Tests - Fast Bowlers With Best Averages

Top 100 Fast Bowlers With Best Averages In Tests

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All Test Stats on the website are from 01/01/1950 onwards (Know Why). They are updated till 2026-02-05. 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).

CONTENTS
1. QUALIFICATION
2. TOP 100 PACERS WITH BEST AVERAGES IN TEST CRICKET
3. TOP 100 PACERS WITH BEST R AVE IN TEST CRICKET
4. BRIEF EXPLANATION
4.1. Dynamic Nature
4.2. Top Teams (TT)
4.3. Abbreviations

QUALIFICATION

Min Innings (Top Teams) 25
Min Wickets 75

TOP 100 PACERS WITH BEST AVERAGES IN TEST CRICKET

RANK BOWLER NAT INNS RUNS BALLS WKTS AVE
1 SM Boland AUS 37 1524 3191 82 18.59
2 JJ Bumrah IND 99 4631 10031 234 19.79
3 AK Davidson AUS 82 3819 11587 186 20.53
4 MD Marshall WI 151 7876 17584 376 20.95
5 J Garner WI 111 5433 13175 259 20.98
6 CEL Ambrose WI 179 8501 22103 405 20.99
7 NAT Adcock SA 46 2195 6391 104 21.11
8 M Jansen SA 38 1880 3408 89 21.12
9 FS Trueman ENG 127 6625 15178 307 21.58
10 GD McGrath AUS 243 12186 29248 563 21.64
11 K Rabada SA 134 7493 13436 340 22.04
12 PJ Cummins AUS 134 6946 14391 315 22.05
13 AA Donald SA 129 7344 15519 330 22.25
14 RJ Hadlee NZ 150 9612 21918 431 22.30
15 VD Philander SA 119 5000 11391 224 22.32
16 Imran Khan PAK 142 8258 19458 362 22.81
17 OE Robinson ENG 37 1742 3796 76 22.92
18 DW Steyn SA 171 10077 18608 439 22.95
19 SM Pollock SA 202 9733 24353 421 23.12
20 Mohammad Abbas PAK 48 2318 5554 100 23.18
21 CEH Croft WI 52 2913 6165 125 23.30
22 RJ Harris AUS 52 2658 5736 113 23.52
23 Waqar Younis PAK 154 8788 16224 373 23.56
24 Wasim Akram PAK 181 9778 22627 414 23.62
25 MA Holding WI 113 5898 12680 249 23.69
26 SR Clark AUS 48 2243 5146 94 23.86
27 DK Lillee AUS 132 8493 18467 355 23.92
28 PM Pollock SA 52 2806 6522 116 24.19
29 JR Hazlewood AUS 143 7144 15423 295 24.22
30 IR Bishop WI 76 3909 8413 161 24.28
31 Mohammad Asif PAK 44 2583 5170 106 24.37
32 CA Walsh WI 242 12688 30019 519 24.45
33 BA Reid AUS 42 2784 6244 113 24.64
34 Fazal Mahmood PAK 53 3434 9834 139 24.71
35 JB Statham ENG 129 6261 16056 252 24.85
36 RGD Willis ENG 165 8190 17357 325 25.20
37 AME Roberts WI 90 5174 11135 202 25.61
38 Shoaib Akhtar PAK 82 4574 8143 178 25.70
39 M Hendrick ENG 54 2248 6208 87 25.84
40 JNT Seales WI 49 2458 4329 95 25.87
41 DW Fleming AUS 38 1942 4129 75 25.89
42 JN Gillespie AUS 137 6770 14234 259 26.14
