Good batting wins you matches, but good bowling wins you tournaments. Being a quality, fast bowler in the era of batting-friendly surfaces is not an easy job(Especially when you are bowling on Asian tracks).
But some bowlers have shown their class in this era too. Some bowlers of today’s generation are even capable of creating fear in batsmen’s minds and winning matches on their own.
A bowler in the last decade is even capable of competing with legendary fast bowlers like Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, etc.
Here we will 8 Fast-Bowlers of the Last Decade in Test Cricket (2010-2019):
- Their overall stats in the last decade.
- Their stats (away from home) in the last decade.
- Their stats at Asian pitches in the last decade.
- Their records in winning contribution(stats in won matches) in the last decade.
Best 8 Fast-Bowlers of the Last Decade in Test Cricket (2010-2019)
8. Neil Wagner
The South African-born New Zealand Test player always remains unnoticed under the likes of his bowling partners(Trent Boult and Tim Southee).
He is always recognized as the third seamer in New Zealand. His records from the last decade will tell a completely different story. Wagner’s stats in the last decade are even better than his bowling partners, making him the best New Zealand fast bowler in the last decade(The only one from New Zealand on this list).
He has only taken a new ball three times in his Test career of 54 matches, which shows that he mainly depends on bounce rather than early swing, unlike other New Zealand bowlers. The control of his bowling(especially on his short deliveries) made him New Zealand’s go-to bowler with the old ball.
His stats in the last decade: 81 innings,201 wickets,26.51 average,51.6 strike rate,(9) 5w hauls
His stats away from home in the last decade: 31 innings,66 wickets,26.75 average,58.9 strike rate,(3) 5w hauls
His stats in Asia in the last decade: 9 innings,15 wickets,28.80 average,68.4 strike rate,(1) 5w hauls
His stats in won matches in the last decade: 41 innings,108 wickets,20.8 average,41.2 strike rate,(5) 5 w hauls.
Also, don’t forget to check out our article on
Best 8 Opening Batsmen of the Last Decade in Test Cricket (2010-2019)
7. Stuart Broad
The bowler who played the most no. of test matches in the last decade(111 matches, most by any player in a single decade) grabs 7th position in our list of The Best 8 Fast-Bowlers Of The Last Decade In Test Cricket (2010-2019)
He remains unnoticed due to his bowling partner James Anderson, who forms a deadly pair of swing and seam.
However, his records are not much significant to be on this list; But his longevity gives him an edge over other bowlers(who are not on this list), as he was the second-highest wicket-taker in the last decade.
He is only the second fast bowler(3rd overall) to take 400 test wickets in a single decade and the 4th fast bowler(7th overall) to reach the milestone of 500 test wickets.
Random Facts/Trivia About Stuart Broad:
- Among all the players playing currently, Broad is the most successful bowler in the history of the ashes, with 118 wickets in 58 innings with an average of 29.35.
- Broad has also won the most number of MOM awards in test cricket(among all the bowlers playing currently)
His stats in the last decade: 207 innings,403 wickets,27.65 average,56.6 strike rate,(14) 5w hauls,(2) 10w hauls
His stats away from home in the last decade: 83 innings,139 wickets,31.99 average,68.2 strike rate,(4) 5w hauls
His stats in Asia in the last decade: 29 innings,38 wickets,35.13 average,76 strike rate
His stats in won matches in the last decade: 96 innings,210 wickets,20.39 average,43.7 strike rate,(8) 5w hauls,(2) 10w hauls
6. Mohammed Shami
Being a fast bowler in Asian conditions is not an easy task to do. But that is not the case for the next player on our list “Mohammed Shami”.
He is undoubtedly the best Asian fast bowler of the last decade and also the first and only Asian bowler to feature in our list of The Best 8 Fast-Bowlers Of The Last Decade In Test Cricket (2010-2019)
His skill set as a fast bowler is quite marvelous. He can swing the ball in both directions, can seam the ball, can even do reverse swing with the old ball(excelled in this skill), and has a great pace(can consistently bowl with a pace of around 140-145 kph).
