Top 10 Best Spin Bowlers in Cricket History [2023 Updated]

Depending on the physical technique being used, this style of bowling can be divided into four categories, i.e. off-spin, left-arm orthodox spin, leg break, and left-arm unorthodox spin. Depending on the technique, the bowler may use either finger motion or predominant wrist motion. Check out the Top 10 best spin bowler in the world.

Top 10 Best Spin Bowlers in Cricket History [2023 Updated]

10. Rangana Herath

Former Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath represented his country in all formats of cricket. Besides, he also captained the team on several occasions. Besides being one of the greatest spinners of all time, Herath is often dubbed by many as one of the greatest left-arm bowlers ever to grace the cricket field.

He is the only left-arm spinner to get 433 wickets in test cricket. During his career from 1999 to 2018, he led his Sri Lankan team to victory in several international tournaments.

9. Graeme Swann

Retired English Right-arm off-break Bowler Graeme Peter Swann was the first modern-era English off-spinner to take 10 wickets in a match since Jim Laker. He is also noted for pioneering the unique “flying saucer ball.”

He took 255 wickets in 109 innings out of 60 test matches he participated in from 2008 to 2013, with the best bowling performance in an innings of 6/65 and in a single test match of 10/132. His test bowling average is 29.96, with an economy rate of 2.98.

8. Abdul Qadir

Retired Pakistani Right-arm leg spin Bowler Abdul Qadir is widely regarded as the “mastered the googlies, the flippers, the leg-breaks, and the topspins,” according to Yahoo! Cricket. Former English captain Graham Gooch once stated that “Qadir was even finer than Shane Warne.”

7. Harbhajan Singh

Indian Right-arm off-break bowler and former captain of IPL team Mumbai Indians Harbhajan Singh Plaha has the second-highest number of Test wickets by an off-spinner. Besides, he is also the first Indian bowler to achieve a hat-trick in Test cricket.

He took 413 wickets in 186 innings out of 101 test matches he participated in from 1998 to 2013, with the best bowling performance in an innings of 8/84 and in a single test match of 15/217.

6. Shahid Afridi

Pakistani Right-arm leg spin Bowler Shahid Afridi, nicknamed by his fans as “Boom Boom Afridi,” has played more ODI matches than any other cricket player from Pakistan. Afridi is noted for his ability to throw a bouncer to batsmen, which is very rare for a spin bowler.

He took 48 wickets in 47 innings out of 27 test matches he participated in from 1998 to 2010. With the best bowling performance in an innings of 5/52 and in a single test match of 5/43. While being one of the best all-rounders in the world. Afridi deserves his place among the best spin bowlers of all time.

5. Daniel Vettori

Pioneer slow left-arm orthodox bowler of New Zealand cricket team Daniel Luca Vettori. He is the eighth player in Test history to score 3,000 runs besides taking 300 wickets. Vettori served as the captain of the New Zealand team between 2007 and 2011.

4. Saqlain Mushtaq

Retired Pakistani Right-arm off-break Bowler Saqlain Mushtaq is best known for inventing the “doosra.” He was the quickest bowler to reach 100 wickets in the history of One Day Internationals.

He took 208 wickets in 86 innings out of 49 test matches he participated in from 1995 to 2004. With the best bowling performance in an innings of 8/164 and in a single test match of 10/155. Moreover, his Test blowing average is 29.83 with an economy rate of 2.64.

3. Anil Kumble

Next on the list of best spin bowlers of all time, retired Right-arm leg-break bowler and former captain of the Indian cricket team Anil Radhakrishna Kumble was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1996.

Besides, he became the fourth Indian cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in February 2015. Anil took 619 wickets in 236 innings out of 132 test matches he participated in from 1990 to 2008. With the best bowling performance in an innings of 10/74 and in a single test match of 14/149.

2. Shane Warne

Legendary retired Australian Right-arm leg break Bowler Shane Keith Warne was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 1994 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. Interestingly, his retirement from professional cricket was described by the Australian captain Ricky Ponting as the “end of an era.”

He took 708 wickets in 273 innings out of 145 test matches he participated in from 1992 to 2007. With the best bowling performance in an innings of 8/71 and in a single test match of 12/128.

1. Muttiah Muralitharan

Legendary retired Sri Lankan Right-arm off-break Bowler Muttiah Muralitharan held the number one spot for Test bowlers for a record period of 1,711 days in the International Cricket Council’s player rankings.

Moreover, he was named “the greatest Test match bowler ever” by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2002. Muralitharan took 800 wickets in 230 innings out of 133 test matches he participated in from 1992 to 2010. With the best bowling performance in an innings of 9/51 and in a single test match of 16/220.

Read Also: The Best Soccer Coaches Right Now