Top 15 Asian Fast Bowlers In Tests Outside Asia

All Test Ratings on the website are from 01/01/1950 onwards. Our ratings are based on conditions and diverse oppositions. Before the above mentioned date, there were primarily only two teams which dominated cricket. Moreover, matches were of unequal length with some ending in 4 days and some being timeless. Post 1950, West Indies and South Africa grew as test teams. Moreover, Asian teams India and Pakistan started improving after 1950 and became compenent at home at least. Performance in Asia and outside Asia are integral to our overall rating. How the rating works is explained in highlighted sections. So, here are the Top 15 Asian Fast bowlers in matches Outside Asia

*Note: All Test Ratings are updated till 2023-01-08

A O A Rating

This rating only include stats of Asian Fast bowlers in matches Outside Asia. The rating is divided into sections to make it easy to understand how it is calculated. Before each section, its criteria is highlighted in bold. Our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier bowlers may change if current bowlers set new benchmarks.

The Trend Setter

The Trend Setter (TS) is the player which does the best in a criteria. The rating of all other players are calculated as percentage points of TS. Let’s taken an example to understand it:-

  • Let’s assume that Glenn McGrath has taken 500 wkts, which is the highest. This makes him the TS.
  • Another player, say Jason Gillespie, has taken 250 wkts.
  • If the rating is out of 250, McGrath will get the full points (pts), that is 250.
  • The points of Gillespie are calculated as His Wkts/McGrath’s Wkts*250. This comes out to be 125.
  • Thus the formula is (Wkts Taken/Wkts Taken By TS)*Max Points.
  • All ratings are calculated similarly with Wkts being replaced by the Criteria Stat.
  • Obviously, for average the formula is reverased as the lower average is better for a bowler.
  • For Average and Strike Rate, a bowler is eligible to be TS only if he has taken a minimum number of wickets, which are mentioned in the qualificaton.
  • Lastly, it is to be noted that it is not necessary for a TS to be part of the rating as he might have topped in a criteria but not done well in others.

QUALIFICATION


Min Innings 10
Min Wickets (TS AVE SR) 25
The Eras

The first criteria Prolific gives points for wkts taken. We have divided cricket from 1950 onwards into 3 broad eras. This has been done to make it fair for players from earlier era, when less cricket was played, and also for current players, who are in the middle of their careers. Let’s take an example:-

  • Let’s assume Murlidharan has taken 500 wickets, which is the maximum and gives him 250 points.
  • Now, say Underwood in earlier times took 250 wkts, which was the max for his era.
  • If there are no eras, he would get 50% of the pts, that is 125.
  • Instead of that, we reduced 50 pts (according to %age) from the max to arrive at the figure of 200 pts for Underwood.
  • Now, everyone in his era is compared to Underwood and not Murlidharan.
  • So a player who has taken 50 Wkts in Underwood’s era will get (50/250)*200 pts or 40pts.
  • Eras are calculated by MP, which is the mean of the years a player: First Played (FP) and Last Played (LP).

PROLIFIC


Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

Era 1 MP before 1991
Era 2 MP between 1990 and 2016
Era 3 MP greater than 2015
RANK ERA 1 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS Imran Khan PAK 1971 1991 1981 62 157 230.00
1 Imran Khan PAK 1971 1991 1981 62 157 230.00
2 N Kapil Dev IND 1978 1994 1986 77 155 227.07
RANK ERA 2 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS Wasim Akram PAK 1985 2002 1993.5 79 198 250.00
1 Wasim Akram PAK 1985 2002 1993.5 79 198 250.00
2 I Sharma IND 2007 2021 2014 88 171 215.91
3 Waqar Younis PAK 1989 2003 1996 69 158 199.49
4 Zaheer Khan IND 2000 2014 2007 66 147 185.61
5 WPUJC Vaas SL 1994 2009 2001.5 62 119 150.25
6 Mohammad Aamer PAK 2009 2019 2014 54 106 133.84
7 Mohammad Asif PAK 2005 2010 2007.5 33 79 99.75
8 Shoaib Akhtar PAK 1997 2007 2002 26 53 66.92
9 IK Pathan IND 2003 2008 2005.5 13 35 44.19
RANK ERA 3 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS Mohammed Shami IND 2013 2022 2017.5 72 139 220.00
1 Mohammed Shami IND 2013 2022 2017.5 72 139 220.00
2 JJ Bumrah IND 2018 2022 2020 51 114 180.43
3 RAS Lakmal SL 2010 2022 2016 49 91 144.03
4 Shaheen Shah Afridi PAK 2018 2022 2020 20 53 83.88
C Ave

