100 victims to his tally upto 1976, going past Trueman’s record that stood for more than a decade.

The first to snare 10 wickets in a Test innings, with still a record 19 wickets in a Test to his name, was the English off-spinner Jim Laker. He finished with 193 wickets. For a number of years, the left-armer Tony Lock partnered him. Lock took 174 wickets.

The inimitable and multi-faceted Gary Sobers also captured 193 wickets in this period, but went on to bag 235 wickets before he retired in 1974.

His fellow Barbadian, the colourful fast bowler Wesley Hall, with a long-loping run-up grabbed 192 wickets. Another Barbadian Charlie Griffith was his devastating partner with the new ball. Griffith’s career got mired in the chucking controversy, and he ended up with 94 Test wickets. The controversial Roy Gilchrist operated with Hall for a while, before the arrival of Griffith, snaring 57 wickets.

From South Africa came the top-class off-spinner Hugh Tayfield. He took 170 wickets. A number of other spinners too thrived at this time. Indian left-armer Vinoo Mankad and leg-spinner Subhash Gupte operated in each other’s company for many years in the 1950s, picking up 162 and 149 wickets respectively. The Caribbean spin-twins, Sonny Ramadhin - few batsmen could decipher his off-spin from his leg-spin - and left-armer Alf Valentine played a significant part in the rise of the West Indies as a powerhouse in Test cricket. They had tallies of 158 and 139 victims respectively. The English off-spinners Fred Titmus and David Allen had 146 wickets and 122 wickets respectively to their names.  

Tucked in between these tweakers was the left-armer Bill Johnston, who bowled fast-medium as well as orthodox spin, with 160 wickets. He was joined by the off-spinner Ian Johnson who accounted for 109 batsmen. They were part of Don Bradman’s Invincibles of 1948 as were, of course, Lindwall and Miller. Pakistan produced a right-arm fast-medium bowler of quality in Fazal Mahmood, a handful on matting wickets. He took 139 wickets. The right-arm swing bowler Khan Mohammad took the new-ball with him for a number of years, taking 54 wickets.

Two allrounders followed, England’s right-arm fast-medium Trevor Bailey with 132 wickets, and the South African left-arm medium-pacer Trevor Goddard who made 123 strikes. The latter’s compatriots, right-arm pacemen Peter Pollock and Neil Adcock prised out 116 and 104 wickets respectively. Adcock’s new-ball partner Peter Heine accounted for 58 dismissals.

Indian off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna was the first of what became the famous quartet of spinners along with Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Bishan Singh Bedi. In this period, Prasanna had 113 wickets to his credit. He eventually tallied 189.

Two right-arm pacemen from the Antipodes, Australia’s Alan Connolly and New Zealand’s Richard ‘Dick’ Motz bagged 101 and 100 wickets respectively.

The other bowler in the list of bowlers with 100 wickets and more in this period was England’s left-armer Johnny Wardle who bowled orthodox as well as wrist-spin. His 102 wickets came at the best average of 20.39 among these bowlers.

English fast bowler John Snow was on 99 wickets at this stage. He went on to tally 202 wickets. Ken Higgs partnered him for a few years, and finished with 71 wickets. The Australian fast-medium Neil Hawke finished with 91 wickets.    

Next to Wardle in terms of averages was Davidson at 20.53. They were followed by Adcock, Laker and Trueman at 21.10, 21.24 and 21.57 respectively. Miller was next at 22.97, with his compatriots Lindwall and Johnston at 23.03 and 23.91 respectively. The others who had averages less than 25 were Peter Pollock (24.18), Fazal Mahmood (24.70, Brian Statham (24.84) and Alec Bedser (24.89).

It was indeed an era when several great bowlers regaled the cricketing world with their myriad skills, often in tandem. Many of these names will never be forgotten in the annals of Test cricket.

