Top 10 Spin Bowlers of All Time In T20Is

Overall Rating

Our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier bowlers may change if current bowlers set new benchmarks. It is to be noted that 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. The Overall Rating is divided into three main sections:-

  • Primary Rating: Which gives points for wickets, average, economy rate (ER) and best bowling performaces by wkts and ER.
  • Conditions Rating: Which gives points for performance of a bowler At Home, Away From Home, In Asia and Outside Asia
  • Secondary Rating: Which gives points for Top Form (Home and Away) and performances in World Cup.
Top Teams (TT)

Top Teams play an integral part in our T20I Rating. The Average (Con) and Economy (Eco) sections are divided into overall stats as well as stats against the top teams. Moreover, the best (BBW) and most economic (BBE) performances only include performances against the top teams. Here is how the Top Teams are calculated:-

  • Win/Loss Ratio is used to determine top teams.
  • The top teams are calculated by decades.
  • To be a top team, the team should be among the top teams of the decade overall.
  • A team is also included in top teams if it is a World Cup winner in that decade.
  • A bowler’s performace is counted in TT if he played against that team in that decade.
  • Knock Out matches of ICC World Cup are also included in TT.
  • The Top Teams may be found in the last section of the rating.
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 Trent Boult has taken 100 wkts, which is the highest. This makes him the TS.
  • Another player, say Dale Steyn, has taken 50 wkts.
  • If the rating is out of 200, Boult will get the full points (pts), that is 200.
  • The points of Steyn are calculated as His Wkts/Boult’s Wkts*200. This comes out to be 100.
  • 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 lower average is better for a bowler.
  • For Average, a bowler is eligible to be TS only if he has taken a minimum number of wickets.
  • For Economy, a bowler is eligible to be TS only if he has bowled a minimum number of balls.
  • If a bowler doesn’t fulfill the criteria of TS but has done better, he gets the max points but his stat is not taken as benchmark.
  • 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 Innings (TT) 20
Min Wickets (TS AVE) 25
Min Balls (TS ECO) 500

PRIMARY CRITERIA

PROLIFIC


Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

RANK ERA 1 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS Shakib Al Hasan BAN 2006 2022 2014 107 128 200.00
1 Shakib Al Hasan BAN 2006 2022 2014 107 128 200.00
2 Rashid Khan AFG 2015 2022 2018.5 74 122 190.63
3 Shadab Khan PAK 2017 2022 2019.5 80 98 153.13
4 W Hasaranga SL 2019 2023 2021 53 89 139.06
5 Saeed Ajmal PAK 2009 2015 2012 63 85 132.81
6 Ajantha Mendis SL 2008 2014 2011 39 66 103.13
7 Imran Tahir SA 2013 2019 2016 38 63 98.44
8 S Badree WI 2012 2018 2015 52 56 87.50
9 SP Narine WI 2012 2019 2015.5 49 52 81.25
10 GP Swann ENG 2008 2012 2010 38 51 79.69
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.
  • Bowlers who have played more against top opposition than weaker teams.

CONSISTENT


Criteria: Points For Relative Average

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE C AVE R AVE RAT
TS Ajantha Mendis 39 952 66 14.42 24.81 14.24 150.00
1 Ajantha Mendis 39 952 66 14.42 24.81 14.24 150.00
2 Imran Tahir 38 948 63 15.05 25.83 14.27 149.69
3 W Hasaranga 53 1345 89 15.11 25.31 14.63 146.05
4 Rashid Khan 74 1754 122 14.38 21.96 16.04 133.17
5 GP Swann 38 859 51 16.84 25.39 16.25 131.45
6 Saeed Ajmal 63 1516 85 17.84 24.84 17.59 121.43
7 S Badree 52 1180 56 21.07 25.75 20.05 106.55
8 SP Narine 49 1105 52 21.25 25.84 20.15 106.04
9 Shadab Khan 80 2105 98 21.48 24.82 21.20 100.77
10 Shakib Al Hasan 107 2716 128 21.22 23.95 21.70 98.44

