Most Underrated Bowler for Each of the Top 8 Test Nations

#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.