Test Matches are a genuine test of the quality and perseverance of the player. The format requires a combat-ready strategy to confront and win the battle. The bowlers have an immense role in the team as they can change the impulse in no time. A combination of statistics recorded for each bowler in a distinct inning- number of overs rolled, number of maiden overs bowled, number of runs allowed, and number of wickets exerted depicts the bowling average.
1. Imran Khan Niazi
Imran Khan Niazi is a former right-arm fast allrounder and a world cup-winning captain of Pakistan. He made his test appearance against England at Birmingham on 3 June 1971, and his last game was against Sri Lanka at Faisalabad on 2 January 1992. Imran played 88 games and took 362 wickets with an average of 22.81 and an economy of 2.54. He took 23 five-wicket hauls and 6 ten-wicket hauls. He achieved his best bowling figures against Sri Lanka at Lahore on 22 March 1982, where he bowled 52.2 overs and took 14 wickets giving, 116 runs with an economy of 2.21.
2. Yasir Shah
Yasir Shah is a leg-break googly bowler from Pakistan who made his Test debut against Australia at Dubai on 22 October 2014. He holds the record of the fastest 200 test wickets in 33 matches. Yasir played 46 games and took 235 wickets with an average of 31.08 and an economy of 3.20 with 16 5-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls. He achieved his best bowling figures against New Zealand in Dubai on 24 November 2014, where he bowled 57.2 overs and took 14 wickets giving, 184 runs with an economy of 3.20.
3. Abdul Qadir Khan
Abdul Qadir Khan was a former leg-break googly bowler from Pakistan who made his Test debut against England at Lahore on 14 December 1977 and his last game against West Indies at Lahore on 6 December 1990. He played 67 games and took 236 wickets with an average of 32.80 and an economy of 2.71 with 15 5-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls. He achieved his best bowling figures against England at Lahore on 25 November 1987, where he bowled 73 overs and took 13 wickets giving, 101 runs with an economy of 1.38.
4. Fazal Mahmood
Fazal Mahmood was a former right-arm fast-medium bowler who made his test debut against India at Delhi on 16 October 1952 and his last match on 16 August 1962 against England at The Oval. Fazal played 34 games and took 139 wickets with an average of 24.70 and an economy of 2.09 with 13 5-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket hauls. He achieved his best bowling figures against Australia at Karachi on 11 October 1956, where he bowled 75 overs and took 13 wickets giving, 114 runs with an economy of 1.52.
5. Waqar Younis Maitla
Waqar Younis Maitla is a former right-arm fast bowler who made his test debut against India at Karachi on 15 November 1989, and his last match was against South Africa at Cape Town on 2 January 2003. Waqar played 88 games and took 373 wickets with an average of 23.56 and an economy of 3.25 with 22 5-wicket hauls and five ten-wicket hauls. He achieved his best bowling stats against Zimbabwe in Karachi on 1 December 1993, where he bowled 56 overs and took 13 wickets giving, 135 runs with an economy of 2.41.
6. Danish Parabha Shanker Kaneria
Danish Parabha Shanker Kaneria is a former leg-break bowler from Pakistan who made his Test debut against England at Faisalabad on 29 November 2000 and his last game against England at Nottingham on 29 July 2010. He played 61 games and took 261 wickets with an average of 34.79 and an economy of 3.07 with 15 5-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls. His best bowling figure was in a match against Bangladesh held in Multan on 29 August 2001, where he bowled 28 overs and took 12 wickets giving 94 runs, with an economy of 3.35.
7. Mohammad Asif
Mohammad Asif is a former right-arm fast bowler who made his test debut against Australia at Sydney on 2 January 2005, and his last match was against England at Lord’s on 26 August 2010. Asif played 23 games and took 106 wickets with an average of 24.36 and an economy of 2.99 with seven 5-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. His best bowling figure came in a match against Sri Lanka in Kandy on 3 April 2006, where he bowled 35 overs and took 11 wickets giving 71 runs, with an economy of 2.02.
8. Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar is a former right-arm fast bowler from Pakistan who made his test debut against West Indies at Rawalpindi on 29 November 1997 and his last match on 8 December 2007 against India. Known as The Rawalpindi Express, he bowled the fastest ball in cricket history which, is 161.3 km/hr. Shoaib played 46 games and took 178 wickets with an average of 25.69 and an economy of 3.37 with 12 5-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls. He achieved his best-bowling figure against New Zealand in Wellington on 26 December 2003, where he bowled 38.3 overs and took 11 wickets giving, 78 runs with an economy of 2.02.
9. Zulfiqar Ahmed
Zulfiqar Ahmed was a right-arm off-break bowler from Pakistan who made his Test debut against India at Lucknow on 23 October 1952 and his last game against Australia at Karachi on 11 October 1956. Ahmed played nine games and took 20 wickets with an average of 18.30 and an economy of 1.70 with two 5-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul. His best bowling figure came in a match facing New Zealand in Karachi on 13 October 1995, where he bowled 83.5 overs and took 11 wickets giving, 79 runs with an economy of 0.94.
10. Saeed Ajmal
Zulfiqar Ahmed was a right-arm off-break bowler from Pakistan who made his Test debut against India at Lucknow on 23 October 1952 and his last game against Australia at Karachi on 11 October 1956. Ahmed played nine games and took 20 wickets with an average of 18.30 and an economy of 1.70 with two 5-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul. His best bowling figure came in a match facing New Zealand in Karachi on 13 October 1995, where he bowled 83.5 overs and took 11 wickets giving, 79 runs with an economy of 0.94.
