Tests Decades - Best Spin Bowlers In 1980s Featured

Top Test Spin 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 Spin 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 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. 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 Abdul Qadir PAK 94 216 200.00
1 Abdul Qadir PAK 94 216 200.00
2 RJ Shastri IND 109 141 130.56
3 Iqbal Qasim PAK 57 131 121.30
4 JE Emburey ENG 86 120 111.11
5 B Yardley AUS 33 89 82.41
6 JG Bracewell NZ 57 82 75.93
7 DR Doshi IND 36 74 68.52
8 SL Boock NZ 35 57 52.78
9 NGB Cook ENG 25 52 48.15
10 RA Harper WI 37 45 41.67

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 Iqbal Qasim 57 3274 131 24.99 24.88 200.00
1 RA Harper 37 1252 45 27.82 22.52 200.00
2 Iqbal Qasim 57 3274 131 24.99 24.88 200.00
3 B Yardley 33 2549 89 28.64 24.99 199.12
4 NGB Cook 25 1689 52 32.48 29.47 168.85
5 Abdul Qadir 94 6980 216 32.31 30.38 163.82
6 SL Boock 35 2008 57 35.23 30.84 161.38
7 DR Doshi 36 2542 74 34.35 31.08 160.12
8 JG Bracewell 57 3057 82 37.28 32.82 151.65
9 JE Emburey 86 4759 120 39.66 33.84 147.06
10 RJ Shastri 109 5572 141 39.52 35.91 138.60

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS Iqbal Qasim 37 2210 95 23.26 23.16 200.00
1 RA Harper 34 1115 44 25.34 20.51 200.00
2 Iqbal Qasim 37 2210 95 23.26 23.16 200.00
3 B Yardley 27 2158 75 28.77 25.11 184.48
4 Abdul Qadir 66 5309 177 29.99 28.20 164.28
5 NGB Cook 25 1689 52 32.48 29.47 157.16
6 DR Doshi 34 2310 66 35.00 31.67 146.28
7 SL Boock 29 1751 46 38.07 33.32 139.02
8 JG Bracewell 45 2335 59 39.58 34.84 132.97
9 JE Emburey 73 4270 103 41.46 35.38 130.95
10 RJ Shastri 99 5188 130 39.91 36.26 127.75

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 B Yardley 33 5378 89 60.43 50.87 300.00
1 B Yardley 33 5378 89 60.43 50.87 300.00
2 RA Harper 37 3465 45 77.00 59.04 258.50
3 Abdul Qadir 94 15176 216 70.26 62.83 242.88
4 Iqbal Qasim 57 8810 131 67.25 63.68 239.67
5 NGB Cook 25 4174 52 80.27 69.30 220.22
6 SL Boock 35 4791 57 84.05 70.84 215.44
7 JG Bracewell 57 7027 82 85.70 71.10 214.64
8 DR Doshi 36 6503 74 87.88 73.58 207.42
9 JE Emburey 86 12896 120 107.47 86.37 176.69
10 RJ Shastri 109 14528 141 103.04 88.04 173.34

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 Abdul Qadir 9/56 7/96 7/142 6/16 6/160 5/44 5/74 6.43 100.00
1 Abdul Qadir 9/56 7/96 7/142 6/16 6/160 5/44 5/74 6.43 100.00
2 B Yardley 7/98 7/187 6/84 5/88 5/107 5/132 4/38 5.57 86.67
2 Iqbal Qasim 7/49 6/89 6/141 5/35 5/48 5/78 5/83 5.57 86.67
4 JE Emburey 7/78 6/33 5/78 5/80 5/82 5/124 4/43 5.29 82.22
5 JG Bracewell 6/32 6/51 5/75 4/61 4/74 4/77 4/108 4.71 73.33
5 DR Doshi 6/102 5/39 5/85 5/90 4/69 4/81 4/175 4.71 73.33
7 NGB Cook 6/65 5/18 5/35 5/63 4/87 3/87 3/90 4.43 68.89
8 RJ Shastri 5/75 5/125 4/11 4/43 4/45 4/69 4/71 4.29 66.67
8 SL Boock 7/87 5/28 5/117 4/83 3/25 3/32 3/76 4.29 66.67
10 RA Harper 6/57 4/43 4/56 3/10 3/47 3/50 2/9 3.57 55.56