TOP WICKET-TAKERS (minimum 100 wickets)

Fred Trueman (England, right-arm fast) 1952-65, Tests 67, Balls 15178, Wickets 307, Average 21.57, BBI 8/31, BBM 12/119, 5WI 17, 10WM 3

Brian Statham (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1951-65, Tests 70, Balls 16056, Wickets 252, Average 24.84, BBI 7/39, BBM 11/97, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Richie Benaud (Australia, right-arm legbreak-googly) 1952-64, Tests 63, Balls 19108, Wickets 248, Average 27.03, BBI 7/72, BBM 11/105, 5WI 16, 10WM 1

Graham McKenzie (Australia, right-arm fast) 1961-70, Tests 57, Balls 16797, Wickets 239, Average 29.19, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Alec Bedser (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1946-55, Tests 51, Balls 15918, Wickets 236, Average 24.89, BBI 7/44, BBM 14/99, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Ray Lindwall (Australia, right-arm fast) 1946-60, Tests 61, Balls 13650, Wickets 228, Average 23.03, BBI 7/38, BBM 9/70, 5WI 12, 10WM –

Lance Gibbs (West Indies, right-arm off-break) 1958-69, Tests 50, Balls 17229, Wickets 209, Average 27.54, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Jim Laker (England, right-arm off-break) 1948-59, Tests 46, Balls 12027, Wickets 193, Average 21.24, BBI 10/53, BBM 19/90, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Gary Sobers (West Indies, left-arm fast, fast-medium, slow left-arm, chinaman and googly) 1954-69, Tests 76, Balls 17366, Wickets 193, Average 34.59, BBI 6/73, BBM 8/80, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Wesley Hall (West Indies, right-arm fast) 1958-69, Tests 48, Balls 10421, Wickets 192, Average 26.38, BBI 7/69, BBM 11/126, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Alan Davidson (Australia, left-arm fast) 1953-63, Tests 44, Balls 11587, Wickets 186, Average 20.53, BBI 7/93, BBM 12/124, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Tony Lock (England, slow left-arm) 1952-68, Tests 49, Balls 13147, Wickets 174, Average 25.58, BBI 7/35, BBM 11/48, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Keith Miller (Australia, right-arm fast) 1946-56, Tests 55, Balls 10461, Wickets 170, Average 22.97, BBI 7/60, BBM 10/152, 5WI 7, 10WM 1

Hugh Tayfield (South Africa, right-arm off-break) 1949-60, Tests 37, Balls 13568, Wickets 170, Average 25.91, BBI 9/113, BBM 13/165, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Vinoo Mankad (India, slow left-arm) 1946-59, Tests 44, Balls 14686, Wickets 162, Average 32.32, BBI 8/52, BBM 13/131, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Bill Johnston (Australia, left-arm fast-medium, slow left-arm) 1947-55, Tests 40, Balls 11048, Wickets 160, Average 23.91, BBI 6/44, BBM 9/183, 5WI 7, 10WM –

Sonny Ramadhin (West Indies, right-arm offbreak and legbreak) 1950-61, Tests 43, Balls 13939, Wickets 158, Average 28.98, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/152, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Subhash Gupte (India, right-arm legbreak googly) 1951-61, Tests 36, Balls 11284, Wickets 149, Average 29.55, BBI 9/102, BBM 10/223, 5WI 12, 10WM 1

Fred Titmus (England, right-arm off-break) 1955-68, Tests 49, Balls 14139, Wickets 146, Average 31.30, BBI 7/79, BBM 9/162, 5WI 7, 10WM –

Fazal Mahmood (Pakistan, right-arm fast-medium) 1952-62, Tests 34, Balls 9834, Wickets 139, Average 24.70, BBI 7/42, BBM 13/114, 5WI 13, 10WM 4

Alf Valentine (West Indies, slow left-arm) 1950-62, Tests 36, Balls 12953, Wickets 139, Average 30.32, BBI 8/104, BBM 11/204, 5WI 8, 10WM 2

Trevor Bailey (England, right-arm fast-medium) 1949-59, Tests 61, Balls 9712, Wickets 132, Average 29.21, BBI 7/34, BBM 11/98, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Trevor Goddard (South Africa, left-arm medium) 1955-70, Tests 41, Balls 11736, Wickets 123, Average 26.22, BBI 6/53, BBM 8/92, 5WI 5, 10WM –

David Allen (England, right-arm off-break) 1960-66, Tests 39, Balls 11297, Wickets 122, Average 30.97, BBI 5/30, BBM 9/162, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Peter Pollock (South Africa, right-arm fast) 1961-70, Tests 28, Balls 6522, Wickets 116, Average 24.18, BBI 6/38, BBM 10/87, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Erapalli Prasanna (India, right-arm offbreak googly) 1962-69, Tests 22, Balls 7556, Wickets 113, Average 27.05, BBI 6/74, BBM 10/174, 5WI 8, 10WM 1

