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 2024 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 2025-02-15

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 253 553 200.00
1 NM Lyon AUS 253 553 200.00
2 R Ashwin IND 200 537 194.21
3 RA Jadeja IND 150 323 116.82
4 KA Maharaj SA 96 198 71.61
5 JA Warrican WI 34 73 26.40

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 24.11 200.00
1 R Ashwin 200 12891 537 24.01 25.18 191.56
2 KA Maharaj 96 5878 198 29.69 25.28 190.79
3 RA Jadeja 150 7798 323 24.14 25.75 187.27
4 NM Lyon 253 16699 553 30.20 27.25 176.97
5 JA Warrican 34 2012 73 27.56 28.07 171.84

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS R Ashwin 146 9535 388 24.57 25.77 200.00
1 R Ashwin 146 9535 388 24.57 25.77 200.00
2 JA Warrican 23 1433 54 26.54 27.02 190.76
3 RA Jadeja 112 6155 237 25.97 27.70 186.08
4 NM Lyon 219 14732 473 31.15 28.11 183.39
5 KA Maharaj 68 4410 131 33.66 28.66 179.83

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 96 11350 198 57.32 60.03 300.00
1 KA Maharaj 96 11350 198 57.32 60.03 300.00
2 R Ashwin 200 27241 537 50.73 62.87 286.45
3 JA Warrican 34 3956 73 54.19 66.03 272.76
4 NM Lyon 253 34103 553 61.67 67.59 266.46
5 RA Jadeja 150 18473 323 57.19 71.90 250.46

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 5/59 6.29 89.80
4 RA Jadeja 7/42 7/48 6/63 6/138 5/21 5/30 5/41 5.86 83.67
5 JA Warrican 7/32 5/27 4/43 4/50 4/62 4/67 4/69 4.57 65.31

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 194.21 391.56 286.45 97.96 970.18 485.09
2 NM Lyon 200.00 360.36 266.46 100.00 926.82 463.41
3 KA Maharaj 71.61 370.61 300.00 89.80 832.02 416.01
4 RA Jadeja 116.82 373.35 250.46 83.67 824.31 412.15
5 JA Warrican 26.40 362.59 272.76 65.31 727.06 363.53

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 127 383 21.57 46.03 937.38 234.35
2 RA Jadeja 97 238 20.71 51.22 834.90 208.72
3 NM Lyon 133 268 31.08 64.65 832.01 208.00
4 KA Maharaj 50 86 30.43 56.86 759.81 189.95
5 JA Warrican 9 13 33.00 67.38 500.00 125.00

Away From Home

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 NM Lyon 120 285 29.36 58.86 864.48 864.48
2 R Ashwin 73 154 30.05 62.42 794.85 794.85
3 KA Maharaj 46 112 29.12 57.68 762.48 762.48
4 JA Warrican 25 60 26.38 51.33 721.44 721.44
5 RA Jadeja 53 85 33.75 73.91 623.68 623.68

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 56 154 30.06 60.15 908.43 227.11
2 JA Warrican 21 55 21.87 47.60 729.92 182.48
3 KA Maharaj 15 45 32.64 59.80 619.03 154.76

Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 145 433 21.76 45.87 931.30 232.83
2 RA Jadeja 101 251 21.13 51.16 810.10 202.52

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 NM Lyon 197 399 30.25 62.26 942.85 942.85
2 KA Maharaj 81 153 28.82 56.59 872.88 872.88
3 JA Warrican 13 18 44.94 74.33 541.66 541.66

Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 55 104 33.34 70.94 976.59 976.59
2 RA Jadeja 49 72 34.65 78.22 758.50 758.50

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 864.48 208.00 942.85 227.11 2,242.44 224.24
2 R Ashwin 794.85 234.35 976.59 232.83 2,238.62 223.86
3 KA Maharaj 762.48 189.95 872.88 154.76 1,980.08 198.01
4 RA Jadeja 623.68 208.72 758.50 202.52 1,793.43 179.34
5 JA Warrican 721.44 125.00 541.66 182.48 1,570.58 157.06

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 32.56 918.43 183.69
2 RA Jadeja 20 59 15.83 44.97 753.19 150.64
3 NM Lyon 20 47 22.26 52.57 695.15 139.03
4 KA Maharaj 20 41 28.95 57.24 672.17 134.43
5 JA Warrican 9 13 33.00 67.38 377.31 75.46

TOP FORM AWAY

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 NM Lyon 20 68 21.09 42.87 933.67 746.94
2 R Ashwin 20 57 21.67 41.98 921.17 736.93
3 KA Maharaj 20 52 26.29 53.21 782.90 626.32
4 JA Warrican 20 51 22.27 47.80 766.33 613.07
5 RA Jadeja 20 45 26.80 52.67 696.88 557.50

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 200 537 2.69 784.08 392.04
2 JA Warrican 34 73 2.15 647.33 323.67
3 NM Lyon 253 553 2.19 636.01 318.01
4 RA Jadeja 150 323 2.15 621.09 310.54
5 KA Maharaj 96 198 2.06 581.89 290.94

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 2 at a good AVE or SR.
  • 1st and 2nd; and 3rd and 4th inns are clubbed together.
  • The AVE should be less than 70% of the AVE of the better innings or
  • The SR should be less than 70% of the SR of the better innings.

Min Innings: 25

RANK BOWLER INNS II II Perc RAT WTG
1 R Ashwin 200 88 44.00 995.56 995.56
2 NM Lyon 253 90 35.57 871.44 871.44
3 RA Jadeja 150 66 44.00 851.67 851.67
4 JA Warrican 34 12 35.29 745.63 745.63
5 KA Maharaj 96 30 31.25 659.50 659.50

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 183.69 736.93 392.04 995.56 2,308.22 230.82
2 NM Lyon 139.03 746.94 318.01 871.44 2,075.42 207.54
3 RA Jadeja 150.64 557.50 310.54 851.67 1,870.35 187.04
4 JA Warrican 75.46 613.07 323.67 745.63 1,757.83 175.78
5 KA Maharaj 134.43 626.32 290.94 659.50 1,711.20 171.12

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 485.09 223.86 230.82 939.77
2 NM Lyon AUS 463.41 224.24 207.54 895.20
3 KA Maharaj SA 416.01 198.01 171.12 785.14
4 RA Jadeja IND 412.15 179.34 187.04 778.53
5 JA Warrican WI 363.53 157.06 175.78 696.37

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 NZ ENG
1970s PAK ENG IND WI SA
1980s PAK WI ENG NZ IND
1990s IND PAK SA AUS SL WI
2000s AUS IND SL PAK SA ENG
2010s IND PAK SL ENG NZ SA
2020s IND AUS PAK NZ ENG SL

Top Teams Outside Asia

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

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