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE C AVE R AVE RAT
TS W Hasaranga 44 1142 72 15.86 25.31 15.35 150.00
1 W Hasaranga 44 1142 72 15.86 25.31 15.35 150.00
2 Imran Tahir 36 904 54 16.74 25.83 15.88 145.03
3 GP Swann 38 859 51 16.84 25.39 16.25 141.69
4 Ajantha Mendis 33 869 47 18.49 24.81 18.26 126.14
5 Saeed Ajmal 58 1416 76 18.63 24.84 18.38 125.30
6 Rashid Khan 32 807 44 18.34 21.96 20.47 112.52
7 SP Narine 44 1017 47 21.64 25.84 20.51 112.25
8 Shadab Khan 62 1639 73 22.45 24.82 22.16 103.92
9 S Badree 47 1101 47 23.43 25.75 22.29 103.31
10 Shakib Al Hasan 82 2053 87 23.60 23.95 24.14 95.41
C ER And R ER

The Comparative Economy Rate (C ER) and Relative Economy Rate (R ER) for bowlers is calculated using the same method as in C Ave and R Ave with average replaced with ER.

ECONOMIC


Criteria: Points For R ER

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS RUNS ER C ER R ER RAT
TS DL Vettori 34 787 748 5.70 7.15 5.58 150.00
1 SP Narine 49 1102 1105 6.02 7.24 5.82 143.92
2 S Badree 52 1146 1180 6.18 7.20 6.01 139.35
3 GP Swann 38 810 859 6.36 7.25 6.15 136.26
4 Saeed Ajmal 63 1430 1516 6.36 7.12 6.25 133.97
5 Ajantha Mendis 39 885 952 6.45 7.16 6.31 132.76
6 Rashid Khan 74 1682 1754 6.26 6.86 6.39 131.11
7 Imran Tahir 38 845 948 6.73 7.26 6.49 129.03
8 W Hasaranga 53 1186 1345 6.80 7.33 6.50 128.83
9 Shakib Al Hasan 107 2385 2716 6.83 7.06 6.78 123.57
10 Shadab Khan 80 1795 2105 7.04 7.19 6.85 122.25

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS RUNS ER C ER R ER RAT
TS DL Vettori 32 744 720 5.81 7.15 5.69 150.00
1 SP Narine 44 982 1017 6.21 7.24 6.01 141.88
2 GP Swann 38 810 859 6.36 7.25 6.15 138.74
3 S Badree 47 1032 1101 6.40 7.20 6.23 136.94
4 Saeed Ajmal 58 1322 1416 6.43 7.12 6.32 135.01
5 Imran Tahir 36 797 904 6.81 7.26 6.56 129.95
6 W Hasaranga 44 982 1142 6.98 7.33 6.67 127.92
7 Ajantha Mendis 33 762 869 6.84 7.16 6.69 127.51
8 Rashid Khan 32 738 807 6.56 6.86 6.70 127.31
9 Shakib Al Hasan 82 1799 2053 6.85 7.06 6.79 125.55
10 Shadab Khan 62 1389 1639 7.08 7.19 6.89 123.71
BBW

In this criteria, we have taken the top 5 bowling performances by Wkts of a bowler against top teams. Best Bowling By Wickets (BBW) is simply the total wickets taken in the 5 innings divided by 5.

BEST BOWLING (WKTS)


Criteria: Points For Wkts Taken In Top 5 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 BBW RAT
TS YS Chahal 6/25 4/23 4/52 3/18 3/20 4.00 100.00
1 Ajantha Mendis 6/16 4/12 3/9 3/20 3/23 3.80 95.00
1 Shakib Al Hasan 5/21 4/9 4/34 3/8 3/24 3.80 95.00
3 Imran Tahir 5/24 4/21 3/18 3/21 3/26 3.60 90.00
3 Saeed Ajmal 4/23 4/26 4/30 3/17 3/18 3.60 90.00
5 Shadab Khan 4/14 4/26 3/7 3/17 3/19 3.40 85.00
5 W Hasaranga 4/9 4/33 3/12 3/13 3/17 3.40 85.00
7 SP Narine 4/12 3/9 3/11 3/16 3/20 3.20 80.00
7 S Badree 4/15 3/10 3/12 3/14 3/17 3.20 80.00
9 Rashid Khan 4/12 3/13 3/28 3/30 2/17 3.00 75.00
10 GP Swann 3/13 3/14 3/24 2/14 2/17 2.60 65.00
BBE

In this criteria, we have taken the top 5 bowling performances by Economy of a bowler against top teams. Best Bowling By Economy (BBE) is the Relative Economy of the bowler in the 5 Inns. Only 30+ Balls performaces are counted in this criteria.