43 TL Goddard SA 75 3226 11736 123 26.23
44 JL Pattinson AUS 38 2133 3963 81 26.33
45 WW Hall WI 92 5066 10421 192 26.39
46 JM Anderson ENG 350 18627 40037 704 26.46
47 MA Starc AUS 202 11481 20013 433 26.52
48 BR Taylor NZ 53 2953 6334 111 26.60
49 JA Snow ENG 93 5387 12021 202 26.67
50 PR Reiffel AUS 67 2804 6403 104 26.96
51 KAJ Roach WI 159 7968 15406 294 27.10
52 G Dymock AUS 35 2116 5545 78 27.13
53 MJ Henry NZ 65 3799 7299 140 27.14
54 TM Alderman AUS 73 4616 10181 170 27.15
55 ARC Fraser ENG 79 4836 10876 177 27.32
56 AM Fernando SL 41 2187 3721 80 27.34
57 MHN Walker AUS 63 3792 10094 138 27.48
58 TA Boult NZ 149 8717 17416 317 27.50
59 N Wagner NZ 122 7169 13725 260 27.57
60 Hasan Ali PAK 48 2213 4355 80 27.66
61 M Morkel SA 160 8550 16498 309 27.67
62 SCJ Broad ENG 309 16719 33698 604 27.68
63 Mohammed Shami IND 122 6346 11515 229 27.71
64 Shaheen Shah Afridi PAK 56 3378 6401 121 27.92
65 JR Thomson AUS 90 5602 10535 200 28.01
66 CM Old ENG 81 4020 8858 143 28.11
67 HH Streak ZIM 102 6079 13559 216 28.14
68 DJ Brown ENG 46 2237 5098 79 28.32
69 MG Hughes AUS 97 6017 12285 212 28.38
70 D Gough ENG 95 6503 11821 229 28.40
71 IT Botham ENG 168 10878 21815 383 28.40
72 MG Johnson AUS 140 8891 16001 313 28.41
73 RM Hogg AUS 66 3503 7633 123 28.48
74 DJ Nash NZ 53 2649 6196 93 28.48
75 BW Hilfenhaus AUS 49 2822 6078 99 28.51
76 CC Griffith WI 50 2683 5631 94 28.54
77 CJ McDermott AUS 124 8332 16586 291 28.63
78 M Ntini SA 190 11242 20834 390 28.83
79 AN Connolly AUS 55 2981 7818 102 29.23
80 RO Collinge NZ 62 3392 7689 116 29.24
81 SB Doull NZ 51 2872 6053 98 29.31
82 CL Cairns NZ 104 6410 11698 218 29.40
83 NJN Hawke AUS 50 2677 6974 91 29.42
84 WPUJC Vaas SL 194 10501 23438 355 29.58
85 CR Woakes ENG 118 5687 11225 192 29.62
86 N Kapil Dev IND 227 12867 27740 434 29.65
87 M Siraj IND 84 4124 7007 139 29.67
88 GR Dilley ENG 65 4107 8192 138 29.76
89 GD McKenzie AUS 113 7328 17681 246 29.79
90 DG Cork ENG 62 3906 7678 131 29.82
91 AR Caddick ENG 105 6999 13558 234 29.91
92 TG Southee NZ 203 11832 23490 391 30.26
93 KCG Benjamin WI 48 2785 5132 92 30.27
94 JO Holder WI 122 4924 11305 162 30.40
95 ST Finn ENG 66 3800 6412 125 30.40
96 Mohammad Aamer PAK 67 3627 7619 119 30.48
97 J Srinath IND 121 7196 15104 236 30.49
98 MJ Hoggard ENG 122 7564 13909 248 30.50
99 GF Lawson AUS 78 5501 11118 180 30.56
100 PM Siddle AUS 126 6777 13907 221 30.67

