Most Underrated Bowler for Each of the Top 8 Test Nations

Every Test nation has its fair share of exciting bowling talent, whether it be blistering pace or cleverly deceiving spin. Yet not all bowlers get their fair share of the plaudits. This may be due to their lack of boisterous character traits, the impressive quality of their fellow bowlers, or statistics that don't quite acknowledge the job they do for their team. This list aims to give those individuals some well-earned respect and love.

This list is, of course, subjective. The bowlers featured are often some of the best in the world, and thus the reason they are on this list may vary. However, here's a compelling case to argue that even some of the most highly rated bowlers are still vastly underappreciated, despite performing at peak levels for some time.

#1 Australia - Josh Hazlewood - 195 wickets (Avg - 26.20 / SR - 56.5)

Australia v New Zealand - 1st Test: Day 2

Josh Hazlewood is highly regarded around the world for both his pace and accuracy, but too often he flies under the radar due to the skills of Pat Cummins and the raw pace of Mitchell Starc. He even has to play alongside Australia's most successful off-spinner in Nathan Lyon, all of which means he doesn't necessarily get the credit he deserves.

Hazlewood is often underrated by his own country and sometimes even his own team management, who dropped him for the first Ashes Test of 2019. He did return to the line-up and was a mainstay for the rest of the series, collecting 20 scalps at less that 22 apiece. Yet, it was still Cummins that got the plaudits, correctly, for his unrelenting accuracy and power. But that doesn't mean Hazlewood shouldn't also be given his due.

Maybe it's due to his injuries not allowing him an extended period in the team like Cummins has enjoyed over the past few years, or the fact he seems to quietly go about his business off the field. On the other hand, it is clear that any team would be lucky to have Hazlewood in their side. His statistics for a player often bowling on Australia's flat decks are outstanding, so lets appreciate him whilst he's around.

#2 England - Sam Curran - 32 wickets (Avg 29.48 / SR 54.8)

South Africa v England - 1st Test: Day 1

The England bowling line-up has been about Stuart Broad and James Anderson for the past decade, and rightly so considering their incredible performance levels. Yet in the year that Jofra Archer emerged as a world beater, the left hand medium pace of Sam Curran has been consistently overlooked.

Curran's statistics are not incredible, but what is important about Curran is that he seems to make things happen at important times. A prime example for this came in the recent Newlands Test, when he was able to squeeze out Pieter Malan at a time when the Proteas looked certain to cruise to a draw. This pivotal moment allowed England to secure a hard fought and unlikely victory, and surely every player's worth is based on whether he can inspire a team to victory.

England are not known for producing left-arm seamers, but in Curran they may well have found a gem. Hopefully, as time goes on, people will be able to appreciate the skill and swing of Curran in the way they adore the pace of Archer or the longevity of Anderson.

#3 India - Mohammed Shami - 175 wickets (Avg - 27.09 / SR 49.1)

Australia v India - 3rd Test: Day 4

Mohammed Shami is a superb bowler. He can bowl with good pace whilst seaming and swinging the ball consistently. Yet he often plays as the third seamer for the current Indian side, who are in possession of what is undoubtedly the best batch of quicks the country has ever produced.

The potency of Jasprit Bumrah and and the outstanding revival to Ishant Sharma's Test career mean they are often first mentioned when talking about the potency of this Indian side. However, with the best strike rate of anyone in this list (taking a wicket at less than every 50 balls delivered) Shami's own potency cannot be overlooked, especially considering he often plays on the flat and dry decks of India.

#4 New Zealand - Tim Southee - 270 wickets (Avg - 29.82 / SR 59.2)

Australia v New Zealand - 2nd Test: Day 3

Tim Southee is the unsung hero of the fast-bowler triumvirate that has made New Zealand so successful over the past few years. Indeed, his numbers may not be as good as those of Trent Boult or Neil Wagner, but that does not mean he is still not a vastly useful bowler to have in an arsenal of quicks.

His underrated nature was underlined in the recent Sydney Test, in which he was left out despite performing admirably in the first two encounters between New Zealand and Australia. Michael Vaughan, who was commentating on the match, called the decision "staggering", underlining just how important the quick is to the New Zealand bowling line-up.

