Tests Decades - Best Fast Bowlers In 1980s Featured

Top Test Fast Bowler of the Decade (1980 – 1989)

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This Rating takes into account only the matches played in the 1980s. Brief explanation of the ratings is given before each section (Detailed Explanation). So, here are the Top 10 Fast bowlers in Test Cricket in the 1980s.

*Note: All Test Ratings are updated till 2023-08-09

CONTENTS
1. THE CRITERIA
2. QUALIFICATION
3. PRIMARY CRITERIA
3.1. PROLIFIC
3.2. CONSISTENT
3.2.1. Against All Teams
3.2.2. Against Top Teams
3.3. ATTACKING
3.4. BEST BOWLING (WKTS)
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 Outside Asia
4.2.1.2. Asians Outside Asia
4.2.2. Unfavourable Conditions Rating
4.2.2.1. Non Asians In Asia
4.2.2.2. Asians In Asia
4.3. CONDITIONS RATING
5. SECONDARY CRITERIA
5.1. TOP FORM AT HOME
5.2. TOP FORM AWAY
5.3. TOP 7 VICTIMS
5.4. SECONDARY RATING
6. DECADES RATING
7. TOP TEAMS
7.1. Top Teams In Asia
7.2. Top Teams Outside Asia

THE CRITERIA

CRITERIA CONSTITUENTS
Primary Wickets, Average, Strike Rate, Top Inns
Conditions Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia
Secondary Top Form Home, Top Form Away, Top 7 Batsmen
The Trend Setter (TS)

TS is the player which does the best in a criteria. The rating of all other players are calculated taking the TS as the benchmark. Know All About TS. Here is an example:-

  • TS 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.
Top Teams (TT)

Some sections consider performances only against the top teams. Here is some information about the 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.
  • A bowler’s performace is counted in TT if it comes in the specific condition and in the specific decade.

QUALIFICATION

Min Innings 25
Min Wickets (TS AVE SR) 50

PRIMARY CRITERIA

PROLIFIC

Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

RANK BOWLER NAT INNS WKTS RAT
TS MD Marshall WI 120 323 200.00
1 MD Marshall WI 120 323 200.00
2 RJ Hadlee NZ 91 289 178.95
3 N Kapil Dev IND 134 272 168.42
4 IT Botham ENG 120 258 159.75
5 Imran Khan PAK 90 256 158.51
6 J Garner WI 93 210 130.03
7 MA Holding WI 84 184 113.93
8 DK Lillee AUS 64 171 105.88
9 TM Alderman AUS 58 136 84.21
10 CA Walsh WI 63 122 75.54

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

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS Imran Khan 90 4896 256 19.13 18.60 200.00
1 Imran Khan 90 4896 256 19.13 18.60 200.00
2 RJ Hadlee 91 5574 289 19.29 19.73 188.53
3 MD Marshall 120 6434 323 19.92 20.36 182.68
4 J Garner 93 4331 210 20.62 21.50 172.96
5 MA Holding 84 4302 184 23.38 24.15 154.02
6 CA Walsh 63 2958 122 24.25 24.30 153.04
7 DK Lillee 64 4117 171 24.08 24.50 151.79
8 N Kapil Dev 134 8036 272 29.54 28.19 131.94
9 TM Alderman 58 3810 136 28.01 28.32 131.33
10 IT Botham 120 8359 258 32.40 31.74 117.18

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS Imran Khan 49 2521 135 18.67 18.16 200.00
1 Imran Khan 49 2521 135 18.67 18.16 200.00
2 MD Marshall 94 5028 250 20.11 20.56 176.67
3 J Garner 86 4030 203 19.85 20.70 175.45
4 RJ Hadlee 71 4561 224 20.36 20.83 174.37
5 MA Holding 65 3137 142 22.09 22.82 159.17
6 DK Lillee 56 3558 147 24.20 24.63 147.43
7 TM Alderman 55 3610 131 27.56 27.86 130.36
8 N Kapil Dev 121 7226 244 29.61 28.26 128.52
9 CA Walsh 49 2253 78 28.88 28.95 125.43
10 IT Botham 100 7004 209 33.51 32.83 110.62

