All Test Ratings on the website are from 01/01/1950 onwards (Know Why). They are updated till 2026-02-05. Brief explanation of the ratings is given before each section (Detailed Explanation) and at the end. So, here are the Top 7 Australian Spin bowlers in Test Cricket since 1950.

CONTENTS

3. PRIMARY CRITERIA

3.1. PROLIFIC

3.2. CONSISTENT

3.2.1. Against All Teams

3.2.2. Against Top Teams

3.3. ATTACKING

3.3.1. Against All Teams

3.3.2. Against Top Teams

3.4. BEST BOWLING (WKTS)

3.4.1. Against All Teams

3.4.2. Against Top Teams

3.5. PRIMARY RATING

4. CONDITIONS CRITERIA

4.1. HOME/AWAY

4.1.1. At Home

4.1.2. Away From Home

4.2. FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

4.2.1. Favourable Conditions Rating

4.2.1.1. Non Asians In Asia

4.2.2. Unfavourable Conditions Rating

4.2.2.1. Non Asians Outside Asia

4.3. CONDITIONS RATING

5. SECONDARY CRITERIA

5.1. WKTS/INN

5.2. TOP FORM

5.3. IMPACT INNINGS

5.4. SECONDARY RATING

6. OVERALL RATING

6.1. BRIEF EXPLANATION

6.1.1. Dynamic Nature

6.1.2. Trend Setter (TS)

6.1.3. Top Teams (TT)

6.1.4. Abbreviations

Nations Filter

The Nations Rating filters the OVERALL Rating to show players only from Australia.

The Rating of the players from Australia remains the same as in the original OVERALL Rating.
Thus the Trend Setter can be from any nation and is not necessarily from Australia.

THE CRITERIA

CRITERIA	CONSTITUENTS
Primary	Wickets, Average, Strike Rate, Top Inns
Conditions	Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia
Secondary	Wkts Per Inn, Top Form, Impact Inns

QUALIFICATION

Min Innings (TT)	25
Min Career Wkts	50

PRIMARY CRITERIA

CRITERIA	STAT	POINTS
Prolific	Wickets Taken	250.00
Consistent	Average	300.00
Attacking	Strike Rate	300.00
Best Bowling	Top Bowling Performances	150.00

PROLIFIC

The Eras

The time period from 1950 to present is divided into eras for this section. This is because less cricket was played earlier. To make it fair for earlier players they are compared with players of the same period with a slight reduction in points. Know More About Eras.

Era 1	MP before 1976
Era 2	MP between 1975 And 1996
Era 3	MP between 1995 And 2016
Era 4	MP greater than 2015

Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

RANK	ERA 1	NAT	FP	LP	MP	INNS	WKTS	RAT
TS	LR Gibbs	WI	1958	1976	1967	148	309	220.00
1	R Benaud	AUS	1952	1964	1958	116	248	176.57
2	AA Mallett	AUS	1968	1980	1974	71	132	93.98

RANK	ERA 2	NAT	FP	LP	MP	INNS	WKTS	RAT
TS	Abdul Qadir	PAK	1977	1990	1983.5	111	236	210.00
1	B Yardley	AUS	1978	1983	1980.5	58	126	112.12
2	JD Higgs	AUS	1978	1981	1979.5	36	66	58.73

RANK	ERA 3	NAT	FP	LP	MP	INNS	WKTS	RAT
TS	M Muralitharan	SL	1992	2010	2001	230	800	250.00
1	SK Warne	AUS	1992	2007	1999.5	273	708	221.25
2	SCG MacGill	AUS	1998	2008	2003	85	208	65.00

RANK	ERA 4	NAT	FP	LP	MP	INNS	WKTS	RAT
TS	NM Lyon	AUS	2011	2025	2018	262	567	240.00
1	NM Lyon	AUS	2011	2025	2018	262	567	240.00

CONSISTENT

R Ave

Relative Average (R Ave) is a more accurate type of average. Know How It Is Calculated. Briefly it takes into account:-

Strength of Opposition.
Venues at which a player has played.
Time Period in which a bowler has been active

Criteria: Points For Relative Average

Min Qualification For TS
Min Wickets	75
Min Wickets (TT)	60

Against All Teams

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	RUNS	WKTS	AVE	R AVE	RAT
TS	M Muralitharan	230	18180	800	22.73	23.67	120.00
1	SK Warne	273	17995	708	25.42	24.24	117.14
2	NM Lyon	262	17099	567	30.16	26.93	105.46
3	R Benaud	116	6704	248	27.03	27.98	101.50
4	AA Mallett	71	3940	132	29.85	28.27	100.45
5	JD Higgs	36	2057	66	31.17	29.99	94.70
6	SCG MacGill	85	6038	208	29.03	30.03	94.57
7	B Yardley	58	3986	126	31.63	30.69	92.53

