Top 10 Test fast bowlers in the world

Despite the slam bang T20 format taking centre-stagethese days, aTest cricket fan will alwaysrate anintense battle between bat and ball in whites above all. Genuinefast bowling can bea treat to watch particularly when the strip provides an equal chance to both craftsmen. A seamer bowling in the mid 140s and taking the ball past the outside edge, invitingthe aahs and ooohs around the ground, can never be matched by anyT20 atmosphere, however noisy they maybe. A cover drive on the up against the fast seaming back-of-a-length delivery after playing and missing the whole over is something that will make everyone applaud for the quality rather than the quantity in runs. Setting up a batsmen is an art that will be so intimidating for the striker sometimes.Herelet us have a look at the Top 10fast bowlers who have continuously troubled the batsmen in recent times.

#10 Peter Siddle

The Victorian bowler has been a regular for Australia and has decent numbers to show for his hard work. As the third seamer, he has enough teeth to run through a batting order on his own. He uses the surface to good effect and explores the seam movement off the pitch to help himself to a handful of wickets.

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#9 Trent Boult

The young Blackcaps seamer has grown in reputation over the last few seasons and is now a prominent face among the New Zealand bowling line-up. The left-arm pacer can clock in the high-140s making him a threat even on slow surfaces. With a simple bowling action, Boult has been amongst the wickets consistently, thus helping his team to snatch difficult periods of play. He has nicely complimented Tim Southee and has picked up more wickets than his senior partner since 2013.

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#8 Vernon Philander

The 29-year-old Protean is an impact performer who is talented enough to produce those special deliveries to send back the batsmen to the pavilion. Not someone who bowls at a high pace, he is very effective with respect to the quality required for Test cricket. The right-arm seamer is a proven match-winner and can excel when his teammates have an off-day, putting his hand up in times of difficulty.

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#7 Tim Southee

The Kiwi frontline seamer with controlled seam movement off the pitch is reaping rewards lately for his provoking spells. The 25-year-old right-arm pacer as the leader of his country’s bowling attack is quite underrated in world cricket. With an impressive average of 24 in last couple of seasons, the thinking bowler has made a strong case for himself to be compared with the best of the world.

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#6 Stuart Broad

The 28-year-old new ball bowler has surprisingly been more effective than his teammate James Anderson with the second new ball in recent times and matches his wickets tally too. He largely operates in the good length area outside the off-stump inviting the batsmen to drive. He has lived up to the confidence of his team management and is more effective against the tail. He has a surprise inswinger to infect serious damage with his line and length.

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#5 Morne Morkel

A member of the top fast bowling attack in the world, Morkel might not have that great stats against his name to underline his importance to the team, but the 29-year-old’s contribution to his bowling partners are invaluable. He forms a deadly combination with Steyn, bowling in tandem. The Protean’s trademark back of a length deliveries in the corridor of uncertainty puts the batsman in two minds – whether to attack or leave.

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#4 James Anderson

The swing bowler from England leads the wicket-takers list of bowlers since January 2013. With 92 wickets since last year, the perfect bowler for English conditions is also the highest wicket taker among active pacers in the world. He has a deadly inswinger up his sleeve with an equally good outswinging delivery. A master in setting up batsmen for a dismissal, he is an asset to have in overcast conditions. A little lesser effective in unhelpful conditions, is the reason he is not in the top 3 on this list.

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#3 Ryan Harris

The partner in crime for Mitchell Johnson with Australia and a vital cog of their pace battery, Ryan Harris is a fine bowler in his own right. Not many bowlers in the world can match up to the impact he has with the ball. The greatness of his country’s fast bowling options overshadows his potential as a strike bowler. His 56 wickets since 2013 have come at an average of 21.66 – next only to Johnson and Steyn.

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#2 Mitchell Johnson

The Australian quick has been at his menacing best in recent times and stats indicate the same. His short ball bursts against England in the last Ashes series resulted in largely unplayable deliveries. He can trouble any world-class batsman on a given day. The 32-year-old will keep the batsmen on his toes and his slightly round-arm action helps his case of banging the ball short. Some even rate him as the world No.1 for his exploits over the last couple of seasons.

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#1 Dale Steyn

The South African pace spearhead is undoubtedly the deadliest bowler in the world at the moment. No introduction needed to the vast bowling variations in his armory. The specialist in working out a batsman with precise strategies, while operating with innate control. He can consistently land deliveries on areas he wants to bowl in, thus leaving the batsmen with very minimal chances for error. Has taken six 5-fors since last season – the highest among fast bowlers.

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