He is also the lead bowler of the Indian team in this format and consistently delivers in the white jersey for his team. His fitness levels are too good, which helped him succeed in all the game formats.
Indian team and their fans want Shami to do well in this WTC cycle so they can finish this tournament on a high.
Fact: Shami was the best fast bowler of the Indian team in the last WTC cycle, with 40 wickets.
His stats in the last decade: 91 innings,175 wickets,27.09 average,49.1 strike rate,(5) 5w hauls
His stats away from home in the last decade: 59 innings,113 wickets,30.39 average,52.3 strike rate,(3) 5w hauls
His stats in Asia in the last decade: 38 innings,72 wickets,20.61 average,41.6 strike rate,(2) 5w hauls
His stats in won matches in the last decade: 50 innings,95 wickets,20.69 average,40.6 strike rate,(3) 5w hauls
5. Kagiso Rabada
No bowler in the last decade has a better bowling strike rate than Kagiso Rabada. He is the second South African and youngest bowler to feature on this list.
Even though he made his test debut in November 2015; His performances in almost 4 years in the last decade are enough to include him in the list of The Best 8 Fast-Bowlers Of The Last Decade In Test Cricket (2010-2019)
After the retirement of senior bowlers such as Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, Rabada started to lead his team’s pace attack, and he never disappointed his team and South African fans with his bowling performances in that format of the game.
Also, after his brilliant 10w haul against(11 wickets), He became the fourth South African bowler to cross 900 points in the ICC test bowler rankings.
He is just 26 years old and could become one of the future best bowlers in cricket history. His team wants him to perform well in this WTC cycle; So that they can finish at least better than the previous WTC cycle.
Fact: He is the youngest bowler in cricket history to grab 150 test wickets
His stats in the last decade: 75 innings,190 wickets,22.57 average,40 strike rate,(9) 5w hauls,(4) 10w hauls
His stats away from home in the last decade: 29 innings,56 wickets,30.16 average,57.4 strike rate,(1) 5w hauls
His stats in Asia in the last decade: 13 innings,17 wickets,34.52 average,68.1 strike rate
4. Morne Morkel
An in-and-out tall fast bowler who remained under the shadow of his great bowling partners (Philander and Steyn) comes next on our list.
Popularly known as lobster(His nickname), Morkel in, at his peak (due to his ability to generate pace and bounce), is a nightmare even for some top-class batsmen (especially left-handers).
Although he didn’t get much limelight in his career, as his team was full of match winners such as AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla, Faf Du Plessis, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, etc.
When you are not the first-choice bowler for your team, your chances of taking wickets will be significantly reduced. However, Morkel proved this theory completely wrong and showed his worth even as a second or third seamer.
Although, He retired early from international cricket for personal reasons, In his career of more than 10 years, he showed everyone how deadly he could be on his own day.
Fact: He made his ODI debut for Africa XI and played his last T20I for World XI.
His stats in the last decade: 125 innings,248 wickets,25.99 average,52.3 strike rate,(7) 5w hauls
His stats away from home in the last decade: 58 innings,116 wickets,27.28 average,55.5 strike rate,(3) 5w hauls
His stats in Asia in the last decade: 22 innings,34 wickets,30.64 average,67 strike rate,(1) 5w hauls
His stats in won matches in the last decade: 64 innings,129 wickets,21.93 average,44.3 strike rate,(3) 5w hauls
3. Mitchell Starc
The man who bowled the 5th fastest delivery in cricket history comes next on this list(160.4 kph/99.7 mph)
Starc was undoubtedly the best ODI bowler of the last decade, which under shadows his great performances in this format of the game.
The left-arm pacer bowling at an extreme pace can even trouble the best batsman of his day. His art of reverse swing(quite rare in modern-day cricket) can do wonders on even a dead pitch for fast bowling.
