Tests - Fast Bowlers With Best Averages Featured

Top 25 Fast Bowlers With Best Averages In Tests

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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.

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

CONTENTS
1. TOP 25 Pacers WITH BEST AVERAGES IN TEST CRICKET
2. TOP 25 Pacers WITH BEST R AVE IN TEST CRICKET
Best Averages

The first list simply gives you the bowlers with best averages in Test Cricket since 1950. The second list gives you the bowlers with best Relative Averages (R Ave). How it is calculated is explained in the highlighted sections. Only bowlers with more than 100 wickets are considered for both lists.

TOP 25 Pacers WITH BEST AVERAGES IN TEST CRICKET

RANK BOWLER NAT FP LP INNS RUNS WKTS AVE
1 AK Davidson AUS 1953 1963 82 3819 186 20.53
2 MD Marshall WI 1978 1991 151 7876 376 20.95
3 J Garner WI 1977 1987 111 5433 259 20.98
4 CEL Ambrose WI 1988 2000 179 8501 405 20.99
5 NAT Adcock SA 1953 1962 46 2195 104 21.11
6 PJ Cummins AUS 2011 2023 88 4548 214 21.25
7 FS Trueman ENG 1952 1965 127 6625 307 21.58
8 GD McGrath AUS 1993 2007 243 12186 563 21.64
9 JJ Bumrah IND 2018 2022 58 2815 128 21.99
10 AA Donald SA 1992 2002 129 7344 330 22.25
11 RJ Hadlee NZ 1973 1990 150 9612 431 22.30
12 VD Philander SA 2011 2020 119 5000 224 22.32
13 Imran Khan PAK 1971 1991 142 8258 362 22.81
14 K Rabada SA 2015 2023 104 6125 268 22.85
15 DW Steyn SA 2004 2019 171 10077 439 22.95
16 SM Pollock SA 1995 2008 202 9733 421 23.12
17 CEH Croft WI 1977 1982 52 2913 125 23.30
18 RJ Harris AUS 2010 2015 52 2658 113 23.52
19 Waqar Younis PAK 1989 2003 154 8788 373 23.56
20 Wasim Akram PAK 1985 2002 181 9778 414 23.62
21 MA Holding WI 1975 1987 113 5898 249 23.69
22 DK Lillee AUS 1971 1984 132 8493 355 23.92
23 PM Pollock SA 1961 1970 52 2806 116 24.19
24 IR Bishop WI 1989 1998 76 3909 161 24.28
25 Mohammad Asif PAK 2005 2010 44 2583 106 24.37
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 25 Pacers WITH BEST R AVE IN TEST CRICKET

RANK BOWLER NAT FP LP INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE
1 JJ Bumrah IND 2018 2022 58 2815 128 21.99 20.81
2 Mohammad Asif PAK 2005 2010 44 2583 106 24.37 21.29
3 GD McGrath AUS 1993 2007 243 12186 563 21.64 21.47
4 CEL Ambrose WI 1988 2000 179 8501 405 20.99 21.87
5 MD Marshall WI 1978 1991 151 7876 376 20.95 22.29
6 AK Davidson AUS 1953 1963 82 3819 186 20.53 22.36
7 PJ Cummins AUS 2011 2023 88 4548 214 21.25 22.51
8 SM Pollock SA 1995 2008 202 9733 421 23.12 22.54
9 J Garner WI 1977 1987 111 5433 259 20.98 22.66
10 DW Steyn SA 2004 2019 171 10077 439 22.95 22.79
11 VD Philander SA 2011 2020 119 5000 224 22.32 22.80
12 AA Donald SA 1992 2002 129 7344 330 22.25 22.84
13 FS Trueman ENG 1952 1965 127 6625 307 21.58 23.49
14 K Rabada SA 2015 2023 104 6125 268 22.85 23.52
15 Imran Khan PAK 1971 1991 142 8258 362 22.81 23.52
16 RJ Hadlee NZ 1973 1990 150 9612 431 22.30 23.59
17 NAT Adcock SA 1953 1962 46 2195 104 21.11 23.75
18 Waqar Younis PAK 1989 2003 154 8788 373 23.56 23.90
19 RJ Harris AUS 2010 2015 52 2658 113 23.52 23.91
20 Shoaib Akhtar PAK 1997 2007 82 4574 178 25.70 23.98
21 Wasim Akram PAK 1985 2002 181 9778 414 23.62 24.49
22 CEH Croft WI 1977 1982 52 2913 125 23.30 24.70
23 CA Walsh WI 1984 2001 242 12688 519 24.45 24.85
24 PM Pollock SA 1961 1970 52 2806 116 24.19 25.00
25 JN Gillespie AUS 1996 2006 137 6770 259 26.14 25.07

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