Top 25 Test Spin Bowlers In Top Form Away From Home

All Test Ratings on the website are from 01/01/1950 onwards. Our ratings are based on conditions and diverse oppositions. Before the above mentioned date, there were primarily only two teams which dominated cricket. Moreover, matches were of unequal length with some ending in 4 days and some being timeless. Post 1950, West Indies and South Africa grew as test teams. Moreover, Asian teams India and Pakistan started improving after 1950 and became compenent at home at least. Performance in Asia and outside Asia are integral to our overall rating. How the rating works is explained in highlighted sections. So, here are the Top 25 Spin bowlers in their Top Form Away From Home

*Note: All Test Ratings are updated till 2023-01-08

TOP FORM – AWAY Rating

This rating only include stats of Spin bowlers in their Top Form Away From Home. The rating is divided into sections to make it easy to understand how it is calculated. Before each section, its criteria is highlighted in bold. Our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier bowlers may change if current bowlers set new benchmarks. Top Form is calculated by taking the best 30 consecutive innings of a bowler such that his overall points are maximum.

The Trend Setter

The Trend Setter (TS) is the player which does the best in a criteria. The rating of all other players are calculated as percentage points of TS. Let’s taken an example to understand it:-

  • Let’s assume that Glenn McGrath has taken 500 wkts, which is the highest. This makes him the TS.
  • Another player, say Jason Gillespie, has taken 250 wkts.
  • If the rating is out of 250, McGrath will get the full points (pts), that is 250.
  • The points of Gillespie are calculated as His Wkts/McGrath’s Wkts*250. This comes out to be 125.
  • Thus the formula is (Wkts Taken/Wkts Taken By TS)*Max Points.
  • All ratings are calculated similarly with Wkts being replaced by the Criteria Stat.
  • Obviously, for average the formula is reverased as the lower average is better for a bowler.
  • For Average and Strike Rate, a bowler is eligible to be TS only if he has taken a minimum number of wickets, which are mentioned in the qualificaton.
  • Lastly, it is to be noted that it is not necessary for a TS to be part of the rating as he might have topped in a criteria but not done well in others.

QUALIFICATION


Min Innings 20
Min Wickets (TS AVE SR) 50
Min Wickets v/s Top Teams (TS AVE) 25

PROLIFIC


Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

RANK BOWLER NAT FP LP INNS WKTS RAT
TS M Muralitharan SL 2002-11-08 2006-12-15 30 108 250.00
1 M Muralitharan SL 2002-11-08 2006-12-15 30 108 250.00
2 SK Warne AUS 2001-03-18 2004-10-06 30 106 245.37
3 R Benaud AUS 1956-10-19 1960-01-23 30 96 222.22
4 Mushtaq Ahmed PAK 1992-07-23 1998-03-06 30 89 206.02
5 Saeed Ajmal PAK 2010-08-06 2013-09-10 30 84 194.44
5 NM Lyon AUS 2015-07-08 2018-03-01 30 84 194.44
7 Yasir Shah PAK 2015-05-06 2018-12-26 30 83 192.13
7 EAS Prasanna IND 1967-06-08 1976-02-05 30 83 192.13
9 GP Swann ENG 2009-12-26 2012-11-23 30 82 189.81
9 S Ramadhin WI 1950-06-08 1957-06-20 30 82 189.81
11 AL Valentine WI 1950-06-08 1960-12-09 30 81 187.50
12 LR Gibbs WI 1959-03-26 1966-12-31 30 80 185.19
12 DL Vettori NZ 2004-06-03 2008-11-20 30 80 185.19
14 KA Maharaj SA 2017-03-08 2022-08-17 30 79 182.87
15 R Ashwin IND 2015-01-06 2018-08-18 30 78 180.56
15 Saqlain Mushtaq PAK 1999-02-04 2002-11-16 30 78 180.56
15 A Kumble IND 2004-01-02 2006-12-15 30 78 180.56
15 BS Chandrasekhar IND 1971-08-05 1978-11-14 30 78 180.56
19 BS Bedi IND 1971-04-13 1978-10-16 30 77 178.24
20 SCG MacGill AUS 1998-10-01 2008-05-30 30 73 168.98
20 FJ Titmus ENG 1962-12-29 1965-01-22 30 73 168.98
22 DL Underwood ENG 1975-01-04 1981-12-09 30 70 162.04
23 AA Mallett AUS 1968-08-22 1975-08-28 30 67 155.09
24 PR Adams SA 1996-11-20 2003-04-24 30 58 134.26
25 Mushtaq Mohammad PAK 1967-08-24 1979-02-02 30 44 101.85
C Ave

