Top 10 Best Test Bowlers in the World 2025 - Ranked

The art of Test bowling is a true testament to a cricketer's skill, endurance, and mental fortitude. In the longest format of the game, bowlers are required to possess raw pace or unerring accuracy and the tactical intelligence to outsmart batsmen over extended periods. As of 2025, Test cricket has witnessed a new era of dominant bowlers who have consistently outperformed with their remarkable ability to swing, seam, spin, and bamboozle batsmen across the globe.

The landscape of modern Test bowling is diverse, featuring fiery pacers, exceptional swing bowlers, and masterful spinners. It is a reflection of their dominance, consistency, and match-winning capabilities. Some of the best test bowlers have defined why they are the best and etched their names in the history of the game.

How We Ranked the Best Test Bowler in the World - Ranking Factors

The best test bowlers in world cricket are not only ranked by their wicket-taking ability but also by their contribution to the game and consistency throughout their careers. We rank the top 10 world best test bowler as per the factors of wickets taken, impact, and adaptability to conditions.

• Wickets Taken in the Last 12–24 Months: Measures current form and consistency, not just career totals. In the longest format of the game, bowlers are tasked with dismissing top-quality batsmen over extended periods, often on pitches that do not always favour their style. The sheer number of wickets a bowler accumulates not only reflects their skill and consistency but also their ability to outthink and outlast batsmen. The world best test bowler are consistent wicket-takers and are often the backbone of successful Test sides, capable of producing breakthroughs when needed.
• Bowling Average & Strike Rate: Bowling Average refers to the runs conceded per wicket, and strike rate is the number of balls per wicket. These numbers are critical in determining the best test bowler, as they show how effective a bowler is, which helps us to rank the world best test bowler.
• Performance in Away Matches: ​A hallmark of the world best test bowler is their performance in away matches, which showcases their adaptability. Test cricket is played across diverse terrains, swing-friendly pitches in England, bouncy tracks in Australia, and spin-heavy surfaces in India and Sri Lanka. The best bowlers are those who can seamlessly adjust their lengths, lines, and techniques to suit the demands of each environment. Adaptability is not just about physical adjustments but also mental resilience, as bowlers must outthink batsmen on surfaces that may not always be favourable. In 2025, the best test bowler demonstrates unmatched versatility and strategic acumen, excelling in every corner of the world.
• Impact in Key Matches or Series: The impactful performances by a bowler, including the Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, WTC finals, or top-ranked team clashes, are what matter the most to rank the world best test bowler.
• ICC Test Bowling Ranking (2025): The Official ICC rating gives a standardised view of global form and competition level and becomes a significant factor to rate the best test bowler.
• 5-Wicket & 10-Wicket Hauls: It shows the match-winning potential and ability to dominate innings or games, and such spells usually change the result of the game and have been considered while ranking the best bowler in test cricket.
• Versatility Across Conditions: In Test cricket, bowlers have to get used to various bowling conditions and succeed across diverse pitch types (green tops, dry subcontinent wickets, slow turners). This an not an easy task to do and helps us to rank the best bowler in test cricket.
• Team Role & Bowling Load: This factor is how much responsibility the bowler carries (e.g., lone spinner vs pace trio). For some teams, these bowlers are also in a leadership role, which adds more responsibility, and that has been kept in mind while determining the best bowler in test cricket.
• Fitness & Availability: A bowler’s ranking drops if they miss multiple series due to injury or management, and injuries are somewhat a part of a bowler's career, especially if he is playing all formats of the game, but the level of injury prone is different for each one of them and that is very crucial while ranking the best bowler in test cricket.
• Pressure Economy: This is a unique 2025-centric metric which shows how well they perform in pressure situations (e.g. 4th innings defense, low-run defense).

Top 10 Best Test Bowlers in the World - Updated List 2025

In the current arena of test bowlers, many have already etched their names in the cricketing books due to their exceptional performances over the years in the red ball format. Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Kagiso Rabada are at the forefront of that list. These are the bowlers who are best in this generation and are considered to be the best bowler in test cricket.

Who is the Best Test Bowler in the World?

The debate over who holds the title of the best Test bowler in the world is always intriguing and fiercely contested. As of 2025, the competition at the top is fiercer than ever, with multiple bowlers showcasing extraordinary skills across different conditions. In Test cricket, a bowler's greatness is measured not just by the number of wickets they take but by their impact on matches, their ability to perform in various environments, and their consistency over long periods.

Currently, the best Test bowler in the world is Pat Cummins, and the all-time best Test bowler has been Muttiah Muralitharan. The former Sri Lanka spinner has 800 wickets to his name in the traditional format of the game.

