Tests - Fast Bowlers With Best Strike Rates Featured

Top 25 Test Fast Bowlers With Best Strike Rates

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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 STRIKE RATES IN TEST CRICKET
2. TOP 25 Pacers WITH BEST R SR IN TEST CRICKET
Best Strike Rates

The first list simply gives you the bowlers with best strike rates in Test Cricket since 1950. The second list gives you the bowlers with best Relative Strike Rates (R SR). 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 STRIKE RATES IN TEST CRICKET

RANK BOWLER NAT FP LP INNS RUNS WKTS SR
1 K Rabada SA 2015 2023 104 6125 268 40.36
2 DW Steyn SA 2004 2019 171 10077 439 42.39
3 Waqar Younis PAK 1989 2003 154 8788 373 43.50
4 Shoaib Akhtar PAK 1997 2007 82 4574 178 45.75
5 MD Marshall WI 1978 1991 151 7876 376 46.77
6 PJ Cummins AUS 2011 2023 88 4548 214 46.94
7 AA Donald SA 1992 2002 129 7344 330 47.03
8 Mohammad Asif PAK 2005 2010 44 2583 106 48.77
9 JJ Bumrah IND 2018 2022 58 2815 128 48.97
10 CEH Croft WI 1977 1982 52 2913 125 49.32
11 FS Trueman ENG 1952 1965 127 6625 307 49.44
12 MA Starc AUS 2011 2022 144 8290 304 49.68
13 Mohammed Shami IND 2013 2022 114 5931 216 50.13
14 RJ Harris AUS 2010 2015 52 2658 113 50.76
15 VD Philander SA 2011 2020 119 5000 224 50.85
16 RJ Hadlee NZ 1973 1990 150 9612 431 50.85
17 J Garner WI 1977 1987 111 5433 259 50.87
18 MA Holding WI 1975 1987 113 5898 249 50.92
19 MG Johnson AUS 2007 2015 140 8891 313 51.12
20 ST Finn ENG 2010 2016 66 3800 125 51.30
21 UT Yadav IND 2011 2022 106 4984 165 51.62
22 D Gough ENG 1994 2003 95 6503 229 51.62
23 SL Malinga SL 2004 2010 59 3349 101 51.63
24 GD McGrath AUS 1993 2007 243 12186 563 51.95
25 DK Lillee AUS 1971 1984 132 8493 355 52.02
C SR

The Comparative Strike Rate (C SR) for bowlers is calculated by taken into account two factors:-

  • First is the SR of batsmen in the decades the bowler played.
  • Second is the SR of the opposition batsmen at Home, in Asia or outside Asia; whichever is applicable.
  • The SR of the opposing team’s batsmen is also calculated by decades.
  • Higher C SR 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 SR means the opposite.
R SR

The Relative Strike Rate (R SR) is calculated using the C SR. Its formula is (Bowler SR/C SR)*A Constant Factor. This constant doesn’t affect the rating as it is the same for everone. If your C SR is comparatively high, your R SR 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.
  • 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.

TOP 25 Pacers WITH BEST R SR IN TEST CRICKET

RANK BOWLER NAT FP LP INNS RUNS WKTS SR R SR
1 K Rabada SA 2015 2023 104 6125 268 40.36 44.25
2 Waqar Younis PAK 1989 2003 154 8788 373 43.50 44.47
3 Shoaib Akhtar PAK 1997 2007 82 4574 178 45.75 44.84
4 FS Trueman ENG 1952 1965 127 6625 307 49.44 45.11
5 DW Steyn SA 2004 2019 171 10077 439 42.39 45.14
6 Mohammad Asif PAK 2005 2010 44 2583 106 48.77 47.29
7 WW Hall WI 1958 1969 92 5066 192 54.28 47.46
8 AA Donald SA 1992 2002 129 7344 330 47.03 47.51
9 MD Marshall WI 1978 1991 151 7876 376 46.77 47.92
10 CEH Croft WI 1977 1982 52 2913 125 49.32 49.34
11 PM Pollock SA 1961 1970 52 2806 116 56.22 49.91
12 UT Yadav IND 2011 2022 106 4984 165 51.62 50.28
13 JJ Bumrah IND 2018 2022 58 2815 128 48.97 50.50
14 Mohammed Shami IND 2013 2022 114 5931 216 50.13 50.55
15 RJ Hadlee NZ 1973 1990 150 9612 431 50.85 50.98
16 D Gough ENG 1994 2003 95 6503 229 51.62 51.12
17 JR Thomson AUS 1972 1985 90 5602 200 52.68 51.22
18 DK Lillee AUS 1971 1984 132 8493 355 52.02 51.33
19 MA Holding WI 1975 1987 113 5898 249 50.92 51.42
20 SL Malinga SL 2004 2010 59 3349 101 51.63 51.60
21 BR Taylor NZ 1965 1973 53 2953 111 57.06 51.77
22 RGD Willis ENG 1971 1984 165 8190 325 53.41 51.80
23 J Garner WI 1977 1987 111 5433 259 50.87 51.82
24 PJ Cummins AUS 2011 2023 88 4548 214 46.94 52.42
25 IR Bishop WI 1989 1998 76 3909 161 52.25 52.73

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