Tests Decades - Best Spin Bowlers In 2000s Featured

Top Test Spin Bowler of the Decade (2000 – 2009)

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This Rating takes into account only the matches played in the 2000s. 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 2000s.

*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 M Muralitharan SL 154 565 200.00
1 M Muralitharan SL 154 565 200.00
2 SK Warne AUS 127 357 126.37
3 A Kumble IND 133 355 125.66
4 Harbhajan Singh IND 132 322 113.98
5 Danish Kaneria PAK 102 245 86.73
6 DL Vettori NZ 112 222 78.58
7 SCG MacGill AUS 64 149 52.74
8 Saqlain Mushtaq PAK 44 101 35.75
9 PL Harris SA 43 79 27.96
10 GP Swann ENG 25 62 21.95

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 M Muralitharan 154 11849 565 20.97 22.30 200.00
1 M Muralitharan 154 11849 565 20.97 22.30 200.00
2 SK Warne 127 8986 357 25.17 24.21 184.23
3 GP Swann 25 1824 62 29.42 26.04 171.32
4 A Kumble 133 11014 355 31.03 29.58 150.79
5 PL Harris 43 2635 79 33.35 29.77 149.83
6 SCG MacGill 64 4662 149 31.29 29.81 149.62
7 Harbhajan Singh 132 9763 322 30.32 29.84 149.46
8 Saqlain Mushtaq 44 3087 101 30.56 31.27 142.64
9 DL Vettori 112 7359 222 33.15 31.77 140.38
10 Danish Kaneria 102 8291 245 33.84 31.93 139.70

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS SK Warne 106 7567 300 25.22 24.26 200.00
1 SK Warne 106 7567 300 25.22 24.26 200.00
2 M Muralitharan 97 8194 344 23.82 25.33 191.56
3 GP Swann 16 1248 36 34.67 30.68 158.16
4 A Kumble 101 8737 269 32.48 30.97 156.69
5 PL Harris 33 2301 66 34.86 31.12 155.93
6 Harbhajan Singh 98 7656 241 31.77 31.27 155.18
7 Saqlain Mushtaq 23 2061 60 34.35 35.14 138.07
8 Danish Kaneria 77 6598 177 37.28 35.17 137.96
9 SCG MacGill 22 1807 44 41.07 39.13 124.00
10 DL Vettori 69 5103 116 43.99 42.17 115.08

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 SK Warne 127 18129 357 50.78 55.83 300.00
1 SK Warne 127 18129 357 50.78 55.83 300.00
2 M Muralitharan 154 28787 565 50.95 58.57 285.97
3 GP Swann 25 3711 62 59.85 61.43 272.69
4 SCG MacGill 64 8426 149 56.55 62.06 269.89
5 A Kumble 133 22649 355 63.80 68.26 245.41
6 Harbhajan Singh 132 20707 322 64.31 69.89 239.66
7 Danish Kaneria 102 16517 245 67.42 71.55 234.11
8 PL Harris 43 5686 79 71.97 75.48 221.92
9 Saqlain Mushtaq 44 7112 101 70.42 78.47 213.46
10 DL Vettori 112 16552 222 74.56 80.33 208.52

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 M Muralitharan 9/51 8/46 8/70 8/87 7/46 7/84 7/97 7.71 100.00
1 M Muralitharan 9/51 8/46 8/70 8/87 7/46 7/84 7/97 7.71 100.00
2 Harbhajan Singh 8/84 7/48 7/62 7/87 7/123 7/133 6/62 7.00 90.74
3 A Kumble 8/141 7/48 7/63 7/115 6/72 6/72 6/78 6.71 87.04
4 Danish Kaneria 7/77 7/118 7/168 7/188 6/42 6/52 6/150 6.57 85.19
5 SK Warne 7/94 7/165 6/33 6/46 6/80 6/86 6/122 6.29 81.48
5 DL Vettori 7/87 7/130 6/28 6/56 6/70 6/87 6/100 6.29 81.48
7 SCG MacGill 8/108 7/104 5/43 5/56 5/65 5/75 5/77 5.71 74.07
8 Saqlain Mushtaq 8/164 7/66 5/35 5/121 4/24 4/46 4/48 5.29 68.52
9 GP Swann 5/54 5/57 5/110 5/165 4/38 4/87 4/110 4.57 59.26
10 PL Harris 6/127 5/73 5/123 4/35 4/46 4/129 3/34 4.43 57.41