The Comparative Average (C Ave) for bowlers is calculated by taken into account two factors:-

  • First is the average of batsmen in the decades the bowler played.
  • Second is the average of the opposition batsmen at Home, in Asia or outside Asia; whichever is applicable.
  • The average of the opposing team’s batsmen is also calculated by decades.
  • Higher C Ave suggest that more runs were scored by the batsmen in the above mentioned factors.
  • Thus it was difficult to get Wkts and the bowler will benefit from this.
  • Lower C Ave means the opposite.
R Ave

The Relative Average (R Ave) is calculated using the C Ave. Its formula is (Bowler Ave/C Ave)*A Constant Factor. This constant doesn’t affect the rating as it is the same for everone. If your C Ave is comparatively high, your R Ave will be low; which is better for bowlers. Broadly speaking, the following bowlers will benefit from this system:-

  • Bowlers who have played more in unfavourable conditions.
  • Asian fast bowlers and Non-Asian spin bowlers whereever applicable.
  • Bowlers who have played in an era where the batsmen dominated, like the 2000s
  • Bowlers who have played more against top opposition than weaker teams.
Top Teams (TT)

The R Ave Rating is divided into two parts:-

  • One is Overall which gives points for the overall R Ave.
  • The second part is Against Top Teams, which gives points for R Ave against 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.
  • To be a top team, the team should be among the top teams in the specific condition (Asia or outside Asia) or among the top teams of the decade overall.
  • A bowler’s performace is counted in TT if he palyed against it in the specific condition and in the specific decade.
  • The Top Teams may be found in the last section of the rating.

CONSISTENT


Criteria: Points For Relative Average

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE C AVE R AVE RAT
TS SK Warne 30 2004 106 18.91 37.76 17.52 150.00
1 SK Warne 30 2004 106 18.91 37.76 17.52 150.00
2 NM Lyon 30 1965 84 23.39 39.90 20.52 128.07
3 R Benaud 30 1891 96 19.70 33.29 20.71 126.89
4 LR Gibbs 30 1697 80 21.21 35.31 21.03 125.00
5 M Muralitharan 30 2236 108 20.70 34.41 21.06 124.80
6 DL Underwood 30 1549 70 22.13 36.39 21.28 123.51
7 DL Vettori 30 1952 80 24.40 38.54 22.16 118.61
8 GP Swann 30 2290 82 27.93 41.17 23.74 110.69
9 R Ashwin 30 1821 78 23.35 34.25 23.86 110.15
10 Saeed Ajmal 30 2108 84 25.10 35.89 24.47 107.40
11 Mushtaq Ahmed 30 2230 89 25.06 35.80 24.50 107.30
12 Mushtaq Mohammad 30 1052 44 23.91 34.02 24.60 106.85
13 KA Maharaj 30 2297 79 29.08 40.80 24.94 105.37
14 Saqlain Mushtaq 30 1947 78 24.96 34.93 25.01 105.07
15 AA Mallett 30 1787 67 26.67 36.51 25.57 102.81
16 FJ Titmus 30 1900 73 26.03 35.24 25.85 101.69
17 PR Adams 30 1675 58 28.88 38.43 26.30 99.93
18 AL Valentine 30 1971 81 24.33 31.97 26.64 98.67
19 S Ramadhin 30 2092 82 25.51 31.86 28.02 93.79
20 EAS Prasanna 30 2256 83 27.18 33.35 28.53 92.13
21 SCG MacGill 30 2225 73 30.48 36.96 28.86 91.06
22 A Kumble 30 2340 78 30.00 35.44 29.63 88.72
23 BS Chandrasekhar 30 2284 78 29.28 33.87 30.26 86.86
24 BS Bedi 30 2291 77 29.75 33.89 30.72 85.55
25 Yasir Shah 30 2675 83 32.23 35.61 31.68 82.97

