Australia has some of the very fierce fast bowlers in the history of cricket. They have been stepping up in the game every time the team needs it. They have been very economical and delivered match-winning performances. In this article, let us have a look at the Top 10 fast-bowling spells by the Australian pacers:
1. Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath is one of the most celebrated cricketers of all time who delivered his best across both formats. His career-best ODI bowling figures came in the 2003 World Cup against Namibia, where he picked 7/15 with four maiden overs to register the best figures in the World Cup. His best bowling figures in the test came against Pakistan- 8/24 at the Perth in 2004 in the second innings of the match. Australia had won the game thanks to that spell.
2. Dennis Lillee
One of the best fast bowlers of his era, Dennis Lillee, registered his career-best performance in the Tests against the West Indies in 1981 while picking up seven wickets and conceding 83 runs. He bowled a spell of 5/34 at the Leeds against Pakistan in the League stage of the 1975 World Cup, his best in the ODI's. The spell ensured a 73-run victory for Australia.
3. Brett Lee
Brett Lee, fondly known as Australia's lethal weapon, was a threat to some of the best batters in the world. His bowling spells used to turn the tables, his best figures in ODI being 5/22 against South Africa in 2006, where Australia clinched a 59-run victory. His best test figures came against the West Indies in 2005, where he bowled a spell of 5/30, which saw Australia winning that match by 379 runs, one of their most enormous margins in test history.
4. Jeff Thompson
A perfect combination of fear and destruction, Jeff Thomson was a fierce fast bowler having a unique bowling action that allowed him an extra bounce. He has the figures 4/67 in the ODI as his career-best performance. His best test performance came while playing against their arch-rivals England, where he claimed a 6-wicket haul giving just 46 runs. Australia claimed a 166-run win over the visitors with his clinical bowling performance.
5. Charlie Turner
Earning the nickname "Terror," Charlie Turner had an impressive Test career, a man who reached 50 test wickets in just six matches. His record figures of 12 wickets for 87 runs remain unbeaten at the SCG against England. He was the first-ever Player to pick 100 wickets in the game's history, with his best bowling as 7/43.
6. Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson is one of the greatest bowlers of his time, a left-arm fast bowler who was a menace to the batters. He recorded his best bowling figures in the ODI at 6/31 in 10 overs against Sri Lanka, and he achieved this feat in his 100th ODI match. His excellent bowling spell took Australia to victory. His best test figures came in the historic game against South Africa, where he took eight wickets and just gave 61 runs.
7. Craig McDermott
Craig McDermott was the strike bowler of Australia in the late 1980s. He was at his prime best in the 1987 World Cup, where he took 18 wickets, including his career-best figures of 5/44 which came against Pakistan in the semi-final. Australia won the World Cup that year. His best performances generally came against their arch-rivals England, and so did his best test bowling spell, which was 8/97 in 1991.
8. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc's rise from a wicketkeeper to a dangerous pacer has been incredible. In the 2015 ODI World Cup, he picked up 22 wickets, recording his career-best figure of 6/28 against New Zealand to keep Australia alive in a low-scoring thriller. The left-arm pacer achieved his best test bowling figures vs. Sri Lanka, 6/50 in the second innings. However, both in the Tests and ODI, his effort went in vain as Australia lost both matches.
9. Jason Gillespie
An exceptional bowler, Jason Gillespie, added to the strength of the Australian team, which was at its best in the world then. In a test performance against England, he stunned the English batters to pick up 7/37 in just 13.4 overs. He ran through the batting line-up with his bowling picking up 5/22 against Pakistan in the ODI with 49 dot balls in his spell.
10. Ray Lindwall
One of the most feared fast bowlers made the Australian attack look even more vital. He was nicknamed "The Invincibles" and took 228 wickets from 61 tests, including 12 five-wicket hauls. He joined forces with Keith Miller; they were the most lethal pair to face for some of the finest batters. His best bowling performance came against India in the test, where he bowled a spell of 7/38 at Adelaide.