Ian Johnson (Australia, right-arm offbreak) 1946-56, Tests 45, Balls 8780, Wickets 109, Average 29.19, BBI 7/44, BBM 8/86, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Neil Adcock (South Africa, right-arm fast) 1953-62, Tests 26, Balls 6391, Wickets 104, Average 21.10, BBI 6/43, BBM 8/87, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Johnny Wardle (England, slow left-arm, chinaman) 1948-57, Tests 28, Balls 6597, Wickets 102, Average 20.39, BBI 7/36, BBM 12/89, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Alan Connolly (Australia, right-arm fast-medium) 1963-70, Tests 28, Balls 7602, Wickets 101, Average 28.71, BBI 6/47, BBM 7/109, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Richard ‘Dick’ Motz (New Zealand, right-arm fast) 1961-69, Tests 32, Balls 7034, Wickets 100, Average 31.48, BBI 6/63, BBM 8/113, 5WI 5, 10WM –

BEST AVERAGES (minimum 100 wickets)

Johnny Wardle (England) 1948-57, Tests 28, Balls 6597, Wickets 102, Average 20.39, BBI 7/36, BBM 12/89, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Alan Davidson (Australia) 1953-63, Tests 44, Balls 11587, Wickets 186, Average 20.53, BBI 7/93, BBM 12/124, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Neil Adcock (South Africa) 1953-62, Tests 26, Balls 6391, Wickets 104, Average 21.10, BBI 6/43, BBM 8/87, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Jim Laker (England) 1948-59, Tests 46, Balls 12027, Wickets 193, Average 21.24, BBI 10/53, BBM 19/90, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Fred Trueman (England) 1952-65, Tests 67, Balls 15178, Wickets 307, Average 21.57, BBI 8/31, BBM 12/119, 5WI 17, 10WM 3

Keith Miller (Australia) 1946-56, Tests 55, Balls 10461, Wickets 170, Average 22.97, BBI 7/60, BBM 10/152, 5WI 7, 10WM 1

Ray Lindwall (Australia) 1946-60, Tests 61, Balls 13650, Wickets 228, Average 23.03, BBI 7/38, BBM 9/70, 5WI 12, 10WM –

Bill Johnston (Australia) 1947-55, Tests 40, Balls 11048, Wickets 160, Average 23.91, BBI 6/44, BBM 9/183, 5WI 7, 10WM –

Peter Pollock (South Africa) 1961-70, Tests 28, Balls 6522, Wickets 116, Average 24.18, BBI 6/38, BBM 10/87, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Fazal Mahmood (Pakistan) 1952-62, Tests 34, Balls 9834, Wickets 139, Average 24.70, BBI 7/42, BBM 13/114, 5WI 13, 10WM 4

Brian Statham (England) 1951-65, Tests 70, Balls 16056, Wickets 252, Average 24.84, BBI 7/39, BBM 11/97, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Alec Bedser (England) 1946-55, Tests 51, Balls 15918, Wickets 236, Average 24.89, BBI 7/44, BBM 14/99, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Tony Lock (England) 1952-68, Tests 49, Balls 13147, Wickets 174, Average 25.58, BBI 7/35, BBM 11/48, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Hugh Tayfield (South Africa) 1949-60, Tests 37, Balls 13568, Wickets 170, Average 25.91, BBI 9/113, BBM 13/165, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Trevor Goddard (South Africa) 1955-70, Tests 41, Balls 11736, Wickets 123, Average 26.22, BBI 6/53, BBM 8/92, 5WI 5, 10WM –

Wesley Hall (West Indies) 1958-69, Tests 48, Balls 10421, Wickets 192, Average 26.38, BBI 7/69, BBM 11/126, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Richie Benaud (Australia) 1952-64, Tests 63, Balls 19108, Wickets 248, Average 27.03, BBI 7/72, BBM 11/105, 5WI 16, 10WM 1

Erapalli Prasanna (India) 1962-69, Tests 22, Balls 7556, Wickets 113, Average 27.05, BBI 6/74, BBM 10/174, 5WI 8, 10WM 1