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

RANK BOWLER INNS BALLS WKTS SR R SR RAT
TS MD Marshall 120 14399 323 44.58 44.89 300.00
1 MD Marshall 120 14399 323 44.58 44.89 300.00
2 Imran Khan 90 12040 256 47.03 45.27 297.51
3 RJ Hadlee 91 13856 289 47.94 46.62 288.91
4 MA Holding 84 9272 184 50.39 51.04 263.87
5 DK Lillee 64 8957 171 52.38 51.45 261.77
6 J Garner 93 10887 210 51.84 52.30 257.51
7 CA Walsh 63 6617 122 54.24 53.30 252.71
8 IT Botham 120 15900 258 61.63 59.89 224.87
9 N Kapil Dev 134 16895 272 62.11 60.14 223.95
10 TM Alderman 58 8374 136 61.57 60.98 220.87

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

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AVE WT RAT
TS N Kapil Dev 9/83 8/85 8/106 7/56 7/220 6/77 6/84 7.29 100.00
1 N Kapil Dev 9/83 8/85 8/106 7/56 7/220 6/77 6/84 7.29 100.00
2 Imran Khan 8/58 8/60 7/40 7/52 7/80 6/35 6/46 7.00 96.08
3 RJ Hadlee 9/52 7/116 6/49 6/50 6/51 6/53 6/57 6.57 90.20
4 MD Marshall 7/22 7/53 7/80 6/32 6/37 6/55 6/69 6.43 88.24
5 IT Botham 8/103 7/48 6/58 6/90 6/95 6/125 5/11 6.29 86.27
6 DK Lillee 7/83 7/89 6/53 6/60 6/171 5/18 5/46 6.00 82.35
7 MA Holding 6/21 6/62 6/67 5/43 5/45 5/56 5/64 5.43 74.51
7 TM Alderman 6/128 6/128 6/135 5/42 5/44 5/62 5/66 5.43 74.51
7 J Garner 6/56 6/60 6/75 5/51 5/55 5/56 5/63 5.43 74.51
10 CA Walsh 6/62 5/54 5/54 5/73 4/21 4/37 4/39 4.71 64.71

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 half of the DECADES Rating, i.e. 500 pts.

RANK BOWLER PRO CON ATT BBW RAT PRI PTS
1 Imran Khan 158.51 400.00 297.51 96.08 952.10 476.05
2 MD Marshall 200.00 359.35 300.00 88.24 947.59 473.79
3 RJ Hadlee 178.95 362.90 288.91 90.20 920.95 460.48
4 J Garner 130.03 348.41 257.51 74.51 810.46 405.23
5 MA Holding 113.93 313.19 263.87 74.51 765.51 382.75
6 N Kapil Dev 168.42 260.45 223.95 100.00 752.82 376.41
7 DK Lillee 105.88 299.22 261.77 82.35 749.22 374.61
8 IT Botham 159.75 227.80 224.87 86.27 698.69 349.35
9 CA Walsh 75.54 278.47 252.71 64.71 671.42 335.71
10 TM Alderman 84.21 261.68 220.87 74.51 641.28 320.64

CONDITIONS CRITERIA

The Conditions

The Conditions Ratings are calculated by applying the four criteria of the Primary Rating to diffirent conditions. Unfavourable Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for spin bowlers and In Asia for pacers. Favourable Conditions (FC) is the opposite. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Here are those conditions and their weightage:-

  • HOME – 250 PTS
  • AWAY – 1,000 PTS
  • FC – 250 PTS
  • UC – 1,000 PTS

HOME/AWAY

At Home

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 Imran Khan 44 131 16.79 42.93 969.03 242.26
2 MD Marshall 46 133 19.41 40.45 838.06 209.52
3 RJ Hadlee 43 119 21.13 52.94 789.21 197.30
4 DK Lillee 40 114 22.44 49.27 761.72 190.43
5 IT Botham 68 155 31.21 58.20 713.00 178.25
6 N Kapil Dev 74 135 28.97 60.91 712.54 178.14
7 J Garner 42 85 21.94 54.05 676.85 169.21
8 MA Holding 35 67 24.85 52.01 618.67 154.67
9 CA Walsh 16 30 22.53 53.47 528.72 132.18
10 TM Alderman 23 39 35.18 82.33 440.81 110.20

