Top 25 Test Spin Bowlers In Top Form At 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 At Home

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

TOP FORM – HOME Rating

This rating only include stats of Spin bowlers in their Top Form At 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 2005-07-13 2008-07-23 30 120 250.00
1 M Muralitharan SL 2005-07-13 2008-07-23 30 120 250.00
2 HMRKB Herath SL 2014-07-24 2017-07-14 30 115 239.58
3 A Kumble IND 1998-03-18 2002-10-17 30 113 235.42
3 R Ashwin IND 2013-03-02 2016-12-08 30 113 235.42
5 Yasir Shah PAK 2014-10-22 2018-11-24 30 106 220.83
6 Harbhajan Singh IND 2001-02-27 2004-11-03 30 104 216.67
7 Abdul Qadir PAK 1984-03-02 1988-10-07 30 103 214.58
8 SK Warne AUS 1992-12-26 1995-11-30 30 91 189.58
9 SCG MacGill AUS 1998-01-30 2003-12-04 30 88 183.33
9 BS Bedi IND 1969-11-28 1977-01-14 30 88 183.33
11 BS Chandrasekhar IND 1967-01-13 1977-01-28 30 87 181.25
12 RA Jadeja IND 2013-03-22 2017-03-04 30 86 179.17
13 Taijul Islam BAN 2015-07-21 2021-11-26 30 85 177.08
14 Mehidy Hasan Miraz BAN 2016-10-20 2022-12-22 30 83 172.92
15 GAR Lock ENG 1953-08-15 1958-08-21 30 81 168.75
16 DL Underwood ENG 1967-08-10 1973-07-26 30 80 166.67
17 MDK Perera SL 2015-10-22 2021-01-14 30 78 162.50
18 Iqbal Qasim PAK 1980-12-08 1988-09-15 30 77 160.42
18 EAS Prasanna IND 1962-01-10 1975-01-11 30 77 160.42
20 NM Lyon AUS 2019-11-29 2023-01-04 30 72 150.00
21 B Yardley AUS 1978-12-01 1982-12-26 30 70 145.83
22 MS Panesar ENG 2006-05-25 2008-07-10 30 69 143.75
23 GP Swann ENG 2009-08-20 2012-05-25 30 67 139.58
24 R Illingworth ENG 1966-08-18 1971-07-08 30 59 122.92
25 MM Ali ENG 2015-08-20 2018-08-30 30 55 114.58
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 GAR Lock 30 1132 81 13.98 33.60 14.56 150.00
1 GAR Lock 30 1132 81 13.98 33.60 14.56 150.00
2 M Muralitharan 30 1730 120 14.42 34.41 14.67 148.92
3 DL Underwood 30 1350 80 16.88 36.39 16.23 134.57
4 SK Warne 30 1607 91 17.66 37.76 16.37 133.43
5 R Ashwin 30 2041 113 18.06 34.25 18.46 118.31
6 HMRKB Herath 30 2207 115 19.19 36.05 18.63 117.22
7 A Kumble 30 2161 113 19.12 35.44 18.89 115.64
8 RA Jadeja 30 1669 86 19.41 34.04 19.96 109.44
9 R Illingworth 30 1171 59 19.85 34.73 20.00 109.18
10 Abdul Qadir 30 2233 103 21.68 36.62 20.72 105.40
11 GP Swann 30 1646 67 24.57 41.17 20.89 104.55
12 Iqbal Qasim 30 1664 77 21.61 35.67 21.20 103.01
13 NM Lyon 30 1771 72 24.60 39.90 21.58 101.21
14 Harbhajan Singh 30 2239 104 21.53 34.76 21.68 100.74
15 SCG MacGill 30 2030 88 23.07 36.96 21.84 99.98
16 BS Bedi 30 1887 88 21.44 33.89 22.14 98.63
17 MS Panesar 30 1828 69 26.49 39.95 23.21 94.08
18 Yasir Shah 30 2579 106 24.33 35.61 23.91 91.32
19 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 30 1990 83 23.98 34.44 24.37 89.63
