The popular opinion held by cricket fans is that the Test Matches are the only way of appreciating the original game. It is a genuine test of the quality and perseverance of the player. The form requires a prepared strategy to withstand and succeed in the battle. The bowlers have an immense role in the game as they can change the momentum in no time. A group of statistics noted for each bowler in a particular inning- number of overs rolled, number of maiden overs bowled, number of runs allowed, and number of wickets exerted defines the bowling average.
1. JC Laker
James Charles Laker was a former right-arm off-break bowler on the English side. He made his test debut against West Indies at Bridgetown on 21 January 1948 and his last game against Australia at Melbourne on 13 February 1959. Laker holds the record of best bowling figures in a match where he took 19 wickets against Australia on 26 July 1956 by giving 90 runs in 68 overs with an economy of 1.32.
2. SF Barnes
Sydney Francis Barnes was a former right-arm fast-medium bowler on the English side. He launched his test career against Australia in Sydney in 1901, and his last match was against South Africa at Durban in 1914. On 26 December 1913, Barnes took his best bowling figures against South Africa at Johannesburg, where he bowled 65.3 overs and took 17 wickets giving 159 runs with an economy of 2.42.
3. John Briggs
John Briggs was a former slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He played his first test match against Australia at Adelaide on 12 December 1884 and his last game on 29 June 1899 against Australia at Leeds. On 25 March 1889, he took his career-best bowling figures in a test match against South Africa at Cape Town, where he bowled 33.4*4 overs and took 15 wickets by giving 28 runs with an economy of 1.24.
4. GA Lohmann
George Alfred Lohmann was a former right-arm fast-medium bowler on the English side. He played his test match against Australia in 1886. George took his career-best bowling figures on 13 February 1896 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth, where he bowled 25.3*5 overs and took 15 wickets by giving 45 runs with an economy of 2.10.
5. Colin Blythe
Colin Blythe was a former slow left-arm orthodox bowler on the English side. He made his Test appearance against Australia in 1901, and his last match against South Africa in 1910. Blythe achieved his career-best bowling figures against South Africa on 29 July 1907, where he bowled 38.3 overs and took 15 wickets giving, 99 runs with an economy of 2.57.
6. Hedley Verity
Hedley Verity was a former slow left-arm orthodox bowler on the English side. He played his first test match against New Zealand at The Oval on 29 July 1931, and his last game on 24 June 1939 against West Indies at Lord's. Headley achieved his career-best bowling figures against Australia on 22 June 1934, where he bowled 58.3 overs and took 15 wickets giving, 104 runs with an economy of 1.77.
7. Wilfred Rhodes
Wilfred Rhodes was a former slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He played his first test match against Australia in 1899 and his last game against West Indies in 1930. On 1 January 1904, he took his career-best bowling figures against Australia, where he bowled 30.2 overs and took 15 wickets giving, 124 runs with an economy of 4.08.
8. AV Bedser
Alec Victor Bedser was a former right-hand batter and right-arm medium-fast bowler in the England cricket team. Popular as Sir Alec Bedser, he was an inswinger who made his test debut in 1946. On 11 June 1953, he took his career-best bowling figures against Australia, where he bowled 55.5 overs and took 14 wickets giving, 99 runs with an economy of 1.77.
9. Willie Bates
Willie Bates was a former right-arm off-break bowler on the English side. He made his test debut against Australia at Melbourne on 31 December 1881 and his last match against Australia at Sydney on 25 February 1887. Bates achieved his career-best bowling figures against Australia on 19 January 1883, where he bowled 59.2*4 overs and took 14 wickets by giving 102 runs with an economy of 2.57.
10. DL Underwood
Derek Leslie Underwood is a former right-hand batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler in England's cricket team. Nicknamed Deadly, the left-arm spinner was a nightmare for the batters of the rival team. He made his test debut in 1966 against West Indies. The England bowler took his career-best bowling figures against Pakistan at Lord's on 8 August 1974, where he bowled 48.5 overs and took 13 wickets giving, 71 runs with an economy of 1.45.