Away From Home

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 RJ Hadlee 48 170 18.00 44.45 968.90 968.90
2 MD Marshall 74 190 20.28 47.47 967.49 967.49
3 Imran Khan 46 125 21.58 51.33 871.77 871.77
4 J Garner 51 125 19.73 50.34 863.94 863.94
5 MA Holding 49 117 22.54 49.46 823.46 823.46
6 TM Alderman 35 97 25.13 53.23 737.46 737.46
7 CA Walsh 47 92 24.80 54.49 723.17 723.17
8 N Kapil Dev 60 137 30.11 63.30 722.69 722.69
9 DK Lillee 24 57 27.35 58.60 645.49 645.49
10 IT Botham 52 103 34.19 66.79 616.90 616.90

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

Favourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 MD Marshall 96 261 20.03 45.20 974.70 243.68
2 RJ Hadlee 80 244 20.45 50.45 958.23 239.56
3 J Garner 88 200 20.70 51.72 875.36 218.84
4 DK Lillee 58 165 22.47 49.48 850.96 212.74
5 MA Holding 73 154 23.63 51.49 797.66 199.42
6 IT Botham 106 223 33.35 62.04 734.30 183.57
7 TM Alderman 56 134 27.28 60.84 704.61 176.15
8 CA Walsh 50 85 27.36 61.28 627.04 156.76

Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 Imran Khan 29 88 20.13 49.77 975.14 243.78
2 N Kapil Dev 40 89 27.17 61.13 852.62 213.15

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 RJ Hadlee 11 45 12.98 34.33 915.11 915.11
2 MD Marshall 24 62 19.45 41.95 910.87 910.87
3 CA Walsh 13 37 17.08 38.05 834.72 834.72
4 IT Botham 14 35 26.31 59.00 667.89 667.89
5 MA Holding 11 30 22.10 44.73 665.07 665.07
6 TM Alderman 2 2 77.00 111.00 500.00 500.00
7 J Garner 5 10 19.20 54.30 498.93 498.93
8 DK Lillee 6 6 68.33 132.00 198.04 198.04

Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 Imran Khan 61 168 18.60 45.60 975.50 975.50
2 N Kapil Dev 94 183 30.70 62.59 744.37 744.37

CONDITIONS RATING

The total of the above four criteria comes out to be 2,500.00 points. The Conditions Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is one-fourth of the DECADES Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK BOWLER AWAY HOME UC FC TOT CON PTS
1 Imran Khan 871.77 242.26 975.50 243.78 2,333.31 233.33
2 MD Marshall 967.49 209.52 910.87 243.68 2,331.55 233.16
3 RJ Hadlee 968.90 197.30 915.11 239.56 2,320.86 232.09
4 N Kapil Dev 722.69 178.14 744.37 213.15 1,858.35 185.83
5 CA Walsh 723.17 132.18 834.72 156.76 1,846.83 184.68
6 MA Holding 823.46 154.67 665.07 199.42 1,842.61 184.26
7 J Garner 863.94 169.21 498.93 218.84 1,750.92 175.09
8 IT Botham 616.90 178.25 667.89 183.57 1,646.62 164.66
9 TM Alderman 737.46 110.20 500.00 176.15 1,523.81 152.38
10 DK Lillee 645.49 190.43 198.04 212.74 1,246.71 124.67

SECONDARY CRITERIA

Top Form And Top 7 Victims

The Secondary Rating consists of three parts. Top Form is calculated by taking the best 30 consecutive innings of a bowler such that his overall points are maximum. Top Form is calculated seperately for Home and Away innings. Top 7 Victims are defined as the wickets taken by the bowler against the top 7 batsmen by batting order against Top Teams. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. The three secondary criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