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 M Muralitharan 200.00 391.56 285.97 100.00 977.53 488.76
2 SK Warne 126.37 384.23 300.00 81.48 892.09 446.04
3 A Kumble 125.66 307.48 245.41 87.04 765.58 382.79
4 Harbhajan Singh 113.98 304.65 239.66 90.74 749.03 374.51
5 Danish Kaneria 86.73 277.66 234.11 85.19 683.68 341.84
6 GP Swann 21.95 329.48 272.69 59.26 683.38 341.69
7 SCG MacGill 52.74 273.62 269.89 74.07 670.33 335.17
8 DL Vettori 78.58 255.46 208.52 81.48 624.04 312.02
9 PL Harris 27.96 305.76 221.92 57.41 613.05 306.53
10 Saqlain Mushtaq 35.75 280.72 213.46 68.52 598.45 299.22

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 M Muralitharan 93 364 17.99 47.81 990.84 247.71
2 Harbhajan Singh 75 214 26.90 59.91 778.26 194.57
3 A Kumble 62 187 27.96 63.60 733.05 183.26
4 SK Warne 56 131 29.52 61.89 682.94 170.73
5 SCG MacGill 44 103 30.35 56.97 645.86 161.47
6 PL Harris 23 41 30.59 65.80 627.27 156.82
7 GP Swann 12 21 32.67 59.81 610.39 152.60
8 Danish Kaneria 50 116 34.51 70.45 602.25 150.56
9 DL Vettori 59 97 35.95 80.05 539.71 134.93
10 Saqlain Mushtaq 19 41 33.56 77.73 518.83 129.71

Away From Home

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 SK Warne 71 226 22.65 44.34 996.97 996.97
2 M Muralitharan 61 201 26.36 56.64 846.21 846.21
3 A Kumble 71 168 34.43 64.02 732.96 732.96
4 Danish Kaneria 52 129 33.24 64.69 706.13 706.13
5 GP Swann 13 41 27.76 59.88 677.99 677.99
6 DL Vettori 53 125 30.98 70.30 658.65 658.65
7 SCG MacGill 20 46 33.39 55.61 613.71 613.71
8 Saqlain Mushtaq 25 60 28.52 65.42 609.21 609.21
9 Harbhajan Singh 57 108 37.09 73.02 599.41 599.41
10 PL Harris 20 38 36.34 78.63 539.13 539.13

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

Favourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 SK Warne 27 88 23.74 45.78 1,000.00 250.00
2 DL Vettori 18 53 25.74 62.02 785.86 196.47
3 SCG MacGill 8 21 25.38 41.76 646.69 161.67
4 PL Harris 8 20 32.80 72.60 559.13 139.78
5 GP Swann 4 8 39.50 75.38 500.00 125.00

Asians In Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 120 453 19.95 49.65 1,000.00 250.00
2 Harbhajan Singh 91 238 29.49 63.42 763.68 190.92
3 A Kumble 83 234 29.47 63.38 750.72 187.68
4 Danish Kaneria 71 175 33.29 66.17 682.62 170.65
5 Saqlain Mushtaq 25 56 29.55 67.23 598.71 149.68

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 SK Warne 100 269 25.64 52.42 960.56 960.56
2 GP Swann 21 54 27.93 57.56 738.77 738.77
3 SCG MacGill 56 128 32.26 58.98 713.69 713.69
4 DL Vettori 94 169 35.47 78.49 671.50 671.50
5 PL Harris 35 59 33.54 71.76 633.02 633.02

Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 M Muralitharan 34 112 25.09 56.21 894.72 894.72
2 A Kumble 50 121 34.04 64.62 833.84 833.84
3 Harbhajan Singh 41 84 32.67 66.83 704.39 704.39
4 Danish Kaneria 31 70 35.23 70.53 671.53 671.53
5 Saqlain Mushtaq 19 45 31.82 74.38 577.10 577.10

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 SK Warne 996.97 170.73 960.56 250.00 2,378.27 237.83
2 M Muralitharan 846.21 247.71 894.72 250.00 2,238.64 223.86
3 A Kumble 732.96 183.26 833.84 187.68 1,937.73 193.77
4 Danish Kaneria 706.13 150.56 671.53 170.65 1,698.88 169.89
5 GP Swann 677.99 152.60 738.77 125.00 1,694.35 169.44
6 Harbhajan Singh 599.41 194.57 704.39 190.92 1,689.28 168.93
7 DL Vettori 658.65 134.93 671.50 196.47 1,661.54 166.15
8 SCG MacGill 613.71 161.47 713.69 161.67 1,650.54 165.05
9 PL Harris 539.13 156.82 633.02 139.78 1,468.75 146.88
10 Saqlain Mushtaq 609.21 129.71 577.10 149.68 1,465.70 146.57