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE C AVE R AVE RAT
TS SK Warne 30 2004 106 18.91 37.76 17.52 150.00
1 SK Warne 30 2004 106 18.91 37.76 17.52 150.00
2 R Benaud 30 1891 96 19.70 33.29 20.71 126.89
3 DL Underwood 22 1287 59 21.81 36.39 20.98 125.29
4 LR Gibbs 30 1697 80 21.21 35.31 21.03 125.00
5 M Muralitharan 19 1526 69 22.12 34.41 22.50 116.83
6 Mushtaq Ahmed 19 1357 57 23.81 35.80 23.27 112.93
7 NM Lyon 26 1650 62 26.61 39.90 23.35 112.57
8 GP Swann 26 1886 66 28.58 41.17 24.30 108.18
9 R Ashwin 21 1332 56 23.79 34.25 24.31 108.12
10 Saqlain Mushtaq 16 1235 49 25.20 34.93 25.26 104.06
11 AA Mallett 25 1559 58 26.88 36.51 25.76 102.01
12 FJ Titmus 30 1900 73 26.03 35.24 25.85 101.69
13 KA Maharaj 26 2185 70 31.21 40.80 26.78 98.15
14 AL Valentine 19 1535 58 26.47 31.97 28.97 90.72
15 SCG MacGill 15 996 32 31.13 36.96 29.47 89.17
16 EAS Prasanna 27 2054 72 28.53 33.35 29.94 87.78
17 Saeed Ajmal 16 1167 38 30.71 35.89 29.95 87.76
18 PR Adams 19 1097 33 33.24 38.43 30.27 86.82
19 BS Bedi 28 2169 73 29.71 33.89 30.68 85.66
20 BS Chandrasekhar 26 1990 67 29.70 33.87 30.69 85.63
21 Mushtaq Mohammad 25 843 27 31.22 34.02 32.12 81.82
22 A Kumble 14 1353 41 33.00 35.44 32.59 80.65
23 S Ramadhin 19 1610 50 32.20 31.86 35.37 74.31
24 DL Vettori 19 1378 35 39.37 38.54 35.75 73.51
25 Yasir Shah 22 1995 51 39.12 35.61 38.45 68.36
C SR And R SR

The Comparative Strike Rate (C SR) and Relative Strike Rate (R SR) for bowlers is calculated using the same method as in C Ave and R Ave with average replaced with SR. Points to note are:-

  • Bowlers from the earlier era benefit from R SR.
  • This is because more balls were taken to get a Wkt back then as batsmen had better defensive technique.
  • Rest of the factors are the same as in R Ave

ATTACKING


Criteria: Points For R SR or Relative Balls/Wkt

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS WKTS SR C SR R SR RAT
TS SK Warne 30 4100 106 38.68 81.64 37.90 250.00
1 SK Warne 30 4100 106 38.68 81.64 37.90 250.00
2 M Muralitharan 30 4867 108 45.06 73.67 48.93 193.64
3 NM Lyon 30 3908 84 46.52 75.76 49.13 192.89
4 Mushtaq Mohammad 30 2420 44 55.00 87.14 50.49 187.67
5 DL Underwood 30 4176 70 59.66 91.40 52.22 181.47
6 R Ashwin 30 3499 78 44.86 66.52 53.95 175.64
7 BS Chandrasekhar 30 4596 78 58.92 86.59 54.44 174.06
8 SCG MacGill 30 3927 73 53.79 77.32 55.66 170.25
9 Mushtaq Ahmed 30 5033 89 56.55 80.98 55.87 169.61
10 R Benaud 30 5946 96 61.94 87.84 56.41 167.98
11 A Kumble 30 4322 78 55.41 76.05 58.29 162.56
12 PR Adams 30 3532 58 60.90 83.38 58.43 162.18
13 DL Vettori 30 4585 80 57.31 78.33 58.54 161.88
14 KA Maharaj 30 4501 79 56.97 77.30 58.97 160.70
15 LR Gibbs 30 5441 80 68.01 91.90 59.20 160.05
16 EAS Prasanna 30 5332 83 64.24 86.57 59.37 159.62
17 GP Swann 30 4773 82 58.21 76.35 60.99 155.37
18 AA Mallett 30 4867 67 72.64 92.77 62.64 151.26
19 Saqlain Mushtaq 30 4790 78 61.41 75.69 64.91 145.99
20 Saeed Ajmal 30 4750 84 56.55 69.65 64.95 145.90
21 Yasir Shah 30 4830 83 58.19 68.93 67.54 140.31
22 BS Bedi 30 5693 77 73.94 86.52 68.36 138.61
23 FJ Titmus 30 6014 73 82.38 93.10 70.79 133.85
24 AL Valentine 30 6512 81 80.40 87.53 73.48 128.96
25 S Ramadhin 30 6740 82 82.20 86.65 75.88 124.87
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.