  • TOP FORM AT HOME – 500 PTS
  • TOP FORM AWAY – 1,000 PTS
  • TOP 7 VICTIMS – 1,000 PTS

TOP FORM AT HOME

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 Imran Khan 30 107 13.12 35.77 1,000.00 500.00
2 MD Marshall 30 103 16.58 35.42 844.28 422.14
3 DK Lillee 30 93 19.74 43.40 778.55 389.27
4 RJ Hadlee 30 89 20.02 49.48 766.98 383.49
5 N Kapil Dev 30 80 25.04 49.18 725.01 362.50
6 IT Botham 30 75 25.72 51.08 673.09 336.55
7 J Garner 30 72 19.54 45.47 670.64 335.32
8 MA Holding 30 59 24.12 51.78 546.19 273.10
9 CA Walsh 16 30 22.53 53.47 480.70 240.35
10 TM Alderman 23 39 35.18 82.33 418.40 209.20

TOP FORM AWAY

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 RJ Hadlee 30 117 16.82 40.82 970.52 970.52
2 MD Marshall 30 95 16.29 41.11 931.47 931.47
3 MA Holding 30 85 18.98 41.35 832.85 832.85
4 Imran Khan 30 85 20.95 48.32 816.24 816.24
5 J Garner 30 74 17.07 49.84 778.18 778.18
6 CA Walsh 30 69 21.03 47.38 728.28 728.28
7 TM Alderman 30 84 25.68 54.08 712.56 712.56
8 N Kapil Dev 30 73 29.05 58.85 688.53 688.53
9 IT Botham 30 72 29.57 59.42 654.64 654.64
10 DK Lillee 24 57 27.35 58.60 604.96 604.96

TOP 7 VICTIMS

Min Innings: 25

RANK BOWLER INNS T7 WKTS PERC WT/IN T7 RAT WTG
1 TM Alderman 58 99 72.79 1.71 879.67 879.67
2 RJ Hadlee 91 155 53.63 1.70 868.12 868.12
3 MD Marshall 120 185 57.28 1.54 839.15 839.15
4 DK Lillee 64 104 60.82 1.63 824.26 824.26
5 J Garner 93 136 64.76 1.46 795.84 795.84
6 N Kapil Dev 134 172 63.24 1.28 787.29 787.29
7 MA Holding 84 97 52.72 1.15 611.52 611.52
8 IT Botham 120 141 54.65 1.18 608.80 608.80
9 Imran Khan 90 90 35.16 1.00 548.03 548.03
10 CA Walsh 63 54 44.26 0.86 456.94 456.94

SECONDARY RATING

The total of the above three criteria comes out to be 2,500.00 points. The Conditions Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the three criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is one-fourth of the DECADES Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK BOWLER TF HM TF AW T7 WKTS TOT SEC RAT
1 RJ Hadlee 383.49 970.52 868.12 2,222.13 222.21
2 MD Marshall 422.14 931.47 839.15 2,192.75 219.28
3 J Garner 335.32 778.18 795.84 1,909.34 190.93
4 Imran Khan 500.00 816.24 548.03 1,864.27 186.43
5 N Kapil Dev 362.50 688.53 787.29 1,838.32 183.83
6 DK Lillee 389.27 604.96 824.26 1,818.49 181.85
7 TM Alderman 209.20 712.56 879.67 1,801.43 180.14
8 MA Holding 273.10 832.85 611.52 1,717.47 171.75
9 IT Botham 336.55 654.64 608.80 1,599.98 160.00
10 CA Walsh 240.35 728.28 456.94 1,425.56 142.56

DECADES RATING

DECADES Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000 Pts. Half the points are for Primary Criteria; one-fourth for Conditions; and one-fourth for Secondary Criteria.

RANK BOWLER NAT PRI RAT CON RAT SEC RAT FIN RAT
1 MD Marshall WI 473.79 233.16 219.28 926.22
2 RJ Hadlee NZ 460.48 232.09 222.21 914.78
3 Imran Khan PAK 476.05 233.33 186.43 895.81
4 J Garner WI 405.23 175.09 190.93 771.25
5 N Kapil Dev IND 376.41 185.83 183.83 746.08
6 MA Holding WI 382.75 184.26 171.75 738.76
7 DK Lillee AUS 374.61 124.67 181.85 681.13
8 IT Botham ENG 349.35 164.66 160.00 674.01
9 CA Walsh WI 335.71 184.68 142.56 662.95
10 TM Alderman AUS 320.64 152.38 180.14 653.16

TOP TEAMS

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 ENG PAK AUS NZ

Top Teams Outside Asia

DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5
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 SA ENG IND

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