The statistics Southee produces are not world-beating by any stretch, but his accuracy and reliability allow for Boult and Wagner to be more aggressive. Maybe we should start appreciating this wonderful swing bowler and the support he gives to his fellow quicks.

#5 Pakistan - Yasir Shah - 209 wickets (Avg 30.43 / SR 57.2)

New Zealand v Pakistan - 3rd Test: Day Four

It would be safe to say that Yasir Shah is a victim of his own success. When Yasir took his memorable 10 wickets in the match at Lords, his bowling average was as low as 23, an exceptional achievement for a leg-spinner. Since then, however, it would be fair to say his career has stagnated, and he did suffer a miserable tour with the ball in Australia earlier this winter.

Yet, his place in the team is still vital, and as an elder statesman he is still an important part of a young bowling unit. Furthermore, his statistics for a leg spinner are actually relatively respectable. Taking over 200 wickets at 30 a piece is no easy task for any bowler.

Shah may not be the bowler he once was, but that does not make him overrated. In fact he is vastly underrated considering the smart bowler he is. Let's hope he enjoys an Indian summer, and can be rated as highly as he once was again.

#6 South Africa - Keshav Maharaj - 105 wickets (Avg 33.05 / SR 60.2)

4th Sunfoil Test: South Africa v Australia, Day 4

Keshav Maharaj is South Africa's most successful spin bowler since readmission; he even sits second on the list for all-time spin bowling wicket takers for the country. However he often does not get the plaudits he deserves for bowling with great discipline on what are usually unhelpful surfaces for a spin bowler.

The underrated nature of Maharaj was underlined when Mark Boucher recently called him a "work in progress" despite the fact he has been a mainstay of the side since 2016. This sentiment does not appreciate the work the spinner does in holding up an end to allow the pace pair of Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander to rest up.

Every world class team needs a world-class spinner and Maharaj is certainly that, and yet the South Africans don't seem to appreciate what they have. Hopefully they will realise that without Maharaj's consistency and accuracy, Rabada and Philander may not have been able to pick up as many wickets as they have from the other end.

#7 Sri Lanka - Suranga Lakmal - 141 wickets (Avg 39 / SR 75)

Australia v Sri Lanka - 1st Test: Day 2

A career bowling average of 39 does not suggest a player is underrated. However, to appreciate the true effort and skill of Suranga Lakmal, one must look further than basic statistics and appreciate the nature and environment of where he plays most of his cricket.

Sri Lanka is probably the world's most friendly place to bowl spin, even better than India or Bangladesh. It is vital to appreciate this notion when understanding just how underrated Lakmal is. For instance, the great Jimmy Anderson has an average over 40 in Sri lanka. This underlines just how hard quicks have to work for their wickets in such unyielding conditions.

Had Lakmal played in England he would undoubtedly have had more scalps at a lower average. Yet the role he does for his team, holding up an end, or trying to grab a wicket with the new ball while it moves for a very short period early on, are vastly underrated. Hopefully people will soon appreciate the toil that went into every single one of Lakmal's Sri Lankan wickets.The game isn't always about statistics.

#8 West Indies - Jason Holder - 106 wickets (Avg 26.37 / SR 61.7)

West Indies v England 2nd Test - Day One

The big man from Barbados is often cited as one of the best all-rounders in Test cricket. Unfortunately, when it comes to his bowling, he is often overlooked in favor of the brutal pace of Shannon Gabriel or the resurgence of Kemar Roach as an outstanding quick bowler in the longest format.

The statistics Holder holds cannot be scoffed at, and he is indeed seen as a handy fourth-choice bowler. This may be due to his relative lack of pace (surprising since he stands 6-ft-7) or the fact he often bowls when the ball is not new and thus restricts the movement he can extract off the pitch. However, Holder would get into many a team as a third or fourth choice seamer due to his accuracy and bounce.

Holder is well regarded as an all-round cricketer, and hopefully he will also be held in high esteem as a bowler soon. His statistics and passion for the West Indies certainly mean he deserves his due.