20 MM Ali 30 1567 55 28.49 40.49 24.63 88.68
21 B Yardley 30 2059 70 29.41 39.82 25.86 84.46
22 BS Chandrasekhar 30 2230 87 25.63 33.87 26.49 82.45
23 Taijul Islam 30 2104 85 24.75 32.49 26.67 81.89
24 EAS Prasanna 30 1974 77 25.64 33.35 26.91 81.17
25 MDK Perera 30 2234 78 28.64 34.97 28.66 76.19

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE C AVE R AVE RAT
TS DL Underwood 23 1078 72 14.97 36.39 14.40 150.00
1 DL Underwood 23 1078 72 14.97 36.39 14.40 150.00
2 MM Ali 11 627 37 16.95 40.49 14.65 147.46
3 SK Warne 24 1302 73 17.84 37.76 16.53 130.66
4 R Ashwin 20 1329 74 17.96 34.25 18.35 117.67
5 M Muralitharan 16 1138 63 18.06 34.41 18.37 117.54
6 RA Jadeja 22 1184 66 17.94 34.04 18.45 117.09
7 HMRKB Herath 20 1428 73 19.56 36.05 18.99 113.73
8 GAR Lock 21 898 48 18.71 33.60 19.49 110.81
9 Abdul Qadir 25 1850 90 20.56 36.62 19.65 109.93
10 Iqbal Qasim 21 1210 59 20.51 35.67 20.12 107.34
11 Harbhajan Singh 18 1368 66 20.73 34.76 20.87 103.48
12 A Kumble 17 1375 65 21.15 35.44 20.89 103.39
13 SCG MacGill 16 1246 53 23.51 36.96 22.26 97.02
14 R Illingworth 18 685 30 22.83 34.73 23.01 93.85
15 NM Lyon 25 1448 55 26.33 39.90 23.10 93.51
16 Yasir Shah 15 1164 48 24.25 35.61 23.83 90.61
17 B Yardley 24 1740 62 28.06 39.82 24.67 87.54
18 BS Bedi 24 1597 66 24.20 33.89 24.99 86.44
19 MDK Perera 21 1596 59 27.05 34.97 27.07 79.78
20 BS Chandrasekhar 24 1839 70 26.27 33.87 27.15 79.56
21 GP Swann 10 687 21 32.71 41.17 27.81 77.65
22 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 16 1218 44 27.68 34.44 28.13 76.77
23 EAS Prasanna 24 1541 57 27.04 33.35 28.37 76.12
24 Taijul Islam 14 911 33 27.61 32.49 29.74 72.61
25 MS Panesar 11 722 21 34.38 39.95 30.12 71.70
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 M Muralitharan 30 4340 120 36.17 73.67 39.27 250.00
1 M Muralitharan 30 4340 120 36.17 73.67 39.27 250.00
2 GAR Lock 30 4228 81 52.20 89.30 46.76 209.95
3 MM Ali 30 2466 55 44.84 75.56 47.47 206.81
4 HMRKB Herath 30 4865 115 42.30 69.86 48.45 202.66
5 Abdul Qadir 30 5573 103 54.11 88.37 48.98 200.44
6 DL Underwood 30 4496 80 56.20 91.40 49.19 199.59
7 R Ashwin 30 4642 113 41.08 66.52 49.40 198.73
8 SCG MacGill 30 4222 88 47.98 77.32 49.64 197.79
9 GP Swann 30 3222 67 48.09 76.35 50.39 194.85
10 SK Warne 30 4693 91 51.57 81.64 50.54 194.28
11 A Kumble 30 5577 113 49.35 76.05 51.92 189.10
12 BS Chandrasekhar 30 5002 87 57.49 86.59 53.12 184.83
13 Iqbal Qasim 30 4641 77 60.27 87.16 55.32 177.46
14 B Yardley 30 4750 70 67.86 96.83 56.07 175.12
15 MS Panesar 30 3852 69 55.83 77.59 57.56 170.57
16 Harbhajan Singh 30 5390 104 51.83 71.31 58.14 168.86
17 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 30 4110 83 49.52 67.48 58.70 167.25
18 Yasir Shah 30 5364 106 50.60 68.93 58.73 167.18