BEST BOWLING (WKTS)


Criteria: Points For Wkts Taken In Top 7 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 BBW RAT
TS M Muralitharan 8/70 7/100 6/45 6/54 6/86 6/87 5/79 6.29 100.00
1 M Muralitharan 8/70 7/100 6/45 6/54 6/86 6/87 5/79 6.29 100.00
2 Yasir Shah 7/76 7/94 6/63 6/72 6/96 5/71 5/78 6.00 95.45
3 SK Warne 7/94 7/165 6/33 6/161 5/43 5/65 5/71 5.86 93.18
4 BS Chandrasekhar 6/38 6/52 6/52 6/94 6/120 5/136 5/153 5.71 90.91
4 NM Lyon 8/50 7/94 6/60 6/82 5/92 4/53 4/75 5.71 90.91
6 EAS Prasanna 8/76 6/94 6/104 6/141 5/32 4/40 4/44 5.57 88.64
6 S Ramadhin 7/49 6/23 6/86 5/46 5/66 5/86 5/90 5.57 88.64
6 AL Valentine 8/104 6/39 6/102 5/32 5/88 5/99 4/48 5.57 88.64
9 R Benaud 7/72 6/52 5/43 5/49 5/53 5/76 5/82 5.43 86.36
9 Mushtaq Ahmed 7/56 6/78 6/78 5/57 5/95 5/115 4/83 5.43 86.36
9 Saeed Ajmal 7/95 6/42 6/96 5/69 5/82 5/146 4/23 5.43 86.36
9 DL Vettori 6/28 6/70 6/100 5/59 5/66 5/66 5/69 5.43 86.36
13 R Ashwin 7/83 6/46 5/42 5/52 5/69 5/87 4/62 5.29 84.09
13 LR Gibbs 6/39 6/98 5/37 5/51 5/59 5/66 5/69 5.29 84.09
13 GP Swann 6/82 6/106 5/54 5/90 5/91 5/127 5/144 5.29 84.09
13 Saqlain Mushtaq 7/66 6/46 5/35 5/94 5/121 5/122 4/24 5.29 84.09
17 A Kumble 8/141 6/72 6/78 4/47 4/55 4/107 4/138 5.14 81.82
17 KA Maharaj 9/129 6/40 5/36 5/94 4/58 4/85 3/21 5.14 81.82
17 FJ Titmus 7/79 6/73 5/66 5/103 5/116 4/43 4/46 5.14 81.82
20 SCG MacGill 8/108 5/66 5/75 4/47 4/74 4/95 4/107 4.86 77.27
20 BS Bedi 6/226 5/55 5/82 5/89 5/105 4/53 4/58 4.86 77.27
22 AA Mallett 6/64 5/53 5/91 5/114 5/126 4/22 3/50 4.71 75.00
23 DL Underwood 7/113 5/84 4/28 4/76 4/78 4/89 4/102 4.57 72.73
24 Mushtaq Mohammad 5/28 5/49 5/59 4/50 4/58 4/60 4/80 4.43 70.45
25 PR Adams 6/55 5/37 5/69 4/63 4/63 3/30 3/40 4.29 68.18
BBA

In this criteria, we have taken the top 7 bowling performances by Average of a bowler. Best Bowling By Average (BBA) is simply the average of the bowler in the 7 Inns. Only 3+ Wkt performaces are counted in this criteria.

BEST BOWLING (AVE)