10. Matt Henry | New Zealand

Matt Henry has been the premier fast bowler for New Zealand and has been their best Test bowler. He has been known for his consistent accuracy, quick seam movement, and ability to extract bounce from even the flattest surfaces. Since his Test debut in 2015, Henry has been a consistent performer, particularly in seaming conditions where his control and discipline make him a lethal weapon.

His bowling average hovers impressively around the mid-20s, reflecting his knack for dismantling top-order batters. In the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycles, Henry played a crucial supporting role in New Zealand's journey. He bowled brilliantly against India in India. In the latest WTC cycle, he picked 48 wickets for the Kiwis and helped them secure a fourth position in the cycle. He has been ranked 8th in the top 10 Men's Test Bowling Rankings.

9. Gus Atkinson | England

Gus Atkinson, the right-arm pacer from England, has quickly become one of the best test bowlers on the international stage. Atkinson is known for his ability to extract seam and swing movement, which makes him dangerous on both flat and lively pitches. Seen as a successor to senior pacers like James Anderson and Stuart Broad in England’s Test setup. Since his Test debut against the West Indies in 2024, Atkinson has consistently troubled even the best with his sharp seam movement and aggressive deliveries. He took 7 for 45 off 12 overs, the second-best innings figures for an England bowler on Test debut

His ability to swing the ball both ways has added a new dimension to England's pace attack. In the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, he has been instrumental for the English side by picking up 52 wickets in just 11 matches and has been a key part of this new English bowling line-up.

8. Ravindra Jadeja | India

Ravindra Jadeja has firmly established himself as one of India's best Test bowlers, thanks to his exceptional accuracy, amazing left-arm spin, and remarkable fielding agility. He has been a three-dimensional cricketer for India. Since his Test debut in 2012, Jadeja has been an important member of India's bowling lineup, particularly on home surfaces where his ability to extract turn and bounce makes him a continuous threat. He, along with his former partner Ravichandran Ashwin, created havoc for batters in India.

Earlier this week, Jadeja completed 1,150 consecutive days to be the No. 1 in the ICC's player rankings for all-rounders in Test cricket, starting back in March 2022. He first reached the No.1 ranking on August 7, 2017, staying there for nearly two weeks. There was another brief spell from March 8, 2022, to March 16, 2022, before he was overtaken by West Indies' Jason Holder. The Southpaw reclaimed the No. 1 ranking later that month and has stayed at the top ever since.

7. Prabath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka

Prabath Jayasuriya has rapidly ascended as Sri Lanka’s premier Test spinner since his debut in 2022. The left-arm orthodox bowler has an impressive record, with 116 wickets in 20 Tests at an average of 30.08, including 11 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match hauls. Jayasuriya's consistency is evident in his record at Galle International Stadium, where he has secured nine five-wicket hauls, nearing Muttiah Muralitharan's record of 11 at the venue.

His ability to perform both at home and abroad, including a five-wicket haul against South Africa in Gqeberha, showcases his adaptability. He was awarded the ICC Men's Player of the Month Award for July 2022. In the WTC cycle, he picked up 58 wickets for the Lankan Lions; however, he could not secure a place in the final. This is the reason he ranks among the best bowler in Test cricket.

6. Kagiso Rabada | South Africa

Kagiso Rabada comes to mind when anyone speaks of the devastating and furious fast bowlers in the current period. Rabada's pace, accuracy, and ferocious bouncers are something celebrated by many. By the time Rabada made his Test debut in 2015, he had already formed the backbone of South African Test bowling. His ability to reverse swing at high pace while aggressively seaming the ball off the pitch ensured he proved a threat on any surface.

The staggering figure of over 300 Test wickets places Rabada firmly among the best fast bowlers in Test cricket that South Africa has produced. Rabada’s unmistakably strong credentials have surely made him a pillar of South African cricket. In the current pattern, he has already gone for his big-ticket performances, particularly in the home series versus West Indies and Australia, where he went above and beyond for South Africa. He was a key performer for the Proteas in winning the ICC WTC 2025 final against Australia.

5. Josh Hazlewood | Australia

Josh Hazlewood is regarded as one of the finest Test bowlers of his generation. He has often been compared to the legendary Glenn McGrath for his disciplined line and length. Hazlewood’s ability to get spongy bounce and movement off the seam makes him a formidable force in red-ball cricket. His exceptional control allows him to relentlessly probe the off-stump line, forcing batsmen into errors.