19 EAS Prasanna 30 4943 77 64.19 86.57 59.32 165.50
20 NM Lyon 30 4046 72 56.19 75.76 59.34 165.46
21 R Illingworth 30 4082 59 69.19 91.05 60.79 161.51
22 RA Jadeja 30 4486 86 52.16 66.75 62.52 157.05
23 BS Bedi 30 6185 88 70.28 86.52 64.99 151.08
24 MDK Perera 30 4322 78 55.41 67.15 66.01 148.73
25 Taijul Islam 30 4530 85 53.29 63.79 66.84 146.89
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 A Kumble 10/74 7/115 6/67 6/70 6/81 6/98 6/143 6.71 100.00
1 HMRKB Herath 9/127 7/48 7/64 6/48 6/59 6/68 6/81 6.71 100.00
1 Harbhajan Singh 8/84 7/48 7/123 7/133 6/62 6/73 6/78 6.71 100.00
1 A Kumble 10/74 7/115 6/67 6/70 6/81 6/98 6/143 6.71 100.00
4 SK Warne 8/71 7/23 7/52 7/56 6/31 6/64 5/72 6.57 97.87
5 M Muralitharan 8/46 7/97 6/18 6/26 6/28 6/36 6/54 6.43 95.74
6 R Ashwin 7/59 7/66 6/55 6/81 6/112 6/132 5/32 6.14 91.49
7 Yasir Shah 8/41 6/124 6/143 6/184 5/51 5/79 5/110 5.86 87.23
7 DL Underwood 7/32 7/50 6/41 6/45 6/60 5/52 4/37 5.86 87.23
9 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 7/58 6/77 6/80 6/82 5/38 5/59 5/63 5.71 85.11
9 Abdul Qadir 9/56 6/16 5/44 5/74 5/84 5/88 5/98 5.71 85.11
11 BS Chandrasekhar 8/79 6/76 6/90 5/50 5/65 5/135 4/42 5.57 82.98
11 SCG MacGill 7/50 7/104 5/56 5/57 5/65 5/77 5/152 5.57 82.98
11 GAR Lock 7/35 7/51 6/20 5/17 5/28 5/45 4/12 5.57 82.98
14 B Yardley 7/98 7/187 6/84 5/107 5/132 4/38 4/77 5.43 80.85
15 Taijul Islam 7/116 6/33 6/108 5/62 5/107 4/36 4/76 5.29 78.72
15 MS Panesar 6/37 6/129 6/137 5/46 5/72 5/78 4/50 5.29 78.72
15 RA Jadeja 7/48 6/63 5/21 5/30 5/58 5/73 4/33 5.29 78.72
18 BS Bedi 7/98 5/27 5/37 5/48 5/63 5/110 4/22 5.14 76.60
19 Iqbal Qasim 6/89 6/141 5/35 5/78 5/83 4/27 4/41 5.00 74.47
20 EAS Prasanna 6/74 5/42 5/51 5/70 5/121 4/16 4/41 4.86 72.34
20 MDK Perera 6/32 6/70 5/75 5/88 4/29 4/40 4/46 4.86 72.34
20 GP Swann 6/65 6/106 5/62 5/76 4/12 4/16 4/38 4.86 72.34
23 NM Lyon 6/128 5/50 5/68 5/69 4/63 4/81 4/91 4.71 70.21
24 MM Ali 6/53 5/63 5/69 4/45 4/59 4/71 4/78 4.57 68.09
25 R Illingworth 6/29 6/87 4/37 4/92 4/100 3/31 3/37 4.29 63.83
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 M Muralitharan 5/15 6/18 4/14 6/26 6/28 8/46 6/36 4.46 100.00
1 M Muralitharan 5/15 6/18 4/14 6/26 6/28 8/46 6/36 4.46 100.00
2 GAR Lock 4/12 6/20 5/17 4/14 7/35 5/28 7/51 4.66 95.82
3 SK Warne 7/23 6/31 3/16 7/52 4/31 7/56 8/71 6.67 66.95
4 DL Underwood 7/32 6/41 7/50 6/45 4/37 4/38 6/60 7.58 58.92
5 RA Jadeja 5/21 5/30 7/48 4/33 6/63 5/58 4/50 8.42 53.03
6 BS Bedi 5/27 4/22 5/37 4/38 5/48 3/29 5/63 8.52 52.41
7 HMRKB Herath 7/48 5/40 6/48 4/35 7/64 6/59 5/54 8.70 51.30
8 Abdul Qadir 6/16 9/56 5/44 4/45 3/34 5/74 3/45 8.97 49.75
9 R Ashwin 5/32 7/59 6/55 7/66 5/51 5/57 5/61 9.53 46.86
10 Harbhajan Singh 5/29 7/48 5/51 6/62 8/84 4/46 6/73 9.59 46.56