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) 1958-69, Tests 50, Balls 17229, Wickets 209, Average 27.54, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Alan Connolly (Australia) 1963-70, Tests 28, Balls 7602, Wickets 101, Average 28.71, BBI 6/47, BBM 7/109, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Sonny Ramadhin (West Indies) 1950-61, Tests 43, Balls 13939, Wickets 158, Average 28.98, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/152, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Graham McKenzie (Australia) 1961-70, Tests 57, Balls 16797, Wickets 239, Average 29.19, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Ian Johnson (Australia) 1946-56, Tests 45, Balls 8780, Wickets 109, Average 29.19, BBI 7/44, BBM 8/86, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Trevor Bailey (England) 1949-59, Tests 61, Balls 9712, Wickets 132, Average 29.21, BBI 7/34, BBM 11/98, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Subhash Gupte (India) 1951-61, Tests 36, Balls 11284, Wickets 149, Average 29.55, BBI 9/102, BBM 10/223, 5WI 12, 10WM 1

FULL CAREER

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) 1958-76, Tests 79, Balls 27115, Wickets 309, Average 29.09, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 18, 10WM 2

Graham McKenzie (Australia) 1961-71, Tests 60, Balls 17681, Wickets 246, Average 29.78, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Gary Sobers (West Indies) 1954-74, Tests 93, Balls 21599, Wickets 235, Average 34.03, BBI 6/73, BBM 8/80, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Erapalli Prasanna (India) 1962-78, Tests 49, Balls 14353, Wickets 189, Average 30.38, BBI 8/76, BBM 11/140, 5WI 10, 10WM 2

Top Bowlers in Test Cricket between the two World Wars

 

Clarrie Grimmett

Maurice Tate

Hedley Verity

Bill O'Reilly

Top Bowlers in Test Cricket between the two World Wars

The giants among bowlers between the two World Wars were the Australian leg-spin, googly duo of Clarrie Grimmett and Bill O’Reilly. Essentially a part of the dominant Bradman era. Between them they captured 352 wickets in this period. O’Reilly played one Test in 1946, bagging another 8 wickets. The English reposte came from the right-arm fast-medium Maurice Tate, who also bowled off-spin, and the slow left-arm orthodox Hedley Verity. They prised out 299 wickets during this period. These are the only four bowlers who bagged 100 wickets in the inter-war phase, and at fine averages ranging between 23.68 and 26.16.

The Aussie leg-break and googly specialist Arthur Mailey and the England’s left-arm fast-medium Bill Voce just missed out, snaring 99 and 97 wickets respectively. Voce took one more wicket after the war. The Australian slow left-armer Bert Ironmonger had the best average at 17.97 for his 74 wickets.

The best figures in an innings was 9 for 121 by Arthur Mailey against England at Melbourne in 1920-21. Hedley Verity had an analysis of 8 for 43 against Australia at Lord’s in 1934. The English slow left-arm orthodox Jack White took 8 for 126 against Australia at Adelaide in 1928-29.

The top haul in a Test was 15 for 104 by Verity against Australia at Lord’s in 1934, in what came to be known as ‘Verity’s Test’. This was followed by two superb analyses by Grimmett against South Africa four years apart. He captured 14 for 199 at Adelaide in 1931-32 and 13 for 173 at Durban in 1935-36. Mailey’s match figures against England at Melbourne in 1920-21 were 13 for 236. White, on his part, completed the Test versus Australia at Adelaide in 1928-29 with 13 for 256.

The first hat-trick came from the English right-arm medium-pacer Maurice Allom against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1929-30. England’s off-spinner Tom Goddard followed versus South Africa at Johannesburg in 1938-39.

The English fast bowling foursome Harold Larwood, Bill Voce, Gubby Allen and Bill Bowes captured 318 wickets between them in the inter-war period at fine averages in the 20s.