TOP 100 PACERS WITH BEST R AVE IN TEST CRICKET

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
RANK BOWLER NAT INNS RUNS BALLS WKTS AVE R AVE
1 JJ Bumrah IND 99 4631 10031 234 19.79 19.33
2 SM Boland AUS 37 1524 3191 82 18.59 19.93
3 Mohammad Asif PAK 44 2583 5170 106 24.37 20.10
4 DW Steyn SA 171 10077 18608 439 22.95 20.91
5 RJ Harris AUS 52 2658 5736 113 23.52 20.98
6 VD Philander SA 119 5000 11391 224 22.32 21.10
7 CEL Ambrose WI 179 8501 22103 405 20.99 21.12
8 GD McGrath AUS 243 12186 29248 563 21.64 21.34
9 SR Clark AUS 48 2243 5146 94 23.86 21.49
10 OE Robinson ENG 37 1742 3796 76 22.92 21.62
11 MD Marshall WI 151 7876 17584 376 20.95 21.69
12 M Jansen SA 38 1880 3408 89 21.12 21.82
13 Imran Khan PAK 142 8258 19458 362 22.81 21.84
14 J Garner WI 111 5433 13175 259 20.98 22.01
15 AK Davidson AUS 82 3819 11587 186 20.53 22.05
16 K Rabada SA 134 7493 13436 340 22.04 22.16
17 RJ Hadlee NZ 150 9612 21918 431 22.30 22.35
18 PJ Cummins AUS 134 6946 14391 315 22.05 22.41
19 AA Donald SA 129 7344 15519 330 22.25 22.53
20 CEH Croft WI 52 2913 6165 125 23.30 22.74
21 JL Pattinson AUS 38 2133 3963 81 26.33 23.09
22 SM Pollock SA 202 9733 24353 421 23.12 23.13
23 FS Trueman ENG 127 6625 15178 307 21.58 23.28
24 NAT Adcock SA 46 2195 6391 104 21.11 23.48
25 JM Anderson ENG 350 18627 40037 704 26.46 23.80
26 Mohammad Abbas PAK 48 2318 5554 100 23.18 23.81
27 JR Hazlewood AUS 143 7144 15423 295 24.22 23.88
28 IR Bishop WI 76 3909 8413 161 24.28 23.95
29 DK Lillee AUS 132 8493 18467 355 23.92 24.00
30 Wasim Akram PAK 181 9778 22627 414 23.62 24.12
31 Fazal Mahmood PAK 53 3434 9834 139 24.71 24.17
32 BA Reid AUS 42 2784 6244 113 24.64 24.36
33 CA Walsh WI 242 12688 30019 519 24.45 24.38
34 Shoaib Akhtar PAK 82 4574 8143 178 25.70 24.52
35 Waqar Younis PAK 154 8788 16224 373 23.56 24.63
36 PM Pollock SA 52 2806 6522 116 24.19 24.64
37 BW Hilfenhaus AUS 49 2822 6078 99 28.51 24.66
38 JB Statham ENG 129 6261 16056 252 24.85 24.73
39 MA Holding WI 113 5898 12680 249 23.69 24.74
40 M Morkel SA 160 8550 16498 309 27.67 24.77
41 RGD Willis ENG 165 8190 17357 325 25.20 25.02
42 MG Johnson AUS 140 8891 16001 313 28.41 25.04
43 SCJ Broad ENG 309 16719 33698 604 27.68 25.32
44 TA Boult NZ 149 8717 17416 317 27.50 25.53
45 JN Gillespie AUS 137 6770 14234 259 26.14 25.69
46 Mohammed Shami IND 122 6346 11515 229 27.71 25.72
47 AME Roberts WI 90 5174 11135 202 25.61 25.82
48 M Hendrick ENG 54 2248 6208 87 25.84 25.83
49 JA Snow ENG 93 5387 12021 202 26.67 25.86
50 BR Taylor NZ 53 2953 6334 111 26.60 25.93
51 ARC Fraser ENG 79 4836 10876 177 27.32 25.99
52 MA Starc AUS 202 11481 20013 433 26.52 26.03
53 JNT Seales WI 49 2458 4329 95 25.87 26.07
54 WW Hall WI 92 5066 10421 192 26.39 26.07
55 MJ Henry NZ 65 3799 7299 140 27.14 26.20
56 KAJ Roach WI 159 7968 15406 294 27.10 26.31
57 TL Goddard SA 75 3226 11736 123 26.23 26.44
58 DW Fleming AUS 38 1942 4129 75 25.89 26.46
59 MHN Walker AUS 63 3792 10094 138 27.48 26.48
60 PM Siddle AUS 126 6777 13907 221 30.67 26.49
