The hardest format in the game of cricket demands the highest quality and produces the toughest players. The dominance of a team in a test is very much dependent on the bowlers themselves. Taking wickets in regular interval's is something that the best bowlers do for their team. It's all about controlling sessions for being at the top after the end of the day's play & the bowlers take a huge role in this. In the history of Test Cricket, many bowlers have proved their ability to take important wickets in crucial times.
However, Let's discuss the Top 5 bowlers with the best strike rates in the longest format of the game (Min. 250 Wickets).
#1. Dale Steyn | Strike Rate 42.3
The South-African fast bowler, Dale Steyn is known for his speed & swinging ability with the bowl, especially in the longest format of the game. Although the South African left Test cricket in 2019, he comes at the top of our list. Steyn has the best strike rate among all in this list. However, he has a strike rate of 42.3 in the red-ball format of the game. Also, Steyn has 439 wickets in this format including 26 fifers and with an average of 22.95. Let's take a better look at Dale Steyn's bowling stats in Test Cricket.
Test Cricket Bowling Stats :
Innings | 171 |
Wickets | 439 |
Average | 22.95 |
Strike Rate | 42.3 |
Fifer's | 26 |
10fer's | 5 |
Also Read Cricket stats: Analysis of Test batting averages of the "Fab Four"
#2. Waqar Younis | Strike Rate 43.4
Waqar Younis was one of the greatest bowlers in cricket world history & also for Pakistan cricket. The Pakistan legend comes just after Dale Steyn in terms of the best strike rate in test cricket history. Waqar has a strike rate of 43.4 in the longer format of the game. Also, Waqar Younis has 373 wickets in this format including 22 fifers and with an average of 23.56. Let's take a better look at Waqar Younis's bowling stats in Test Cricket.
Test Cricket Bowling Stats :
Innings | 154 |
Wickets | 373 |
Average | 23.56 |
Strike Rate | 43.4 |
Fifer's | 22 |
10fer's | 5 |
#3. Malcolm Marshall | Strike Rate 46.7
One of the cricket's legends Malcolm Marshall of West Indies comes after Steyn & Waqar in this list. However, Malcolm Marshall has a strike rate of 46.7 in the red-ball format of the game. Also, Marshall has 376 wickets in this format including 22 fifers and with an average of 20.95. Let's take a better look at Malcolm Marshall's bowling stats in Test Cricket.
Test Cricket Bowling Stats :
Innings | 151 |
Wickets | 376 |
Average | 20.95 |
Strike Rate | 46.7 |
Fifer's | 22 |
10fer's | 4 |
Read Also: Highest batting average as captain in tests in England
#4. Allan Donald | Strike Rate 47.0
Former South-African cricketer Allan Donald comes at the fourth spot on our list. However, the South-African is one of the greatest bowlers in Test Cricket history. Allan Donald has a strike rate of 47.0 in the longest format of the game. Also, Marshall has 376 wickets in this format including 22 fifers and with an average of 20.95. Let's take a better look at Malcolm Marshall's bowling stats in Test Cricket.
Test Cricket Bowling Stats :
Innings | 129 |
Wickets | 330 |
Average | 22.25 |
Strike Rate | 47.0 |
Fifer's | 20 |
10fer's | 3 |
Also Read: Most test wickets in England by Indian bowlers
#5. Mitchell Starc | Strike Rate 49.3
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc comes at the fifth spot in our list. Starc is currently one of the best pacers of Australian cricket irrespective of all formats. However, Starc has a strike rate of 49.3 in the red-ball format of the game. Starc has 255 wickets in this format including 13 fifers and with an average of 27.57. Let's take a better look at Mitchell Starc's bowling stats in Test Cricket.
Test Cricket Bowling Stats :
Innings | 117 |
Wickets | 255 |
Average | 27.57 |
Strike Rate | 49.3 |
Fifer's | 13 |
10fer's | 2 |
N.B: The stats are accurate as of 01/09/2021.