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 Abdul Qadir 200.00 328.11 242.88 100.00 870.99 435.49
2 B Yardley 82.41 383.60 300.00 86.67 852.68 426.34
3 Iqbal Qasim 121.30 400.00 239.67 86.67 847.63 423.81
4 RA Harper 41.67 400.00 258.50 55.56 755.72 377.86
5 NGB Cook 48.15 326.01 220.22 68.89 663.27 331.63
6 DR Doshi 68.52 306.41 207.42 73.33 655.68 327.84
7 JG Bracewell 75.93 284.63 214.64 73.33 648.52 324.26
8 JE Emburey 111.11 278.00 176.69 82.22 648.03 324.01
9 RJ Shastri 130.56 266.35 173.34 66.67 636.92 318.46
10 SL Boock 52.78 300.39 215.44 66.67 635.28 317.64

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 Abdul Qadir 55 150 26.11 59.16 932.61 233.15
2 B Yardley 24 67 27.81 60.78 881.37 220.34
3 Iqbal Qasim 40 99 23.28 63.35 814.64 203.66
4 RA Harper 12 16 25.63 79.50 728.17 182.04
5 DR Doshi 18 37 26.89 76.51 696.22 174.05
6 NGB Cook 13 27 31.63 74.26 634.26 158.57
7 JG Bracewell 15 30 30.70 79.80 625.36 156.34
8 JE Emburey 48 58 39.26 106.21 563.59 140.90
9 RJ Shastri 61 73 38.93 102.32 561.87 140.47
10 SL Boock 15 24 36.63 85.63 548.78 137.19

Away From Home

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 RA Harper 25 29 29.03 75.62 839.82 839.82
2 Iqbal Qasim 17 32 30.28 79.31 834.65 834.65
3 JE Emburey 38 62 40.03 108.65 771.48 771.48
4 RJ Shastri 48 68 40.15 103.81 761.26 761.26
5 Abdul Qadir 39 66 46.41 95.48 749.36 749.36
6 SL Boock 20 33 34.21 82.91 732.36 732.36
7 JG Bracewell 42 52 41.08 89.10 722.40 722.40
8 NGB Cook 12 25 33.40 86.76 695.28 695.28
9 DR Doshi 18 37 41.81 99.24 661.53 661.53
10 B Yardley 9 22 31.18 59.36 500.00 500.00

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

Favourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 SL Boock 12 28 24.57 63.04 982.61 245.65
2 NGB Cook 10 21 30.43 77.71 799.68 199.92
3 JE Emburey 10 19 29.53 84.32 769.69 192.42
4 JG Bracewell 14 18 44.61 86.94 620.55 155.14
5 B Yardley 5 9 41.67 69.33 481.76 120.44
6 RA Harper 7 3 68.67 197.67 244.29 61.07

Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 Abdul Qadir 63 159 27.25 60.85 985.04 246.26
2 Iqbal Qasim 51 117 24.91 66.84 900.02 225.01
3 DR Doshi 23 45 32.96 81.02 680.53 170.13
4 RJ Shastri 75 86 42.58 109.69 577.65 144.41

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 B Yardley 28 80 27.18 59.43 908.65 908.65
2 RA Harper 30 42 24.90 68.38 830.80 830.80
3 JE Emburey 76 101 41.56 111.82 676.54 676.54
4 JG Bracewell 43 64 35.22 85.34 668.23 668.23
5 NGB Cook 15 31 33.87 82.00 589.38 589.38
6 SL Boock 23 29 45.52 104.34 485.40 485.40

Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 RJ Shastri 34 55 34.73 92.64 911.23 911.23
2 Abdul Qadir 31 57 46.44 96.51 867.99 867.99
3 DR Doshi 13 29 36.52 98.52 712.66 712.66
4 Iqbal Qasim 6 14 25.64 70.71 673.68 673.68

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 Abdul Qadir 749.36 233.15 867.99 246.26 2,096.75 209.68
2 RJ Shastri 761.26 140.47 911.23 144.41 1,957.37 195.74
3 Iqbal Qasim 834.65 203.66 673.68 225.01 1,937.00 193.70
4 RA Harper 839.82 182.04 830.80 61.07 1,913.73 191.37
5 JE Emburey 771.48 140.90 676.54 192.42 1,781.34 178.13
6 B Yardley 500.00 220.34 908.65 120.44 1,749.43 174.94
7 DR Doshi 661.53 174.05 712.66 170.13 1,718.38 171.84
8 JG Bracewell 722.40 156.34 668.23 155.14 1,702.10 170.21
9 NGB Cook 695.28 158.57 589.38 199.92 1,643.15 164.32
10 SL Boock 732.36 137.19 485.40 245.65 1,600.60 160.06