Criteria: Points For Average In Top 7 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 BBA RAT
TS SK Warne 4/11 4/13 6/33 4/33 5/43 3/29 4/44 6.87 100.00
1 SK Warne 4/11 4/13 6/33 4/33 5/43 3/29 4/44 6.87 100.00
2 M Muralitharan 4/29 6/45 3/23 4/31 8/70 6/54 3/34 8.41 81.63
3 R Benaud 3/0 5/43 6/52 5/49 7/72 4/42 5/53 8.89 77.28
4 S Ramadhin 6/23 7/49 5/46 4/39 3/38 5/66 3/41 9.15 75.03
5 Saqlain Mushtaq 4/24 5/35 6/46 7/66 4/46 4/48 3/46 9.42 72.86
6 LR Gibbs 3/14 6/39 5/37 5/51 5/59 4/49 5/66 9.55 71.94
7 NM Lyon 3/12 8/50 6/60 3/32 3/36 4/53 7/94 9.91 69.28
8 DL Vettori 6/28 4/28 6/70 5/59 5/66 5/66 5/69 10.72 64.04
9 KA Maharaj 6/40 3/21 5/36 3/42 9/129 4/58 3/50 11.39 60.27
10 EAS Prasanna 5/32 8/76 4/40 4/44 4/54 4/60 6/94 11.43 60.08
11 AL Valentine 5/32 6/39 3/29 4/48 8/104 3/51 6/102 11.57 59.34
12 R Ashwin 6/46 5/42 5/52 7/83 5/69 4/62 4/68 11.72 58.58
13 FJ Titmus 4/43 7/79 4/46 4/46 6/73 4/50 5/66 11.85 57.93
14 Saeed Ajmal 4/23 6/42 4/51 3/40 7/95 5/69 6/96 11.89 57.77
15 PR Adams 5/37 6/55 3/30 3/40 5/69 4/63 4/63 11.90 57.70
16 BS Chandrasekhar 6/38 4/30 6/52 6/52 6/94 3/55 6/120 11.92 57.61
17 Mushtaq Mohammad 5/28 5/49 5/59 4/50 4/58 4/60 4/80 12.39 55.43
18 Mushtaq Ahmed 7/56 3/34 5/57 6/78 6/78 3/57 5/95 13.00 52.82
19 Yasir Shah 6/63 7/76 6/72 7/94 5/71 5/78 6/96 13.10 52.44
20 AA Mallett 4/22 5/53 6/64 3/50 5/91 3/55 3/58 13.55 50.67
21 DL Underwood 3/16 4/28 3/38 7/113 3/50 5/84 4/76 13.97 49.17
22 BS Bedi 5/55 4/53 4/58 3/44 3/49 5/82 4/70 14.68 46.78
23 A Kumble 4/47 6/72 6/78 4/55 8/141 3/54 3/57 14.82 46.32
24 SCG MacGill 4/47 5/66 8/108 3/41 5/75 4/74 3/64 14.84 46.26
25 GP Swann 5/54 6/82 3/52 4/70 6/106 5/90 5/91 16.03 42.84
TF AW Rating

The TOP FORM – AWAY (TF AW) Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000.

RATING


RANK BOWLER PRO CON CON TT ATT BBW BBA TF AW RAT
1 SK Warne 245.37 150.00 150.00 250.00 93.18 100.00 988.55
2 M Muralitharan 250.00 124.80 116.83 193.64 100.00 81.63 866.90
3 R Benaud 222.22 126.89 126.89 167.98 86.36 77.28 807.63
4 NM Lyon 194.44 128.07 112.57 192.89 90.91 69.28 788.16
5 LR Gibbs 185.19 125.00 125.00 160.05 84.09 71.94 751.26
6 Mushtaq Ahmed 206.02 107.30 112.93 169.61 86.36 52.82 735.04
7 R Ashwin 180.56 110.15 108.12 175.64 84.09 58.58 717.14
8 DL Underwood 162.04 123.51 125.29 181.47 72.73 49.17 714.20
9 Saqlain Mushtaq 180.56 105.07 104.06 145.99 84.09 72.86 692.64
10 GP Swann 189.81 110.69 108.18 155.37 84.09 42.84 690.98
11 DL Vettori 185.19 118.61 73.51 161.88 86.36 64.04 689.59
12 KA Maharaj 182.87 105.37 98.15 160.70 81.82 60.27 689.17
13 EAS Prasanna 192.13 92.13 87.78 159.62 88.64 60.08 680.38
14 Saeed Ajmal 194.44 107.40 87.76 145.90 86.36 57.77 679.65
15 BS Chandrasekhar 180.56 86.86 85.63 174.06 90.91 57.61 675.63
16 AL Valentine 187.50 98.67 90.72 128.96 88.64 59.34 653.83
17 S Ramadhin 189.81 93.79 74.31 124.87 88.64 75.03 646.46
18 FJ Titmus 168.98 101.69 101.69 133.85 81.82 57.93 645.96
19 SCG MacGill 168.98 91.06 89.17 170.25 77.27 46.26 643.01
20 A Kumble 180.56 88.72 80.65 162.56 81.82 46.32 640.63
21 AA Mallett 155.09 102.81 102.01 151.26 75.00 50.67 636.84
22 Yasir Shah 192.13 82.97 68.36 140.31 95.45 52.44 631.66
23 BS Bedi 178.24 85.55 85.66 138.61 77.27 46.78 612.11
24 PR Adams 134.26 99.93 86.82 162.18 68.18 57.70 609.07
25 Mushtaq Mohammad 101.85 106.85 81.82 187.67 70.45 55.43 604.08

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 AUS ENG PAK NZ

TOP TEAMS OUTSIDE ASIA


DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6
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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