Since his Test debut in 2014, Hazlewood has been a mainstay in Australia’s pace attack, claiming wickets with remarkable consistency across all conditions. Hazlewood’s bowling revolves around discipline and patience. He keeps on building pressure through dot balls, often drawing loose shots as batsmen try to break the shackles. His economy rate, one of the best among fast bowlers in Test cricket, is a reflection of his metronomic accuracy and sharp seam movement. This is the reason he ranks among the best bowler in Test cricket.

4. Nathan Lyon | Australia

Nathan Lyon has firmly earned himself as one of Australia’s best Test bowlers, particularly in the spin department. Since his debut in 2011, Lyon has been a constant presence in Australia's bowling attack, mastering the art of off-spin with impeccable control and sharp turn. His ability to extract bounce from even the flattest surfaces makes him a unique threat, setting him apart from traditional finger spinners. With over 500 Test wickets, Lyon is Australia’s most successful off-spinner and among the top wicket-takers in Test history.

Unlike many spinners who rely heavily on turning pitches, Lyon can be effective in all conditions, including Australia’s traditionally pace-friendly tracks. He is the second off-spinner after Muttiah Muralidaran who reached 500 wickets. He has been their best spinner for more than a decade and performed consistently for the Kangaroos. In this WTC cycle, he picked 66 wickets, the most by any spinner. The veteran offspinner is among the best Test bowlers in the world among all-time spin bowling greats.

3. Mitchell Starc | Australia

Mitchell Starc has been Australia's prime fast bowler. He has been Australia's best test bowler, known for his exceptional pace, lethal swing, and amazing inswing yorkers. Since his debut in 2011, Starc has been a mainstay in Australia's fast bowling unit, intimidating batsmen with his trademark inswinging yorkers and pointy bouncers. He creates an angle that makes problems for some of the greatest batters to deal with, and he remains such a threat with both the new ball and the old ball.

His aggressive mindset and approach to attack the stumps mark him out as one of the greatest Test bowlers of his era. During the Ashes 2023, Starc was pivotal in dismantling England's batting line-up with his lethal swing and aggressive pace. His left-arm deliveries, angling across right-handers and jagging back in, consistently posed problems for even the most experienced batters. Starc has been crucial for the Aussies to lead them to the back-to-back final of the WTC. He picked 77 wickets in the process in the 2023-25 WTC cycle, which makes him one of the world best test bowler of recent times.

2. Jasprit Bumrah | India

Jasprit Bumrah's rise as one of the best Test bowlers has been exceptional. The pacer has also been a brilliant captain for India in the traditional format of the game. Jasprit Bumrah, who was formerly known for his lethal pace and precision, has evolved into a captain who leads with strategy as well as inspiration. He was earlier known as a player for white-ball formats, but over the years, he has developed into the best Test bowler in India at the moment.

He won the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year title after taking 71 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 14.92, leading the global rankings. Bumrah's pressure game distinguishes him. His accuracy and lethal yorkers during key moments of matches tend to shatter well-established partnerships. He leads the bowling attack, along with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, and has made India's pace unit one of Test cricket's most feared. Due to his achievements, he is considered the best Test bowler of all time by many cricket experts.

1. Pat Cummins | Australia

Pat Cummins has emerged as an important figure in the world of Test cricket since the beginning of the 2020s. Leading Australia from the front, Cummins has reinvented the position of a fast-bowling captain, demonstrating that bowlers, too, can be excellent leaders in the game's longest format. Since he was appointed Australian skipper, whatever he has touched has turned to gold for him and the country. Under his leadership, Australia won the famous World Test Championship (2021-2023) and reclaimed the Ashes on English soil.

Cummins, who averages less than 22 in Test cricket. His ability to bowl consistent hard lengths while moving the ball off the seam makes him a standout performer. He has been leading the side from the front and making the opposition make mistakes with his exceptional tactics. Cummins has been the highest wicket-taker for the Aussies in the WTC cycle, picking 77 wickets. His ability to be consistent on a particular line and length marks him as one of best Test bowler of all time.

Who is the All-Time Greatest Test Bowler?

Muttiah Muralitharan is often seen as the greatest Test bowler the game has ever known, and for good reason. The Sri Lankan spin wizard took an unbelievable 800 wickets in just 133 matches, a record that still stands tall. But it wasn’t just the numbers that made him special. It was how he did it.

With a unique bowling action and an incredible ability to spin the ball sharply, he kept batters guessing every time they faced him. His doosra, an off-spinner's surprise weapon that spins the other way, was especially tricky, and few could pick it well. He dominated at home, yes, but he also proved himself in tough overseas conditions.