Throughout the decades of cricket history, we have witnessed some of the most fantastic bowling spells in the World Cup that have blown our minds. Australia's bowlers have blown away batting line-ups in Test matches and Day International cricket. Australia, perhaps the best team globally since the turn of the century, has dominated the world because of its bowlers' outstanding performances. Over the years, the country has produced several excellent bowlers who have made a name for themselves via their incredible bowling. Here, we take a look at Australia's top ten bowlers.
1. Shane Warne
Shane Warne, the best leg-spinner in history, turned the ball dramatically. He had impeccable control over his lengths and variations and had a quick intellect that kept him one step ahead of batters. It's no wonder that Warne ended up with 700 Test wickets and 293 ODI wickets, thanks to these abilities. He has the maximum – wicket hauls of any Australian bowler, with 37 in Tests. Warne's multiple turns resulted in one of his deliveries being heralded as 'ball of the century,' with the one he bowled to Mike Gatting in 1993 receiving universal praise.
2. Glenn McGrath
The Australian bowler's height gave him an awkward stance that didn't impress batters who hadn't seen him in action. His consistent habit of patience, accuracy, and seamlessly injected pace tortured batters worldwide. Regardless of the pitch, he was successful on any surface and in any situation. Some of the best batsmen globally, including Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, who have played against Glenn McGrath, have high regard for his abilities. He took 380 wickets in 247 One Day Internationals and 563 Test cricket wickets during 243 innings. In One Day Internationals, he has a 3.87 economy rate.
3. Dennis Lillee
Dennis Lillee possessed the speed to threaten batters, the stamina to bowl like a workhorse, the attitude to crush the competition, and the charisma to entice the audience. It's no surprise that he ended his career as the leading wicket-taker of his era. Proved his power with his 31 wickets in the 1972 Ashes series, and in 1981, he drove the famous West Indies to a pulp by taking seven wickets in an inning. Lillee was undoubtedly a genuine match-winner, on whom the captain could always rely, and fixed the folks permanently.
4. Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon is one of Australia's greatest bowlers and unquestionably the most excellent spinner in history. His name will be etched in history forever with a 31.83 average and 269 wickets in only 69 Tests.
5. Jeff Thomson
With his intensity and precision of bowling, Jeff is considered one of the fastest and most terrifying batsmen globally. He and Dennis Lillee were the most feared bowling duo in Test cricket when they teamed up. With a 28.00 average, Jeff took 200 wickets in 51 Tests during his career. He took a wicket every nine overs.
6. Brett Lee
He was one of the quickest Australian bowlers in the league, making him a formidable opponent. He was the highest wicket-taker during the 2003 World Cup with 22 wickets. He was also named man-of-the-series during 2007/2008 Border – Gavaskar Trophy against India. Brett Lee became the second Australian bowler to reach over 300 Test wickets. In 76 Tests, he took 310 wickets, and in 227 ODIs, he took 380 wickets.
7. Mitchell Johnson
Injury troubles marred Mitchell Johnson's career, and he failed to turn promise into performance at the start of his career. His left–arm bowling was quick, precise, and had a lot of swings. Unfortunately, England and South Africa get forced to meet him at his peak season in 2013/14, and the statistics show the impact Johnson had.
8. Craig McDermott
With a fantastic score of 191 for 2 in the 1991 Perth match, it was evident that England would be kicking dust into the eyes of the Australians. That is until Craig McDermott began bowling and crushed England by taking eight wickets in a row, leaving England with 244 runs. He is one of Australia's most underappreciated bowlers, and he will go down in history as the Australian who single-handedly defeated England. In his career, he took 203 ODI wickets and 291 Test wickets.
9. Jason Gillespie
He partnered with Glenn to form one of Australia's best bowling duos ever, with his towering presence and ability to pitch the ball in suitable locations. He was in and out of Australia's team due to numerous injuries, but he still emerged as one of the best bowlers Australia has ever produced. He has only played in 71 Tests and 97 One–Day Internationals but has taken more than 400 wickets.
10. Charlie Turner
Those who have seen Charlie Turner bowl view him as one of the best bowlers in Test cricket, while those who have faced him believe that he is unbeatable. He was known as 'Terror' because he took 101 wickets at an average of 16.53 in 17 Tests. He took a wicket every nine overs and only gave up two runs per over. Turner has one of the best Test bowling records.