The Comparative Average (C Ave) for bowlers is calculated by taken into account two factors:-

  • First is the average of batsmen in the decades the bowler played.
  • Second is the average of the opposition batsmen at Home, in Asia or outside Asia; whichever is applicable.
  • The average of the opposing team’s batsmen is also calculated by decades.
  • Higher C Ave suggest that more runs were scored by the batsmen in the above mentioned factors.
  • Thus it was difficult to get Wkts and the bowler will benefit from this.
  • Lower C Ave means the opposite.
R Ave

The Relative Average (R Ave) is calculated using the C Ave. Its formula is (Bowler Ave/C Ave)*A Constant Factor. This constant doesn’t affect the rating as it is the same for everone. If your C Ave is comparatively high, your R Ave will be low; which is better for bowlers. Broadly speaking, the following bowlers will benefit from this system:-

  • Bowlers who have played more in unfavourable conditions.
  • Asian fast bowlers and Non-Asian spin bowlers whereever applicable.
  • Bowlers who have played in an era where the batsmen dominated, like the 2000s
  • Bowlers who have played more against top opposition than weaker teams.
Top Teams (TT)

The R Ave Rating is divided into two parts:-

  • One is Overall which gives points for the overall R Ave.
  • The second part is Against Top Teams, which gives points for R Ave against top teams.
  • Win/Loss Ratio is used to determine top teams.
  • The top teams are calculated by decades.
  • Further, they are divided into In Asia and Outside Asia.
  • To be a top team, the team should be among the top teams in the specific condition (Asia or outside Asia) or among the top teams of the decade overall.
  • A bowler’s performace is counted in TT if he palyed against it in the specific condition and in the specific decade.
  • The Top Teams may be found in the last section of the rating.

CONSISTENT


Criteria: Points For Relative Average

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE C AVE R AVE RAT
TS IK Pathan 13 825 35 23.57 37.90 19.90 250.00
1 IK Pathan 13 825 35 23.57 37.90 19.90 250.00
2 JJ Bumrah 51 2596 114 22.77 33.45 21.79 228.38
3 Mohammad Asif 33 1977 79 25.03 36.12 22.17 224.44
4 Shaheen Shah Afridi 20 1306 53 24.64 31.65 24.92 199.69
5 Wasim Akram 79 4912 198 24.81 31.58 25.14 197.95
6 Mohammad Aamer 54 2971 106 28.03 33.98 26.39 188.53
7 Imran Khan 62 4100 157 26.11 31.03 26.93 184.76
8 Shoaib Akhtar 26 1543 53 29.11 34.50 27.00 184.28
9 Waqar Younis 69 4350 158 27.53 32.22 27.35 181.96
10 Zaheer Khan 66 4595 147 31.26 35.80 27.94 178.06
11 Mohammed Shami 72 4328 139 31.14 33.40 29.84 166.78
12 I Sharma 88 5556 171 32.49 34.11 30.49 163.22
13 WPUJC Vaas 62 3921 119 32.95 34.17 30.85 161.27
14 RAS Lakmal 49 2888 91 31.74 32.71 31.05 160.27
15 N Kapil Dev 77 4772 155 30.79 31.20 31.58 157.56
C SR And R SR