He is also the lead bowler of the Australian team in this format (especially after the retirement of his bowling partner Mitchell Johnson in 2018), and his stats in the last decade have proved him the best fast bowler in his team; that too, by a fair margin.
Fact: Among all non-Asian bowlers, Starc is the only player with a bowling strike rate of less than 50 in Asia in the last decade
His stats in the last decade: 107 innings,240 wickets,27.08 average,48.2 strike rate,(13) 5w hauls,(2) 10w hauls
His stats away from home in the last decade: 48 innings,94 wickets,28.65 average,50.7 strike rate,(6) 5w hauls,(1) 10w haul
His stats in Asia in the last decade: 19 innings,37 wickets,27.94 average,49.2 strike rate,(3) 5w hauls,(1) 10w haul
His stats in won matches in the last decade: 59 innings,140 wickets,23.47 average,43.1 strike rate,(7) 5w hauls,(1) 10w hauls
2. James Anderson
The player with the most no. of test wickets among all the fast bowlers(3rd overall) in the game’s history grabs 2nd position in our list.
Anderson is the highest wicket-taker of the last decade in test cricket and also set the record for taking the most wickets in a single decade for a fast bowler(2nd overall).
His swing bowling has troubled various top-class batsmen, such as Virat Kohli, Pujara, Warner, Williamson, etc.
He has also been his team’s lead bowler (his stats proved that) for more than 10 years, which is a big achievement for a fast bowler.
Even at this age, his fitness level and dedication to the game made him a legend of this format.
Fact: He is the only fast bowler in cricket history to grab 600 test wickets.
His stats in the last decade: 200 innings,429 wickets,24.35 average,54.9 strike rate,(20) 5w hauls,(3) 10w hauls
His stats away from home in the last decade: 90 innings,165 wickets,29.41 average,65.4 strike rate,(5) 5w hauls
His stats in Asia in the last decade: 32 innings,48 wickets,27.70 average,66.9 strike rate,(1) 5w hauls
His stats in won matches in the last decade: 95 innings,232 wickets,18.23 average,43.2 strike rate,(13) 5w hauls,(3) 10w hauls
1. Dale Steyn
When you are regarded as the greatest fast bowler in test cricket in a country that produces bowlers like Ntini, Pollock, Donald, etc, you must have done something extraordinary in your career.
Steyn was undoubtedly the best fast-bowler of the last decade in test cricket by a fair distance. He topped the ICC test bowlers rankings for 5 years in the last decade(2010-2014,2016), which is an unmatched achievement.
Conditions don’t matter much for a bowler of his caliber as he performed in almost all the conditions in test cricket(His 10w haul in the Nagpur test against India is a prime example of his class).
Steyn, in his prime, can even be considered in the list of greatest fast bowlers ever. He was once a generation bowler(His stats below are enough to prove this) and the most important player in his country’s dominance in this format in the last decade(up to 2016)
Fact: Steyn’s bowling strike rate(42.3) is the best among all the bowlers who have taken more than 250 wickets in test cricket.
His stats in the last decade: 108 innings,267 wickets,22.29 average,43.9 strike rate,(15) 5w hauls,(2) 10w hauls
His stats away from home in the last decade: 47 innings,106 wickets,25.28 average,49.4 strike rate,(5) 5w hauls,(1) 10w hauls
His stats in Asia in the last decade: 22 innings,46 wickets,26.65 average,51.4 strike rate,(2) 5w hauls,(1) 10w hauls
His stats in won matches in the last decade: 96 innings,210 wickets,20.39 average,43.7 strike rate,(8) 5w hauls,(2) 10w hauls
Graphical Comparison of the Bowling Average of the Best 8 Fast-Bowlers in the Last Decade (2010-2019) In Test Cricket
Graphical Comparison of the Bowling Strike Rate of the Best 8 Fast-Bowlers in the Last Decade (2010-2019) In Test Cricket
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