Five Bowlers With Best Strike Rates: The period post-2015 saw a change in how the Tests were played worldwide. It became an era where bowlers dominated the game. The openers started becoming walking wickets owing to tough conditions, tougher pitches, and quality bowlers. After enduring flat pitches for almost two decades, the balance seems to have been restored. It is the bowlers who are calling the shots currently. But there have been bowlers who have negated all the odds stacked against them.
We Look At 5 Bowlers With The Best Strike Rates In Tests: [Min: 200 Test wickets]
#5 Allan Donald (SR: 47)
He was known as the white lightning. Allan Donald acquired this nickname owing to his pace. Donald married pace with consistency. His battles with Michael Atherton are legendary. He was a fierce competitor. Donald picked 330 wickets in 72 Tests. His average of 22.25 is also mighty impressive. But what strikes most about Donald is his strike rate. He picked a wicket every 47 balls!
#4 Malcolm Marshall (SR: 46.7)
He was part of the legendary pace battery back in the seventies. Malcolm Marshall was as fearsome as he was unplayable. He was one of his kind bowlers who redefined the art of bowling. His deliveries zipped past batsmen in no time. He kept picking out the best batsmen from the opposite team. Marshall ended with 376 Test wickets in 81 Tests. His strike rate of 46.7 is unmissable!
#3 Waqar Younis (SR: 43.4)
He was arguably the first bowler who brought in the aspect of reverse swing. Bowling on the featherbeds of Asian conditions primarily, Waqar Younis kept challenging the best of the batters. In favorable conditions, Waqar was too hot to handle. His beautiful side-arm action is a thing of beauty. Waqar picked 373 wickets in 87 Tests. He averaged 23.56 while his strike rate of 43.4 stood the test of time for long!
#2 Dale Steyn (SR: 42.3)
There is something about South African bowlers and their strike rates. Dale Steyn is arguably one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He made fast bowling look cool. Steyn’s athletic run-up to the crease was widely emulated. He bowled with unmatched zeal. Steyn was the only modern bowler who tasted success in all conditions including the subcontinent. He picked 439 Test wickets in 93 Tests at an insane average of 22.95. Steyn picked up these wickets at every 42.3 balls!
#1 Kagiso Rabada (SR: 40.7)
He is a wonderful successor to Allan Donald and Dale Steyn. Kagiso Rabada is one of the finest athletes in the game currently. He has a wonderful repeatable action. Rabada walked into Test cricket amidst humongous expectations. Steyn and Morne Morkel were at the fag end of their careers.
Rabada had to shoulder the responsibility of a peace-loving nation. He has lived up to the billing every bit. Rabada has picked up 243 wickets in 52 Tests so far. He averages 22.41 while his strike rate of 40.7 is the best among bowlers with 200+ wickets.
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