The Comparative Strike Rate (C SR) and Relative Strike Rate (R SR) for bowlers is calculated using the same method as in C Ave and R Ave with average replaced with SR. Points to note are:-

  • Bowlers from the earlier era benefit from R SR.
  • This is because more balls were taken to get a Wkt back then as batsmen had better defensive technique.
  • Rest of the factors are the same as in R Ave

ATTACKING


Criteria: Points For R SR or Relative Balls/Wkt

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS WKTS SR C SR R SR RAT
TS IK Pathan 13 1369 35 39.11 68.65 37.03 200.00
1 IK Pathan 13 1369 35 39.11 68.65 37.03 200.00
2 Shoaib Akhtar 26 2572 53 48.53 67.44 46.77 158.35
3 Mohammad Asif 33 3915 79 49.56 65.54 49.15 150.69
4 Shaheen Shah Afridi 20 2505 53 47.26 61.35 50.08 147.91
5 Waqar Younis 69 8004 158 50.66 65.71 50.11 147.80
6 JJ Bumrah 51 5758 114 50.51 62.41 52.61 140.78
7 Wasim Akram 79 11303 198 57.09 65.49 56.66 130.72
8 Zaheer Khan 66 8438 147 57.40 65.69 56.80 130.39
9 Mohammed Shami 72 7638 139 54.95 62.30 57.33 129.20
10 Imran Khan 62 9436 157 60.10 66.87 58.42 126.78
11 Mohammad Aamer 54 6309 106 59.52 62.97 61.44 120.55
12 I Sharma 88 10285 171 60.15 63.22 61.84 119.77
13 RAS Lakmal 49 5931 91 65.18 62.27 68.04 108.86
14 WPUJC Vaas 62 8566 119 71.98 66.58 70.27 105.40
15 N Kapil Dev 77 11037 155 71.21 65.48 70.68 104.78
BBW

In this criteria, we have taken the top 5 bowling performances by Wkts of a bowler. Best Bowling By Wickets (BBW) is simply the total wickets taken in the 5 innings divided by 5.

BEST BOWLING (WKTS)


Criteria: Points For Wkts Taken In Top 7 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 BBW RAT
TS Imran Khan 7/40 7/52 7/80 6/63 6/90 6.60 150.00
1 Imran Khan 7/40 7/52 7/80 6/63 6/90 6.60 150.00
2 Wasim Akram 7/119 6/43 6/61 6/62 6/67 6.20 140.91
3 I Sharma 7/74 6/51 6/55 6/134 5/43 6.00 136.36
4 N Kapil Dev 8/106 6/84 5/28 5/58 5/97 5.80 131.82
5 Waqar Younis 6/78 6/78 5/22 5/52 5/91 5.40 122.73
5 JJ Bumrah 6/27 6/33 5/7 5/42 5/54 5.40 122.73
5 WPUJC Vaas 6/87 6/108 5/31 5/43 5/47 5.40 122.73
8 Mohammad Asif 6/41 5/67 5/76 5/77 5/89 5.20 118.18
8 Mohammad Aamer 6/44 6/84 5/52 5/79 4/36 5.20 118.18
8 Shoaib Akhtar 6/30 5/43 5/48 5/99 5/109 5.20 118.18
11 Zaheer Khan 5/29 5/53 5/65 5/75 5/95 5.00 113.64
11 Mohammed Shami 6/56 5/28 5/44 5/112 4/49 5.00 113.64
13 IK Pathan 7/59 5/58 5/67 4/53 3/54 4.80 109.09
13 RAS Lakmal 5/47 5/54 5/63 5/75 4/27 4.80 109.09
15 Shaheen Shah Afridi 6/51 5/52 4/43 4/43 4/50 4.60 104.55
BBA

In this criteria, we have taken the top 5 bowling performances by Average of a bowler. Best Bowling By Average (BBA) is simply the average of the bowler in the 5 Inns. Only 3+ Wkt performaces are counted in this criteria.

