The greatest bowlers of the modern era

4. Glenn McGrath

One of cricket’s most loved personalities, McGrath’s behaviour on and off the field was befitting his nickname Pigeon. He is the highest wicket taker amongst fast bowlers, with 563 scalps to his name. He is also hailed as one of the pillars of the tremendous success that Australia enjoyed through the 1990s.

McGrath wasn’t of those Australian breed of fast, fearsome aggressive bowlers who would be breathing down your neck at all times. He was blessed with an extraordinary control over the ball and was perhaps the most accurate bowler the world has ever seen. He holds the record of dismissing a single batsman most number of times – Michael Atherton was dismissed 19 times by McGrath in his career.

3. Shane Warne

One of cricket’s most famous moments is that of Mike Gatting being bowled by a viciously turning delivery that pitched way outside leg and turned in to take the batsman’s off stump. The man behind the delivery, Shane Warne, is just as famous as his Ball of the Century.

Shane Warne’s brilliant career on the field was matched with infamous scandals off it, making him the proverbial bad boy of cricket. One shouldn’t overlook his stats though as his 708 scalps are the second best on the all time list. Warne was without doubt the greatest leg spinner to ever play the game, and he was noted for being able to turn the ball at astonishing angles, as a certain Andrew Strauss would be able to confirm.

He was also selected by Wisden in 2000 as one of the five cricketers of the century, and was the only one still playing cricket at the time of receiving this honour.