TOP WICKET-TAKERS (minimum 50 wickets)

Clarrie Grimmett (Australia, legbreak googly) 1925-36, Tests 37, Balls 14513, Wickets 216, Average 24.21, BBI 7/40, BBM 14/199, 5WI 21, 10WM 7

Maurice Tate (England, right-arm fast-medium, medium, offbreak) 1924-35, Tests 39, Balls 12523, Wickets 155, Average 26.16, BBI 6/42, BBM 11/228, 5WI 7, 10WM 1

Hedley Verity (England, slow left-arm orthodox) 1931-39, Tests 40, Balls 11173, Wickets 144, Average 24.37, BBI 8/43, BBM 15/104, 5WI 5, 10WM 2

Bill O’Reilly (Australia, legbreak googly) 1932-38, Tests 26, Balls 9910, Wickets 136, Average 23.68, BBI 7/54, BBM 11/129, 5WI 10, 10WM 3

Arthur Mailey (Australia, legbreak googly) 1920-26, Tests 21, Balls 6119, Wickets 99, Average 33.91, BBI 9/121, BBM 13/236, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Bill Voce (England, left-arm fast-medium) 1930-37, Tests 24, Balls 5852, Wickets 97, Average 26.04, BBI 7/70, BBM 11/149, 5WI 3, 10WM 2

Jack Gregory (Australia, right-arm fast) 1920-28, Tests 24, Balls 5582, Wickets 85, Average 31.15, BBI 7/69, BBM 8/101, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Cyril Vincent (South Africa, slow left-arm orthodox) 1927-35, Tests 25, Balls 5851, Wickets 84, Average 31.32, BBI 6/51, BBM 8/149, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Wally Hammond (England, right-arm medium-fast) 1927-39, Tests 77, Balls 7963, Wickets 83, Average 37.77, BBI 5/36, BBM 7/87, 5WI 2, 10WM -

Harold Larwood (England, right-arm fast) 1926-33, Tests 21, Balls 4969, Wickets 78, Average 28.35, BBI 6/32, BBM 10/124, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Gubby Allen (England, right-arm fast) 1930-37, Tests 22, Balls 4116, Wickets 76, Average 28.60, BBI 7/80, BBM 10/78, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Bert Ironmonger (Australia, slow left-arm orthodox) 1928-33, Tests 14, Balls 4695, Wickets 74, Average 17.97, BBI 7/23, BBM 11/24, 5WI 4, 10WM 2

Bill Bowes (England, right-arm fast-medium, medium) 1932-39, Tests 14, Balls 3481, Wickets 67, Average 21.58, BBI 6/33, BBM 9/219, 5WI 6, 10WM –

AP ‘Tich’ Freeman (England, legbreak googly) 1924-29, Tests 12, Balls 3732, Wickets 66, Average 25.86, BBI 7/71, BBM 12/171, 5WI 5, 10WM 3

Walter Robins (England, legbreak) 1929-37, Tests 19, Balls 3318, Wickets 64, Average 27.46, BBI 6/32, BBM 7/68, 5WI 1, 10WM –

Ken Farnes (England, right-arm fast) 1934-39, Tests 15, Balls 3932, Wickets 60, Average 28.65, BBI 6/96, BBM 10/179, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Learie Constantine (West Indies, right-arm fast, medium) 1928-39, Tests 18, Balls 3583, Wickets 58, Average 30.10, BBI 5/75, BBM 9/122, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Tim Wall (Australia, right-arm fast) 1929-34, Tests 18, Balls 4812, Wickets 56, Average 35.89, BBI 5/14, BBM 8/189, 5WI 3, 10WM –

EP ‘Buster’ Nupen (South Africa, right-arm fast-medium) 1921-36, Tests 17, Balls 4159, Wickets 50, Average 35.76, BBI 6

FULL CAREER

Bill O’Reilly (Australia) 1932-46, Tests 27, Balls 10024, Wickets 144, Average 22.59, BBI 7/54, BBM 11/129, 5WI 11, 10WM 3

Bill Voce (England) 1930-47, Tests 27, Balls 6360, Wickets 98, Average 27.88, BBI 7/70, BBM 11/149, 5WI 3, 10WM 2

Wally Hammond (England) 1927-47, Tests 85, Balls 7969, Wickets 83, Average 37.80, BBI 5/36, BBM 7/87, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Gubby Allen (England) 1930-48, Tests 25, Balls 4386, Wickets 81, Average 29.37, BBI 7/80, BBM 10/78, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Bill Bowes (England) 1932-46, Tests 15, Balls 3655, Wickets 68, Average 22.33, BBI 6/33, BBM 9/219, 5WI 6, 10WM –

BEST AVERAGES (minimum 50 wickets)