BEST BOWLING (AVE)


Criteria: Points For Average In Top 7 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 BBA RAT
TS JJ Bumrah 5/7 6/27 6/33 5/42 5/54 6.04 150.00
1 JJ Bumrah 5/7 6/27 6/33 5/42 5/54 6.04 150.00
2 Waqar Younis 5/22 3/15 4/23 5/52 4/46 7.52 120.36
3 Mohammed Shami 3/15 5/28 5/44 3/28 3/28 7.53 120.32
4 Imran Khan 7/40 4/26 7/52 4/38 5/49 7.59 119.27
5 Shoaib Akhtar 6/30 5/43 4/36 5/48 3/43 8.70 104.14
6 Wasim Akram 6/43 5/43 5/45 5/49 6/61 8.93 101.45
7 I Sharma 6/51 5/43 6/55 3/28 3/29 8.96 101.11
8 RAS Lakmal 4/27 3/25 5/47 4/39 5/54 9.14 99.05
9 Mohammad Aamer 3/20 6/44 4/36 5/52 3/41 9.19 98.53
10 N Kapil Dev 5/28 4/34 3/33 4/45 5/58 9.43 96.04
11 WPUJC Vaas 5/31 5/43 5/47 5/61 3/41 9.70 93.40
12 Mohammad Asif 6/41 3/30 4/40 4/43 5/67 10.05 90.15
13 Zaheer Khan 5/29 5/53 3/32 3/36 5/65 10.24 88.45
14 Shaheen Shah Afridi 6/51 5/52 4/43 4/43 4/50 10.39 87.15
15 IK Pathan 7/59 5/58 4/53 5/67 3/54 12.13 74.68
FC Rating

The A O A (FC) Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000. Unfavourable Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for Spinners and In Asia for Pacers. Favourable Conditions (FC) is the opposite.

RATING


RANK BOWLER PRO CON ATT BBW BBA FC RAT
1 JJ Bumrah 180.43 228.38 140.78 122.73 150.00 822.32
2 Wasim Akram 250.00 197.95 130.72 140.91 101.45 821.03
3 Imran Khan 230.00 184.76 126.78 150.00 119.27 810.81
4 Waqar Younis 199.49 181.96 147.80 122.73 120.36 772.34
5 Mohammed Shami 220.00 166.78 129.20 113.64 120.32 749.93
6 I Sharma 215.91 163.22 119.77 136.36 101.11 736.36
7 N Kapil Dev 227.07 157.56 104.78 131.82 96.04 717.27
8 Zaheer Khan 185.61 178.06 130.39 113.64 88.45 696.14
9 Mohammad Asif 99.75 224.44 150.69 118.18 90.15 683.20
10 IK Pathan 44.19 250.00 200.00 109.09 74.68 677.97
11 Mohammad Aamer 133.84 188.53 120.55 118.18 98.53 659.64
12 WPUJC Vaas 150.25 161.27 105.40 122.73 93.40 633.04
13 Shoaib Akhtar 66.92 184.28 158.35 118.18 104.14 631.87
14 Shaheen Shah Afridi 83.88 199.69 147.91 104.55 87.15 623.17
15 RAS Lakmal 144.03 160.27 108.86 109.09 99.05 621.29

TOP TEAMS IN ASIA


DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6
1950s AUS WI PAK IND ENG
1960s WI AUS PAK IND ENG SA
1970s PAK ENG IND WI SA AUS
1980s PAK WI ENG NZ AUS
1990s IND PAK SA AUS WI
2000s AUS SL IND PAK SA ENG
2010s IND PAK SL ENG SA AUS
2020s IND AUS ENG PAK NZ

TOP TEAMS OUTSIDE ASIA


DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6
1950s AUS ENG WI SA PAK
1960s ENG AUS WI SA NZ
1970s SA ENG WI AUS IND
1980s WI NZ AUS ENG PAK
1990s AUS SA WI PAK ENG
2000s AUS SA ENG IND NZ
2010s SA AUS ENG NZ IND
2020s AUS NZ ENG SA IND


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