BEST BOWLING (ECO)


Criteria: Points For Economy In Top 5 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 BBE RAT
TS Mohammad Hafeez 4.0/6 2.0/4 4.0/9 4.0/11 4.0/13 2.36 100.00
1 Shakib Al Hasan 3.4/9 4.0/10 3.1/8 4.0/13 4.0/13 2.79 84.53
2 W Hasaranga 4.0/9 4.0/12 4.0/12 4.0/13 4.0/13 2.82 83.72
3 Ajantha Mendis 4.0/9 3.0/9 4.0/12 4.0/12 4.0/16 2.98 79.08
4 SP Narine 3.4/9 4.0/11 4.0/12 4.0/14 4.0/15 3.00 78.65
5 S Badree 4.0/10 4.0/12 4.0/14 4.0/14 3.0/11 3.12 75.55
6 Rashid Khan 4.0/8 4.0/12 4.0/12 4.0/14 4.0/17 3.22 73.37
7 Shadab Khan 4.0/7 4.0/14 4.0/14 4.0/16 3.5/16 3.29 71.74
8 GP Swann 4.0/13 4.0/14 4.0/14 2.0/8 4.0/16 3.49 67.64
9 Saeed Ajmal 4.0/12 4.0/13 4.0/17 3.0/13 3.1/14 3.73 63.21
10 Imran Tahir 4.0/13 4.0/14 4.0/17 4.0/18 4.0/18 3.86 61.18

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 batsman scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is half of the Overall Rating, i.e. 500 pts.

RANK BOWLER PRO CONS C TT ECO E TT BBW BBE RAT PRI PTS
1 W Hasaranga 139.06 146.05 150.00 128.83 127.92 85.00 83.72 860.58 430.29
2 Rashid Khan 190.63 133.17 112.52 131.11 127.31 75.00 73.37 843.11 421.55
3 Shakib Al Hasan 200.00 98.44 95.41 123.57 125.55 95.00 84.53 822.49 411.25
4 Ajantha Mendis 103.13 150.00 126.14 132.76 127.51 95.00 79.08 813.62 406.81
5 Imran Tahir 98.44 149.69 145.03 129.03 129.95 90.00 61.18 803.32 401.66
6 Saeed Ajmal 132.81 121.43 125.30 133.97 135.01 90.00 63.21 801.73 400.86
7 Shadab Khan 153.13 100.77 103.92 122.25 123.71 85.00 71.74 760.52 380.26
8 GP Swann 79.69 131.45 141.69 136.26 138.74 65.00 67.64 760.47 380.24
9 SP Narine 81.25 106.04 112.25 143.92 141.88 80.00 78.65 744.01 372.00
10 S Badree 87.50 106.55 103.31 139.35 136.94 80.00 75.55 729.20 364.60

CONDITIONS CRITERIA

The Conditions

The Conditions Ratings are calculated by applying the four criteria of the Primary Rating to diffirent conditions. Here are those conditions and their weightage. Unfavourable Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for spin bowlers and In Asia for pacers. Favourable Conditions (FC) is the opposite. Click on the Ratings to see how they were calculated.

  • HOME – 250 PTS
  • AWAY – 1,000 PTS
  • FC – 250 PTS
  • UC – 1,000 PTS

HOME/AWAY


At Home

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 Shakib Al Hasan 42 52 20.31 6.67 776.99 194.25
2 Imran Tahir 14 27 12.48 6.61 761.61 190.40
3 Saeed Ajmal 18 26 14.96 5.57 752.79 188.20
4 Ajantha Mendis 13 26 12.73 6.49 729.26 182.32
5 Shadab Khan 37 46 20.63 6.85 715.40 178.85
6 S Badree 19 23 17.57 5.61 682.68 170.67
7 Rashid Khan 24 38 14.03 5.90 659.32 164.83
8 W Hasaranga 13 20 16.90 7.09 653.72 163.43
9 SP Narine 21 20 23.05 5.91 627.26 156.82
10 GP Swann 16 17 21.06 6.39 614.60 153.65

