Tests - Best Spin Bowlers Present Era Featured

Top Test Spin Bowlers of The Present Era

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This Rating takes into account only the matches played in the last 30 years. Only bowlers active till at least 2023 are considered in this rating. Brief explanation of the ratings is given before each section (Detailed Explanation). So, here are the Top 5 Spin bowlers in Test Cricket in the last 30 years.

*Note: All Test Ratings are updated till 2024-06-09

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 In Asia
4.2.1.2. Asians In Asia
4.2.2. Unfavourable Conditions Rating
4.2.2.1. Non Asians Outside Asia
4.2.2.2. Asians Outside Asia
4.3. CONDITIONS RATING
5. SECONDARY CRITERIA
5.1. TOP FORM AT HOME
5.2. TOP FORM AWAY
5.3. WKTS/INN
5.4. IMPACT INNINGS
5.5. SECONDARY RATING
6. PRESENT ERA 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, Wkts/Inn, Impact Inns
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

PRIMARY CRITERIA

CRITERIA STAT POINTS
Prolific Wickets Taken 200.00
Consistent Average 400.00
Attacking Strike Rate 300.00
Best Bowling Top Bowling Performances 100.00

PROLIFIC

Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

RANK BOWLER NAT INNS WKTS RAT
TS NM Lyon AUS 242 530 200.00
1 NM Lyon AUS 242 530 200.00
2 R Ashwin IND 189 516 194.72
3 RA Jadeja IND 136 294 110.94
4 Shakib Al Hasan BAN 113 237 89.43
5 KA Maharaj SA 83 158 59.62

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 50

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS AR Patel 27 1064 55 19.35 24.60 200.00
1 R Ashwin 189 12255 516 23.75 24.64 199.63
2 RA Jadeja 136 7096 294 24.14 25.45 193.29
3 KA Maharaj 83 5055 158 31.99 25.99 189.29
4 NM Lyon 242 16052 530 30.29 27.18 180.97
5 Shakib Al Hasan 113 7387 237 31.17 32.22 152.66

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS RA Jadeja 104 5877 235 25.01 26.37 200.00
1 RA Jadeja 104 5877 235 25.01 26.37 200.00
2 R Ashwin 137 9147 356 25.69 26.66 197.84
3 NM Lyon 187 12603 401 31.43 28.21 186.98
4 KA Maharaj 56 3964 106 37.40 30.38 173.63
5 Shakib Al Hasan 60 4515 122 37.01 38.26 137.84

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 50
RANK BOWLER INNS BALLS WKTS SR R SR RAT
TS KA Maharaj 83 9575 158 60.60 60.93 300.00
1 KA Maharaj 83 9575 158 60.60 60.93 300.00
2 R Ashwin 189 26161 516 50.70 61.41 297.65
3 NM Lyon 242 32761 530 61.81 67.39 271.21
4 RA Jadeja 136 17233 294 58.62 71.86 254.34
5 Shakib Al Hasan 113 15057 237 63.53 75.70 241.46

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 NM Lyon 8/50 8/64 7/94 7/94 7/152 6/49 6/60 7.00 100.00
1 NM Lyon 8/50 8/64 7/94 7/94 7/152 6/49 6/60 7.00 100.00
2 R Ashwin 7/59 7/66 7/71 7/83 7/103 7/145 6/31 6.86 97.96
3 KA Maharaj 9/129 7/32 7/40 6/40 5/36 5/59 5/94 6.29 89.80
4 Shakib Al Hasan 7/36 6/33 6/59 6/82 6/99 5/44 5/62 5.86 83.67
4 RA Jadeja 7/42 7/48 6/63 6/138 5/21 5/30 5/41 5.86 83.67

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 PRESENT ERA Rating, i.e. 500 pts.

RANK BOWLER PRO CON ATT BBW RAT PRI PTS
1 R Ashwin 194.72 397.48 297.65 97.96 987.80 493.90
2 NM Lyon 200.00 367.95 271.21 100.00 939.16 469.58
3 RA Jadeja 110.94 393.29 254.34 83.67 842.24 421.12
4 KA Maharaj 59.62 362.92 300.00 89.80 812.34 406.17
5 Shakib Al Hasan 89.43 290.50 241.46 83.67 705.07 352.53

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.

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

CRITERIA POINTS
Home 250.00
Away 1,000.00
Favourable Conditions 250.00
Unfavourable Conditions 1,000.00

HOME/AWAY

HOME/AWAY 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: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 117 363 21.16 45.88 949.85 237.46
2 RA Jadeja 87 213 20.87 53.19 845.07 211.27
3 NM Lyon 126 259 30.88 64.06 843.12 210.78
4 KA Maharaj 45 72 31.36 57.39 766.34 191.59
5 Shakib Al Hasan 76 163 30.93 62.44 659.38 164.85

Away From Home

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 NM Lyon 116 271 29.72 59.67 956.53 956.53
2 R Ashwin 72 153 29.90 62.12 889.54 889.54
3 KA Maharaj 38 86 32.52 63.29 808.26 808.26
4 Shakib Al Hasan 37 74 31.70 65.93 724.05 724.05
5 RA Jadeja 49 81 32.73 72.89 712.25 712.25