61 PR Reiffel AUS 67 2804 6403 104 26.96 26.52
62 CC Griffith WI 50 2683 5631 94 28.54 26.64
63 G Dymock AUS 35 2116 5545 78 27.13 26.68
64 N Wagner NZ 122 7169 13725 260 27.57 26.73
65 WPUJC Vaas SL 194 10501 23438 355 29.58 26.79
66 Mohammad Aamer PAK 67 3627 7619 119 30.48 26.93
67 TM Alderman AUS 73 4616 10181 170 27.15 27.09
68 Hasan Ali PAK 48 2213 4355 80 27.66 27.18
69 JR Thomson AUS 90 5602 10535 200 28.01 27.22
70 AN Connolly AUS 55 2981 7818 102 29.23 27.29
71 NJN Hawke AUS 50 2677 6974 91 29.42 27.30
72 Shaheen Shah Afridi PAK 56 3378 6401 121 27.92 27.41
73 UT Yadav IND 112 5263 8979 170 30.96 27.44
74 AM Fernando SL 41 2187 3721 80 27.34 27.49
75 D Gough ENG 95 6503 11821 229 28.40 27.50
76 IK Pathan IND 54 3226 5884 100 32.26 27.54
77 M Ntini SA 190 11242 20834 390 28.83 27.62
78 GD McKenzie AUS 113 7328 17681 246 29.79 27.74
79 I Sharma IND 188 10078 19160 311 32.41 27.77
80 DJ Nash NZ 53 2649 6196 93 28.48 27.87
81 CL Cairns NZ 104 6410 11698 218 29.40 27.95
82 SB Doull NZ 51 2872 6053 98 29.31 28.04
83 MG Hughes AUS 97 6017 12285 212 28.38 28.05
84 CM Old ENG 81 4020 8858 143 28.11 28.10
85 N Kapil Dev IND 227 12867 27740 434 29.65 28.11
86 CJ McDermott AUS 124 8332 16586 291 28.63 28.11
87 HH Streak ZIM 102 6079 13559 216 28.14 28.19
88 ST Finn ENG 66 3800 6412 125 30.40 28.20
89 SJ Harmison ENG 115 7192 13375 226 31.82 28.27
90 MJ Hoggard ENG 122 7564 13909 248 30.50 28.37
91 DJ Brown ENG 46 2237 5098 79 28.32 28.39
92 TG Southee NZ 203 11832 23490 391 30.26 28.50
93 Zaheer Khan IND 165 10247 18785 311 32.95 28.82
94 A Flintoff ENG 137 7410 14951 226 32.79 28.83
95 AR Caddick ENG 105 6999 13558 234 29.91 28.83
96 MA Wood ENG 71 3665 6610 119 30.80 28.85
97 IT Botham ENG 168 10878 21815 383 28.40 28.98
98 CD Collymore WI 53 3004 6337 93 32.30 29.03
99 RO Collinge NZ 62 3392 7689 116 29.24 29.09
100 Umar Gul PAK 90 5553 9599 163 34.07 29.15

BRIEF EXPLANATION

Dynamic Nature

Most of our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier bowlers may change if current bowlers set new benchmarks.

Top Teams (TT)

  1. An opposition is counted as a TT considering its Win/Loss (WL) Ratios in last 7 years.
  2. Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia and Overall WL Ratio is considered.
  3. The WL Ratio should be more than a certain value overall or in specific condition.

Abbreviations

  1. AVE - Average or Runs/Wkt
  2. BLS - Balls
  3. ER - Economy Rate or Runs/Over
  4. FF, 5WH - Five Fors or 5 Wkt Hauls
  5. FP - First Played by Year
  6. INF - Infinite
  7. INNS - Innings
  8. LP - Last Played by Year
  9. MDNS - Maidens
  10. MP - Middle Played or (FP+LP)/2
  11. NA - Not Applicable
  12. NI - Not In Top
  13. NK - Not Known
  14. NO, * - Not Out
  15. NQ - Not Qualified
  16. OPP - Opposition
  17. OVRS - Overs
  18. SR - Strike Rate or Balls/Wkts
  19. TS - Trend Setter
  20. TT - Top Teams
  21. WKTS - Wickets Taken

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