Away From Home

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 W Hasaranga 40 69 14.59 6.71 879.42 879.42
2 Rashid Khan 50 84 14.54 6.43 854.57 854.57
3 GP Swann 22 34 14.74 6.34 799.08 799.08
4 Saeed Ajmal 45 59 19.10 6.69 769.73 769.73
5 SP Narine 28 32 20.13 6.09 756.81 756.81
6 Ajantha Mendis 26 40 15.53 6.44 749.74 749.74
7 Shakib Al Hasan 65 76 21.84 6.94 749.06 749.06
8 Imran Tahir 24 36 16.97 6.80 736.01 736.01
9 Shadab Khan 43 52 22.23 7.20 719.86 719.86
10 S Badree 33 33 23.52 6.52 694.32 694.32

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS


Favourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 GP Swann 11 18 12.33 5.55 852.22 213.06
2 S Badree 22 28 18.89 6.22 805.86 201.47
3 Imran Tahir 19 29 15.97 6.34 770.44 192.61
4 SP Narine 18 17 22.35 5.70 699.93 174.98

Asians In Asia

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 Rashid Khan 55 98 12.92 6.05 853.03 213.26
2 Shakib Al Hasan 66 82 20.07 6.63 803.04 200.76
3 W Hasaranga 35 59 15.24 6.83 799.83 199.96
4 Saeed Ajmal 35 47 17.72 6.12 781.79 195.45
5 Shadab Khan 39 49 20.22 6.76 704.92 176.23
6 Ajantha Mendis 20 34 15.82 7.03 692.96 173.24

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 Imran Tahir 19 34 14.26 7.15 778.86 778.86
2 SP Narine 31 35 20.71 6.20 750.18 750.18
3 GP Swann 27 33 19.30 6.71 692.75 692.75
4 S Badree 30 28 23.25 6.14 625.25 625.25

Asians Outside Asia

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 Ajantha Mendis 19 32 12.94 5.83 879.99 879.99
2 W Hasaranga 18 30 14.87 6.76 824.91 824.91
3 Shadab Khan 41 49 22.73 7.30 800.02 800.02
4 Saeed Ajmal 28 38 17.97 6.69 776.40 776.40
5 Shakib Al Hasan 41 46 23.26 7.17 731.35 731.35
6 Rashid Khan 19 24 20.33 6.87 679.48 679.48

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 batsman scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is one-fourth of the Overall Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK BATSMAN AWAY HOME UC FC TOT CON PTS
1 W Hasaranga 879.42 163.43 824.91 199.96 2,067.72 206.77
2 Ajantha Mendis 749.74 182.32 879.99 173.24 1,985.29 198.53
3 Saeed Ajmal 769.73 188.20 776.40 195.45 1,929.78 192.98
4 Rashid Khan 854.57 164.83 679.48 213.26 1,912.14 191.21
5 Imran Tahir 736.01 190.40 778.86 192.61 1,897.88 189.79
6 Shakib Al Hasan 749.06 194.25 731.35 200.76 1,875.41 187.54
7 Shadab Khan 719.86 178.85 800.02 176.23 1,874.96 187.50
8 GP Swann 799.08 153.65 692.75 213.06 1,858.54 185.85
9 SP Narine 756.81 156.82 750.18 174.98 1,838.79 183.88
10 S Badree 694.32 170.67 625.25 201.47 1,691.71 169.17

SECONDARY CRITERIA

Top Form And World Cup

The Secondary Rating consists of three parts. Top Form is calculated by taking the best 15 consecutive innings of a bowlers such that his overall points are maximum. Top Form is calculated seperately for Home and Away innings. World Cup Rating gives points for performances in World Cups. To see how the ratings were calculated, click on the Rating. The three secondary criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