Bert Ironmonger (Australia) 1928-33, Tests 14, Balls 4695, Wickets 74, Average 17.97, BBI 7/23, BBM 11/24, 5WI 4, 10WM 2

Bill Bowes (England) 1932-39, Tests 14, Balls 3481, Wickets 67, Average 21.58, BBI 6/33, BBM 9/219, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Bill O’Reilly (Australia) 1932-38, Tests 26, Balls 9910, Wickets 136, Average 23.68, BBI 7/54, BBM 11/129, 5WI 10, 10WM 3

Clarrie Grimmett (Australia) 1925-36, Tests 37, Balls 14513, Wickets 216, Average 24.21, BBI 7/40, BBM 14/199, 5WI 21, 10WM 7

Hedley Verity (England) 1931-39, Tests 40, Balls 11173, Wickets 144, Average 24.37, BBI 8/43, BBM 15/104, 5WI 5, 10WM 2

AP ‘Tich’ Freeman (England) 1924-29, Tests 12, Balls 3732, Wickets 66, Average 25.86, BBI 7/71, BBM 12/171, 5WI 5, 10WM 3

Bill Voce (England) 1930-37, Tests 24, Balls 5852, Wickets 97, Average 26.04, BBI 7/70, BBM 11/149, 5WI 3, 10WM 2

Maurice Tate (England) 1924-35, Tests 39, Balls 12523, Wickets 155, Average 26.16, BBI 6/42, BBM 11/228, 5WI 7, 10WM 1

Walter Robins (England) 1929-37, Tests 19, Balls 3318, Wickets 64, Average 27.46, BBI 6/32, BBM 7/68, 5WI 1, 10WM –

Harold Larwood (England) 1926-33, Tests 21, Balls 4969, Wickets 78, Average 28.35, BBI 6/32, BBM 10/124, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Gubby Allen (England) 1930-37, Tests 22, Balls 4116, Wickets 76, Average 28.60, BBI 7/80, BBM 10/78, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Ken Farnes (England) 1934-39, Tests 15, Balls 3932, Wickets 60, Average 28.65, BBI 6/96, BBM 10/179, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Learie Constantine (West Indies) 1928-39, Tests 18, Balls 3583, Wickets 58, Average 30.10, BBI 5/75, BBM 9/122, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Jack Gregory (Australia) 1920-28, Tests 24, Balls 5582, Wickets 85, Average 31.15, BBI 7/69, BBM 8/101, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Cyril Vincent (South Africa) 1927-35, Tests 25, Balls 5851, Wickets 84, Average 31.32, BBI 6/51, BBM 8/149, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Arthur Mailey (Australia) 1920-26, Tests 21, Balls 6119, Wickets 99, Average 33.91, BBI 9/121, BBM 13/236, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

EP ‘Buster’ Nupen (South Africa) 1921-36, Tests 17, Balls 4159, Wickets 50, Average 35.76, BBI 6/46, BBM 11/150, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Tim Wall (Australia) 1929-34, Tests 18, Balls 4812, Wickets 56, Average 35.89, BBI 5/14, BBM 8/189, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Wally Hammond (England) 1927-39, Tests 77, Balls 7963, Wickets 83, Average 37.77, BBI 5/36, BBM 7/87, 5WI 2, 10WM -

Jack White just missed the 50-wickets mark, ending up with 49 wickets at 32.26 in his decade-long 15-Test career from 1921 to 1931.

Among those who took between 25 and 49 wickets, the best averages were achieved by South Africa’s right-arm fast bowler George Bissett who played four Tests in only one series against England in 1927-28. He bagged 25 wickets at 18.76 apiece. England’s right-arm medium-pacer Alex Kennedy too played 5 Tests in just the series against South Africa in 1922-23. His tally was 31 wickets at 19.32.

The West Indies fast bowler Manny Martindale was next in the averages in this category with 37 wickets at 21.72 in 10 Tests between 1933 and 1939. He formed a fearsome fast bowling pair with Learie Constantine who took 58 wickets at an average of 30.10 in 18 Tests from 1928 to 1939.

The Indian duo of Mohammad Nissar and Amar Singh, both right-arm fast-medium, played in series against England between 1932 and 1936. Nissar captured 25 wickets at 28.28 in 6 Tests, while Amar Singh bagged 28 wickets at 30.64 In 7 Tests.