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: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 NM Lyon 52 140 30.81 61.84 950.73 237.68
2 KA Maharaj 11 32 37.94 67.94 607.74 151.93

Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 135 413 21.41 45.74 928.41 232.10
2 RA Jadeja 91 226 21.32 53.00 804.19 201.05
3 Shakib Al Hasan 83 174 32.24 64.55 616.68 154.17

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 NM Lyon 190 390 30.10 61.81 950.36 950.36
2 KA Maharaj 72 126 30.48 58.74 839.87 839.87

Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 54 103 33.15 70.58 986.71 986.71
2 Shakib Al Hasan 30 63 28.21 60.73 876.04 876.04
3 RA Jadeja 45 68 33.49 77.26 767.32 767.32

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 PRESENT ERA Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK BOWLER AWAY HOME UC FC TOT CON PTS
1 NM Lyon 956.53 210.78 950.36 237.68 2,355.36 235.54
2 R Ashwin 889.54 237.46 986.71 232.10 2,345.82 234.58
3 KA Maharaj 808.26 191.59 839.87 151.93 1,991.65 199.17
4 Shakib Al Hasan 724.05 164.85 876.04 154.17 1,919.11 191.91
5 RA Jadeja 712.25 211.27 767.32 201.05 1,891.88 189.19

SECONDARY CRITERIA

The Secondary Rating consists of four parts. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points.

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

CRITERIA POINTS
Top Form Home 200.00
Top Form Away 800.00
Wkts Per Inn 500.00
Impact Innings 1,000.00
TOP FORM RATING

Points to note about Top Form Rating:-

  • Top Form is calculated by taking the best 20 consecutive innings of a bowler.
  • There are two TF Ratings used in our PRESENT ERA Rating: Home and Away.

TOP FORM AT HOME

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 20 72 12.56 32.56 966.67 193.33
2 RA Jadeja 20 59 15.83 44.97 795.75 159.15
3 NM Lyon 20 47 22.26 52.57 719.90 143.98
4 Shakib Al Hasan 20 47 22.70 49.87 679.56 135.91
5 KA Maharaj 20 37 29.05 51.59 665.75 133.15

TOP FORM AWAY

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 20 57 21.67 41.98 952.19 761.76
2 NM Lyon 20 66 22.30 45.98 935.88 748.71
3 KA Maharaj 20 52 26.29 53.21 836.17 668.93
4 Shakib Al Hasan 20 47 28.04 57.17 734.22 587.37
5 RA Jadeja 20 45 26.80 52.67 719.40 575.52

WKTS/INN

WKTS/INN RATING

Points to note:-

  • This rating gives points for wkts taken per inn.
  • All Teams, Top Teams and Top 7 Batsmen are the criteria used.

Min Innings: 25

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS WKTS/INN RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 189 516 2.73 1,000.00 500.00
2 RA Jadeja 136 294 2.16 834.77 417.38
3 NM Lyon 242 530 2.19 810.77 405.39
4 Shakib Al Hasan 113 237 2.10 798.85 399.42
5 KA Maharaj 83 158 1.90 713.17 356.59

IMPACT INNINGS

Impact Innings (II)

Impact Innings 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 takes equal to or more wickets than 5.
  • A Bowler equal to or more wickets than 3 at a good AVE or SR.
  • 1st and 2nd; and 3rd and 4th inns are clubbed together.
  • The AVE should be less than 80% of the AVE of the better innings or
  • The SR should be less than 80% of the SR of the better innings.

Min Innings: 25

RANK BOWLER INNS II II Perc RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 189 61 32.28 910.23 910.23
2 NM Lyon 242 61 25.21 870.97 870.97
3 Shakib Al Hasan 113 32 28.32 852.60 852.60
4 RA Jadeja 136 37 27.21 727.32 727.32
5 KA Maharaj 83 13 15.66 472.15 472.15

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 PRESENT ERA Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK BOWLER TF HM TF AW WPI II TOT SEC RAT
1 R Ashwin 193.33 761.76 500.00 910.23 2,365.32 236.53
2 NM Lyon 143.98 748.71 405.39 870.97 2,169.04 216.90
3 Shakib Al Hasan 135.91 587.37 399.42 852.60 1,975.31 197.53
4 RA Jadeja 159.15 575.52 417.38 727.32 1,879.37 187.94
5 KA Maharaj 133.15 668.93 356.59 472.15 1,630.82 163.08

PRESENT ERA RATING

PRESENT ERA 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 R Ashwin IND 493.90 234.58 236.53 965.01
2 NM Lyon AUS 469.58 235.54 216.90 922.02
3 RA Jadeja IND 421.12 189.19 187.94 798.25
4 KA Maharaj SA 406.17 199.17 163.08 768.42
5 Shakib Al Hasan BAN 352.53 191.91 197.53 741.98

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 PAK AUS ENG 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 ENG SA IND

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