  • TOP FORM AT HOME – 500 PTS
  • TOP FORM AWAY – 1,000 PTS
  • WORLD CUP – 1,000 PTS

TOP FORM AT HOME


RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 Imran Tahir 14 27 12.48 6.61 845.81 422.91
2 S Badree 15 21 13.57 5.00 828.28 414.14
3 Saeed Ajmal 15 21 14.76 5.34 816.25 408.13
4 Ajantha Mendis 13 26 12.73 6.49 813.00 406.50
5 Shakib Al Hasan 15 23 17.04 6.57 780.52 390.26
6 SP Narine 15 19 16.05 5.45 768.79 384.39
7 W Hasaranga 13 20 16.90 7.09 718.24 359.12
8 Shadab Khan 15 22 16.50 6.29 712.05 356.02
9 Rashid Khan 15 25 14.44 6.41 681.43 340.71
10 GP Swann 15 15 22.27 6.30 631.24 315.62

TOP FORM AWAY


RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 W Hasaranga 15 29 10.69 5.44 923.12 923.12
2 S Badree 15 24 13.79 5.61 819.63 819.63
3 GP Swann 15 25 13.20 6.00 790.89 790.89
4 Ajantha Mendis 15 27 12.07 5.82 788.18 788.18
5 Rashid Khan 15 32 10.88 6.33 784.50 784.50
6 Imran Tahir 15 28 13.11 6.46 774.87 774.87
7 SP Narine 15 20 15.75 5.46 748.49 748.49
8 Saeed Ajmal 15 27 13.74 6.51 730.94 730.94
9 Shadab Khan 15 23 17.09 6.82 700.59 700.59
10 Shakib Al Hasan 15 21 15.81 6.02 624.02 624.02

WORLD CUP


RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 S Badree 15 24 13.58 5.53 847.08 847.08
2 Ajantha Mendis 21 35 15.03 6.70 788.90 788.90
3 SP Narine 12 15 15.40 5.17 763.72 763.72
4 W Hasaranga 10 18 13.72 6.50 756.78 756.78
5 Imran Tahir 9 18 11.89 5.94 754.41 754.41
6 Saeed Ajmal 23 36 16.86 6.79 752.32 752.32
7 GP Swann 15 22 16.27 6.51 697.27 697.27
8 Shadab Khan 13 20 15.15 6.18 689.66 689.66
9 Shakib Al Hasan 27 26 28.42 7.46 587.00 587.00
10 Rashid Khan 12 17 18.24 6.69 550.05 550.05

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 batsman scored in the three criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is one-fourth of the Overall Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK BATSMAN TF HM TF AW WC TOT SEC RAT
1 S Badree 414.14 819.63 847.08 2,080.84 208.08
2 W Hasaranga 359.12 923.12 756.78 2,039.02 203.90
3 Ajantha Mendis 406.50 788.18 788.90 1,983.57 198.36
4 Imran Tahir 422.91 774.87 754.41 1,952.19 195.22
5 SP Narine 384.39 748.49 763.72 1,896.60 189.66
6 Saeed Ajmal 408.13 730.94 752.32 1,891.39 189.14
7 GP Swann 315.62 790.89 697.27 1,803.78 180.38
8 Shadab Khan 356.02 700.59 689.66 1,746.27 174.63
9 Rashid Khan 340.71 784.50 550.05 1,675.26 167.53
10 Shakib Al Hasan 390.26 624.02 587.00 1,601.28 160.13

FINAL RATING

Final Rating

The Final 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 BATSMAN NAT PRI RAT CON RAT SEC RAT FIN RAT
1 W Hasaranga SL 430.29 206.77 203.90 840.97
2 Ajantha Mendis SL 406.81 198.53 198.36 803.69
3 Imran Tahir SA 401.66 189.79 195.22 786.67
4 Saeed Ajmal PAK 400.86 192.98 189.14 782.98
5 Rashid Khan AFG 421.55 191.21 167.53 780.29
6 Shakib Al Hasan BAN 411.25 187.54 160.13 758.92
7 GP Swann ENG 380.24 185.85 180.38 746.47
8 SP Narine WI 372.00 183.88 189.66 745.54
9 Shadab Khan PAK 380.26 187.50 174.63 742.38
10 S Badree WI 364.60 169.17 208.08 741.86

TOP TEAMS


DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2000s PAK SA IND SL AUS WI ENG NZ
2010s IND ENG SA AUS PAK NZ SL WI AFG BAN
2020s IND ENG PAK AUS SA NZ WI SL ZIM AFG


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