Against Top Teams

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	RUNS	WKTS	AVE	R AVE	RAT
TS	SK Warne	168	11491	451	25.48	23.55	180.00
1	SK Warne	168	11491	451	25.48	23.55	180.00
2	NM Lyon	189	12715	395	32.19	27.51	154.07
3	JD Higgs	27	1679	51	32.92	30.55	138.74
4	SCG MacGill	49	3522	114	30.89	30.61	138.48
5	R Benaud	76	4335	144	30.10	30.71	138.05
6	AA Mallett	46	2589	72	35.96	31.65	133.92
7	B Yardley	42	2791	80	34.89	32.24	131.50

ATTACKING

R SR

Relative Strike Rate (R SR) for bowlers is calculated using the same method as R Ave with average being replaced with SR.

Criteria: Points For R SR or Balls/Wkt

Min Qualification For TS
Min Wickets	75
Min Wickets (TT)	60

Against All Teams

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	BLS	WKTS	SR	R SR	RAT
TS	SK Warne	273	40704	708	57.49	54.86	120.00
1	SK Warne	273	40704	708	57.49	54.86	120.00
2	SCG MacGill	85	11237	208	54.02	58.53	112.46
3	JD Higgs	36	4752	66	72.00	62.01	106.15
4	B Yardley	58	8909	126	70.71	62.71	104.97
5	AA Mallett	71	9990	132	75.68	63.20	104.16
6	NM Lyon	262	34832	567	61.43	65.46	100.56
7	R Benaud	116	19108	248	77.05	67.40	97.66

Against Top Teams

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	BLS	WKTS	SR	R SR	RAT
TS	SK Warne	168	25511	451	56.57	53.94	180.00
1	SK Warne	168	25511	451	56.57	53.94	180.00
2	SCG MacGill	49	6744	114	59.16	60.07	161.63
3	JD Higgs	27	3989	51	78.22	66.14	146.80
4	B Yardley	42	6236	80	77.95	66.44	146.12
5	AA Mallett	46	6005	72	83.40	67.29	144.29
6	NM Lyon	189	25972	395	65.75	67.56	143.70
7	R Benaud	76	12019	144	83.47	72.31	134.26

BEST BOWLING (WKTS)

BBW

In this criteria, we have taken the top 7 bowling performances by Wkts of a bowler. Best Bowling By Wickets (BBW) is simply the total wickets taken in the 7 innings divided by 7.

Criteria: Points For Wkts Taken In Top 7 Inns

Against All Teams

RANK	BOWLER	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	BBW	RAT
TS	M Muralitharan	9/51	9/65	8/46	8/70	8/87	7/46	7/84	8.00	50.00
1	SK Warne	8/71	7/23	7/52	7/56	7/94	7/165	6/31	7.00	43.75
1	NM Lyon	8/50	8/64	7/94	7/94	7/152	6/49	6/60	7.00	43.75
3	SCG MacGill	8/108	7/50	7/104	5/43	5/56	5/57	5/65	6.00	37.50
4	R Benaud	7/72	6/52	6/70	6/115	5/43	5/49	5/53	5.71	35.71
5	B Yardley	7/98	7/187	6/84	5/88	5/107	5/132	4/35	5.57	34.82
6	AA Mallett	8/59	6/64	5/53	5/91	5/114	5/126	4/21	5.43	33.93
7	JD Higgs	7/143	5/148	4/25	4/45	4/59	4/69	4/91	4.57	28.57

Against Top Teams

RANK	BOWLER	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	BBW	RAT
TS	A Kumble	10/74	8/141	7/48	7/63	7/115	6/53	6/70	7.29	100.00
1	NM Lyon	8/50	8/64	7/94	7/152	6/49	6/65	6/122	6.86	94.12
2	SK Warne	7/23	7/52	7/56	7/94	6/34	6/46	6/86	6.57	90.20
3	R Benaud	6/70	6/115	5/83	5/91	5/93	5/96	4/15	5.14	70.59
4	B Yardley	7/98	5/107	5/132	4/35	4/38	4/40	4/89	4.71	64.71
5	SCG MacGill	5/66	5/75	5/87	5/152	4/47	4/53	4/61	4.57	62.75
6	JD Higgs	7/143	5/148	4/69	4/91	3/42	3/53	3/67	4.14	56.86
7	AA Mallett	5/114	5/126	4/21	4/40	4/60	3/14	3/50	4.00	54.90

PRIMARY RATING

The total of the above four criteria comes out to be 1,000.00 points. The Primary Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is 40%.

