Most Underrated Bowler for Each of the Top 8 Test Nations

#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.