5 most successful Ashes bowlers of All Time

The Ashes has been a platform many bowlers to carve a place for themselves in the books of history. For an upcoming cricketer from England or Australia, The Ashes is one of the biggest stages to perform and prove one's mettle in Test match cricket. While some players wither under the pressure of the occasion, some players manage to bring their A-game and shine!Some bowlers manage to wreak havoc in a match. Some manage to hit their purple patch for a series. Very few players have the talent and the aggression to continue doing it over the course of their career.The following five bowlers certainly liked fighting for the urn, and boast of an enviable record in The Ashes.

#1 Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath is the third highest wicket-taker in Ashes history.

Alongside Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath was part of an astonishingly talented Australian team which considered winning as their birthright.

McGrath's accuracy and discipline helped him snare 178 wickets in just 30 matches at a miserly average of 20.92. He was a part of seven Ashes-winning teams and lost just once – the epic Ashes 2005.

One of his best performances came during the 2nd Test of Australia's tour of England in 1997. In 20.3 overs, McGrath picked up eight wickets for just 38 runs which led to England being bundled out for just 77 in their first innings. Unfortunately, rain played saviour for the home side and the match ended in a draw.

#2 Harold Larwood

England’s Harold Larwood actually managed to trouble the legendary Don Bradman.

Larwood's Bodyline. You might have heard that line in the recently released advertisement 'We didn't start the fire' and wondered what it referred to. Well, Harold Larwood was a pace bowler who was good enough to give the legendary Don Bradman reasons to worry. In an interview, Larwood proclaimed, 'You know where I hit Bradman? On the ****' Larwood took his wicket four times in eight innings. Not a bad achievement at all!

On England's tour of Australia in 1932, Larwood took as many as 33 wickets and was the architect of England's 4-1 victory. He had a particular liking for Australian batsman, as 64 of his 78 Test wickets came against them.

His fast bouncers came under a lot of criticism for being dangerous.

#3 Dennis Lillee

Dennis Lillee made his debut in an Ashes Test, and took five wickets in the first innings.

Modern day batsmen are probably thanking their stars every time they realise they didn’t have to face someone like Dennis Lillee.

Lillee has taken a total of 167 wickets in the series. Those 167 scalps have come in just 29 Tests at an average of 21.00. His consistent services for his country earned him a place in Australia's Test team of the century.

Having made his Test debut during The Ashes, and started things in style - taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings. Other than his bowling, he was also known for sledging and had once walked out to face Ian Botham with an aluminium bat.

#4 Ian Botham

Ian Botham helped England win five of the seven Ashes series he played in.

Ian Botham has been England's most successful bowler against Australia, taking a total of 148 wickets in 36 matches.

Like Lillee, Botham too took a five-wicket haul in the first innings of his first ever Ashes Test match. It was only a beginning of things to come, as he played a total of seven Ashes series, out of which Australia could win just twice.

He contributed significantly with the bat too and is rightly considered as one of the greatest all-rounders to have ever played the game. Now seen in the commentary box, Botham had a controversial career outside the field and was once suspended for two months for smoking cannabis.

#5 Shane Warne

Shane Warne bowled the infamous ‘ball of the century’ during an Ashes match.

Ashes 1993 – Australia tour of England. Shane Warne announced himself on the big stage with the ‘ball of the century’ that rattled Mike Gatting.

The delivery was bowled on Day 2 of the first Test, and is said to have set the tone for the remainder of the series which Australia won 4-1.

Warne was a part of many more Ashes-winning teams and tormented English batsman for a long time. In a total of 36 matches, he took 195 wickets which is more than 1/4th of his total tally at an average of 23.25.