RANK	BOWLER	PRO	CON	ATT	BBW	RAT	PRI PTS
1	SK Warne	221.25	297.14	120.00	133.95	952.34	380.94
2	NM Lyon	240.00	259.54	100.56	137.87	881.67	352.67
3	R Benaud	176.57	239.55	97.66	106.30	754.34	301.74
4	B Yardley	112.12	224.03	104.97	99.53	686.77	274.71
5	SCG MacGill	65.00	233.05	112.46	100.25	672.39	268.96
6	AA Mallett	93.98	234.37	104.16	88.83	665.63	266.25
7	JD Higgs	58.73	233.45	106.15	85.43	630.56	252.22

CONDITIONS CRITERIA

The Conditions

The Conditions Ratings are calculated by applying the four criteria of the Primary Rating to diffirent conditions. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Click on the Ratings to see how they were calculated.

The four conditions criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

CRITERIA	POINTS
Home	30.00
Away	120.00
Favourable Conditions	30.00
Unfavourable Conditions	120.00

HOME/AWAY

HM/AW RATING

Points to note:-

U.A.E. is considered as a second Home for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
All Home and Away stats of Pakistani and Afghani bowlers are calculated accordingly.

At Home

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	SR	RAT	WTG
1	SK Warne	129	319	26.39	60.87	750.36	22.51
2	NM Lyon	136	273	31.09	64.68	685.89	20.58
3	R Benaud	54	104	30.74	86.96	638.73	19.16
4	B Yardley	36	79	32.18	72.53	591.04	17.73
5	SCG MacGill	54	135	27.69	53.30	578.43	17.35
6	AA Mallett	39	63	32.81	78.62	554.40	16.63
7	JD Higgs	21	37	26.24	68.95	537.16	16.11

Away From Home

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	SR	RAT	WTG
1	SK Warne	144	389	24.61	54.72	955.87	114.70
2	NM Lyon	126	294	29.29	58.42	858.95	103.07
3	R Benaud	62	144	24.35	69.89	703.12	84.37
4	B Yardley	22	47	30.72	67.64	640.84	76.90
5	AA Mallett	32	69	27.14	73.00	623.27	74.79
6	SCG MacGill	31	73	31.51	55.36	604.15	72.50
7	JD Higgs	15	29	37.45	75.90	588.68	70.64

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

Favourable/Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Points to note:-

Unfavourable Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for Spinners and In Asia for Pacers.
Favourable Conditions (FC) are the opposite.

Favourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

Min Innings Vs All Teams: 7

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	SR	RAT	WTG
1	SK Warne	46	127	26.82	52.65	892.66	26.78
2	NM Lyon	56	154	30.06	60.15	881.57	26.45
3	R Benaud	23	71	19.32	61.96	825.61	24.77
4	AA Mallett	10	28	19.11	64.00	713.54	21.41
5	SCG MacGill	13	36	26.25	45.64	632.07	18.96
6	B Yardley	10	19	39.79	83.05	528.97	15.87
7	JD Higgs	8	14	50.14	97.50	442.61	13.28

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 15

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	SR	RAT	WTG
1	SK Warne	227	581	25.11	58.55	1,000.00	120.00
2	NM Lyon	206	413	30.19	61.91	884.12	106.09
3	B Yardley	48	107	30.19	68.51	803.46	96.42
4	JD Higgs	28	52	26.06	65.13	739.30	88.72
5	R Benaud	93	177	30.12	83.10	733.20	87.98
6	SCG MacGill	72	172	29.61	55.78	689.15	82.70
7	AA Mallett	61	104	32.74	78.83	662.14	79.46

CONDITIONS RATING

The Conditions Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is 30%.

RANK	BOWLER	AWAY	HOME	UC	FC	CON PTS
1	SK Warne	955.87	187.59	1,000.00	223.17	283.99
2	NM Lyon	858.95	171.47	884.12	220.39	256.19
3	R Benaud	703.12	159.68	733.20	206.40	216.29
4	B Yardley	640.84	147.76	803.46	132.24	206.92
5	AA Mallett	623.27	138.60	662.14	178.38	192.29
6	SCG MacGill	604.15	144.61	689.15	158.02	191.51
7	JD Higgs	588.68	134.29	739.30	110.65	188.75

SECONDARY CRITERIA

The Secondary Rating consists of three parts. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Click on the Rating Titles to see how they were calculated.