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 M Muralitharan 30 121 14.60 35.77 988.57 494.29
2 Harbhajan Singh 30 104 21.53 51.83 835.61 417.80
3 A Kumble 30 105 24.58 56.30 783.10 391.55
4 SK Warne 30 82 23.73 52.20 706.71 353.36
5 SCG MacGill 30 85 27.06 51.46 702.66 351.33
6 Danish Kaneria 30 74 28.64 60.96 658.77 329.39
7 DL Vettori 30 55 29.20 68.40 566.96 283.48
8 PL Harris 23 41 30.59 65.80 536.18 268.09
9 GP Swann 12 21 32.67 59.81 471.52 235.76
10 Saqlain Mushtaq 19 41 33.56 77.73 468.99 234.50

TOP FORM AWAY

Min Innings: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE SR RAT WTG
1 SK Warne 30 106 18.91 38.68 982.32 982.32
2 M Muralitharan 30 108 20.70 45.06 949.22 949.22
3 DL Vettori 30 80 24.40 57.31 775.43 775.43
4 A Kumble 30 79 31.68 57.39 734.91 734.91
5 Danish Kaneria 30 76 32.51 61.67 710.18 710.18
6 Saqlain Mushtaq 25 60 28.52 65.42 621.62 621.62
7 GP Swann 13 41 27.76 59.88 617.10 617.10
8 SCG MacGill 20 46 33.39 55.61 604.85 604.85
9 Harbhajan Singh 30 61 36.92 70.00 599.09 599.09
10 PL Harris 20 38 36.34 78.63 485.78 485.78

TOP 7 VICTIMS

Min Innings: 25

RANK BOWLER INNS T7 WKTS PERC WT/IN T7 RAT WTG
1 SK Warne 127 186 52.10 1.46 896.53 896.53
2 M Muralitharan 154 241 42.65 1.56 884.19 884.19
3 A Kumble 133 176 49.58 1.32 715.74 715.74
4 Danish Kaneria 102 121 49.39 1.19 696.42 696.42
5 PL Harris 43 51 64.56 1.19 693.90 693.90
6 Harbhajan Singh 132 156 48.45 1.18 640.97 640.97
7 GP Swann 25 28 45.16 1.12 587.28 587.28
8 Saqlain Mushtaq 44 43 42.57 0.98 483.05 483.05
9 DL Vettori 112 83 37.39 0.74 471.81 471.81
10 SCG MacGill 64 24 16.11 0.38 157.72 157.72

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 M Muralitharan 494.29 949.22 884.19 2,327.69 232.77
2 SK Warne 353.36 982.32 896.53 2,232.21 223.22
3 A Kumble 391.55 734.91 715.74 1,842.19 184.22
4 Danish Kaneria 329.39 710.18 696.42 1,735.98 173.60
5 Harbhajan Singh 417.80 599.09 640.97 1,657.86 165.79
6 DL Vettori 283.48 775.43 471.81 1,530.73 153.07
7 PL Harris 268.09 485.78 693.90 1,447.77 144.78
8 GP Swann 235.76 617.10 587.28 1,440.14 144.01
9 Saqlain Mushtaq 234.50 621.62 483.05 1,339.16 133.92
10 SCG MacGill 351.33 604.85 157.72 1,113.90 111.39

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 M Muralitharan SL 488.76 223.86 232.77 945.40
2 SK Warne AUS 446.04 237.83 223.22 907.09
3 A Kumble IND 382.79 193.77 184.22 760.79
4 Harbhajan Singh IND 374.51 168.93 165.79 709.23
5 Danish Kaneria PAK 341.84 169.89 173.60 685.32
6 GP Swann ENG 341.69 169.44 144.01 655.14
7 DL Vettori NZ 312.02 166.15 153.07 631.25
8 SCG MacGill AUS 335.17 165.05 111.39 611.61
9 PL Harris SA 306.53 146.88 144.78 598.18
10 Saqlain Mushtaq PAK 299.22 146.57 133.92 579.71

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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