11 MDK Perera 6/32 4/29 3/28 4/40 4/46 6/70 5/75 10.00 44.63
12 A Kumble 5/30 10/74 6/67 6/70 5/62 5/63 4/51 10.17 43.88
13 EAS Prasanna 4/16 5/42 5/51 4/41 3/33 6/74 5/70 10.22 43.68
14 GP Swann 4/12 4/16 4/38 6/65 5/62 5/76 3/50 10.29 43.37
15 Yasir Shah 8/41 5/51 4/44 4/50 3/40 3/44 3/45 10.50 42.51
16 Iqbal Qasim 4/27 5/35 4/41 4/48 4/49 3/39 6/89 10.93 40.82
17 MS Panesar 6/37 3/21 5/46 4/50 3/39 5/72 5/78 11.06 40.34
18 SCG MacGill 7/50 3/22 5/56 5/57 5/65 4/53 7/104 11.31 39.48
19 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 5/38 7/58 5/59 5/63 6/77 6/80 6/82 11.43 39.07
20 BS Chandrasekhar 3/28 8/79 5/50 4/42 6/76 5/65 6/90 11.62 38.41
21 R Illingworth 6/29 4/37 3/31 3/37 6/87 3/55 3/58 11.93 37.42
22 NM Lyon 3/14 5/50 3/36 5/68 5/69 4/63 3/57 12.75 35.01
23 Taijul Islam 6/33 4/36 5/62 3/40 7/116 6/108 4/76 13.46 33.17
24 MM Ali 6/53 4/45 5/63 5/69 4/59 4/71 4/78 13.69 32.61
25 B Yardley 4/38 3/41 6/84 7/98 4/77 5/107 4/89 16.18 27.58
TF HM Rating

The TOP FORM – HOME (TF HM) 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 HM RAT
1 M Muralitharan 250.00 148.92 117.54 250.00 95.74 100.00 962.20
2 HMRKB Herath 239.58 117.22 113.73 202.66 100.00 51.30 824.49
3 GAR Lock 168.75 150.00 110.81 209.95 82.98 95.82 818.32
4 SK Warne 189.58 133.43 130.66 194.28 97.87 66.95 812.77
5 R Ashwin 235.42 118.31 117.67 198.73 91.49 46.86 808.47
6 DL Underwood 166.67 134.57 150.00 199.59 87.23 58.92 796.99
7 A Kumble 235.42 115.64 103.39 189.10 100.00 43.88 787.43
8 Abdul Qadir 214.58 105.40 109.93 200.44 85.11 49.75 765.21
9 Harbhajan Singh 216.67 100.74 103.48 168.86 100.00 46.56 736.30
10 SCG MacGill 183.33 99.98 97.02 197.79 82.98 39.48 700.58
11 Yasir Shah 220.83 91.32 90.61 167.18 87.23 42.51 699.69
12 RA Jadeja 179.17 109.44 117.09 157.05 78.72 53.03 694.50
13 Iqbal Qasim 160.42 103.01 107.34 177.46 74.47 40.82 663.52
14 MM Ali 114.58 88.68 147.46 206.81 68.09 32.61 658.23
15 BS Chandrasekhar 181.25 82.45 79.56 184.83 82.98 38.41 649.47
16 BS Bedi 183.33 98.63 86.44 151.08 76.60 52.41 648.48
17 GP Swann 139.58 104.55 77.65 194.85 72.34 43.37 632.35
18 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 172.92 89.63 76.77 167.25 85.11 39.07 630.74
19 NM Lyon 150.00 101.21 93.51 165.46 70.21 35.01 615.40
20 B Yardley 145.83 84.46 87.54 175.12 80.85 27.58 601.39
21 EAS Prasanna 160.42 81.17 76.12 165.50 72.34 43.68 599.22
22 MS Panesar 143.75 94.08 71.70 170.57 78.72 40.34 599.16
23 Taijul Islam 177.08 81.89 72.61 146.89 78.72 33.17 590.37
24 R Illingworth 122.92 109.18 93.85 161.51 63.83 37.42 588.71
25 MDK Perera 162.50 76.19 79.78 148.73 72.34 44.63 584.17

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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