The three secondary criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

CRITERIA	POINTS
Wickets Per Inn	50.00
Top Form	100.00
Impact Innings	150.00

WKTS/INN

WPI RATING

Points to note about WPI Rating:-

It gives points for three criteria.
The number of wkts per inn overall and aganst Top Teams.
The number of bowled victims per inn.
The number of top 7 batsmen dismissed per inn.

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 25

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	W/I	RAT	WTG
1	SK Warne	273	708	2.59	698.11	34.91
2	SCG MacGill	85	208	2.45	662.47	33.12
3	R Benaud	116	248	2.14	571.67	28.58
4	NM Lyon	262	567	2.16	556.41	27.82
5	B Yardley	58	126	2.17	542.71	27.14
6	AA Mallett	71	132	1.86	482.50	24.12
7	JD Higgs	36	66	1.83	468.18	23.41

TOP FORM

TF RATING

Points to note about TF Rating:-

TF is calculated by taking the best 50 consecutive innings of a bowler.
The inns are taken such that his points are maximum.
Only innings against Top Teams are considered.

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 20

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	SR	RAT	WTG
1	SK Warne	50	172	21.20	43.05	949.97	95.00
2	NM Lyon	50	122	25.66	57.78	739.43	73.94
3	R Benaud	50	116	26.72	76.75	669.83	66.98
4	SCG MacGill	49	114	30.89	59.16	633.26	63.33
5	B Yardley	42	80	34.89	77.95	561.01	56.10
6	AA Mallett	46	72	35.96	83.40	525.87	52.59
7	JD Higgs	27	51	32.92	78.22	511.61	51.16

IMPACT INNINGS

II RATING

Impact Innings (II) are those innings which have an impact either in terms of wickets or strike rate. Know All About II. These are the criteria for an inning to be included in II:-

A Bowler equal to or more wickets than 2 at a good AVE or SR.
The required AVE or SR is increases as the number of wickets taken increases.

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 25

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	II	II Perc	RAT	WTG
1	SK Warne	273	137	50.18	881.67	132.25
2	NM Lyon	262	110	41.98	766.05	114.91
3	R Benaud	116	51	43.97	718.14	107.72
4	B Yardley	58	24	41.38	634.30	95.14
5	SCG MacGill	85	36	42.35	616.83	92.52
6	AA Mallett	71	28	39.44	602.74	90.41
7	JD Higgs	36	13	36.11	489.06	73.36

SECONDARY RATING

The Secondary Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the three criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is 30%.

RANK	BOWLER	TF	WPI	II	SEC RAT
1	SK Warne	95.00	34.91	132.25	262.15
2	NM Lyon	73.94	27.82	114.91	216.67
3	R Benaud	66.98	28.58	107.72	203.29
4	SCG MacGill	63.33	33.12	92.52	188.97
5	B Yardley	56.10	27.14	95.14	178.38
6	AA Mallett	52.59	24.12	90.41	167.12
7	JD Higgs	51.16	23.41	73.36	147.93

OVERALL RATING

OVERALL Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000 Pts.

RANK	OV RANK	BOWLER	NAT	PRI RAT	CON RAT	SEC RAT	FIN RAT
1	2	SK Warne	AUS	380.94	283.99	262.15	927.08
2	3	NM Lyon	AUS	352.67	256.19	216.67	825.53
3	9	R Benaud	AUS	301.74	216.29	203.29	721.31
4	18	B Yardley	AUS	274.71	206.92	178.38	660.00
5	22	SCG MacGill	AUS	268.96	191.51	188.97	649.44
6	27	AA Mallett	AUS	266.25	192.29	167.12	625.66
7	37	JD Higgs	AUS	252.22	188.75	147.93	588.90

BRIEF EXPLANATION

Dynamic Nature

Most of our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier bowlers may change if current bowlers set new benchmarks.

Trend Setter (TS)

TS is the player who does the best in a criteria.
The rating of all other players are calculated taking the TS as the benchmark. Example:-
TS Bowling Ave: 25.00; Player X Ave: 30.00; Section Points: 300.00
TS Points: 300.00 (Max)
Player X Points: TS Ave/Ave X 300 = 25.00/30.00 X 300 = 250.00.
Ratings of all sections are calculated similarly with Ave being replaced by the Criteria Stat.
Know All About the Trend Setter

Top Teams (TT)

An opposition is counted as a TT considering its Win/Loss (WL) Ratios in last 7 years.
Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia and Overall WL Ratio is considered.
The WL Ratio should be more than a certain value overall or in specific conditions.