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 Abdul Qadir 30 103 21.68 54.11 883.84 441.92
2 B Yardley 24 67 27.81 60.78 776.38 388.19
3 Iqbal Qasim 30 77 21.61 60.27 751.30 375.65
4 DR Doshi 18 37 26.89 76.51 566.52 283.26
5 RA Harper 12 16 25.63 79.50 551.36 275.68
6 JE Emburey 30 44 31.66 88.45 541.88 270.94
7 JG Bracewell 15 30 30.70 79.80 538.90 269.45
8 NGB Cook 13 27 31.63 74.26 506.20 253.10
9 RJ Shastri 30 36 35.78 94.17 472.61 236.31
10 SL Boock 15 24 36.63 85.63 432.90 216.45

TOP FORM AWAY

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 JE Emburey 30 57 35.11 91.35 931.89 931.89
2 Abdul Qadir 30 51 45.65 94.76 798.64 798.64
3 RJ Shastri 30 52 38.63 101.98 795.54 795.54
4 Iqbal Qasim 17 32 30.28 79.31 781.91 781.91
5 RA Harper 25 29 29.03 75.62 774.69 774.69
6 SL Boock 20 33 34.21 82.91 755.04 755.04
7 JG Bracewell 30 42 38.57 85.17 732.99 732.99
8 DR Doshi 18 37 41.81 99.24 698.37 698.37
9 NGB Cook 12 25 33.40 86.76 679.74 679.74
10 B Yardley 9 22 31.18 59.36 678.43 678.43

TOP 7 VICTIMS

Min Innings: 25

RANK BOWLER INNS T7 WKTS PERC WT/IN T7 RAT WTG
1 DR Doshi 36 49 66.22 1.36 830.12 830.12
2 Abdul Qadir 94 123 56.94 1.31 819.08 819.08
3 B Yardley 33 51 57.30 1.55 808.09 808.09
4 NGB Cook 25 34 65.38 1.36 791.18 791.18
5 JE Emburey 86 79 65.83 0.92 724.98 724.98
6 RJ Shastri 109 97 68.79 0.89 717.45 717.45
7 Iqbal Qasim 57 69 52.67 1.21 635.08 635.08
8 RA Harper 37 32 71.11 0.86 592.72 592.72
9 SL Boock 35 34 59.65 0.97 573.62 573.62
10 JG Bracewell 57 43 52.44 0.75 523.27 523.27

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 Abdul Qadir 441.92 798.64 819.08 2,059.65 205.96
2 JE Emburey 270.94 931.89 724.98 1,927.81 192.78
3 B Yardley 388.19 678.43 808.09 1,874.71 187.47
4 DR Doshi 283.26 698.37 830.12 1,811.75 181.17
5 Iqbal Qasim 375.65 781.91 635.08 1,792.65 179.27
6 RJ Shastri 236.31 795.54 717.45 1,749.30 174.93
7 NGB Cook 253.10 679.74 791.18 1,724.02 172.40
8 RA Harper 275.68 774.69 592.72 1,643.09 164.31
9 SL Boock 216.45 755.04 573.62 1,545.11 154.51
10 JG Bracewell 269.45 732.99 523.27 1,525.71 152.57

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 Abdul Qadir PAK 435.49 209.68 205.96 851.14
2 Iqbal Qasim PAK 423.81 193.70 179.27 796.78
3 B Yardley AUS 426.34 174.94 187.47 788.75
4 RA Harper WI 377.86 191.37 164.31 733.54
5 JE Emburey ENG 324.01 178.13 192.78 694.93
6 RJ Shastri IND 318.46 195.74 174.93 689.13
7 DR Doshi IND 327.84 171.84 181.17 680.85
8 NGB Cook ENG 331.63 164.32 172.40 668.35
9 JG Bracewell NZ 324.26 170.21 152.57 647.04
10 SL Boock NZ 317.64 160.06 154.51 632.21

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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