Test verdict list
Best Test Bowlers of the 2020s
Simon Harmer rises above Jasprit Bumrah by a breath. Jasprit Bumrah keeps the better volume in Test bowling, 172 wickets to 49 wickets. Simon Harmer's wicket-taking consistency in Test bowling settles it, 68.75 to 41.33.
South Africa
- Bowling average
- 18.69
- Bowling strike rate
- 40.53
- Away bowling average
- 19.71
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 18.56
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 68.75
- Bowling average in wins
- 13.53
- Volume
- 49 wickets
India
- Bowling average
- 19.99
- Bowling strike rate
- 42.56
- Away bowling average
- 20.44
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 21.28
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 41.33
- Bowling average in wins
- 15.79
- Volume
- 172 wickets
New Zealand
- Bowling average
- 20.98
- Bowling strike rate
- 41.49
- Away bowling average
- 20.86
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 21.22
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 45.83
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.24
- Volume
- 124 wickets
South Africa
- Bowling average
- 21.36
- Bowling strike rate
- 38.88
- Away bowling average
- 22.31
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 21.77
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 47.46
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.75
- Volume
- 150 wickets
South Africa
- Bowling average
- 21.12
- Bowling strike rate
- 38.29
- Away bowling average
- 22.32
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 20.13
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 42.11
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.63
- Volume
- 89 wickets
India
- Bowling average
- 21.19
- Bowling strike rate
- 44.77
- Away bowling average
- 28.38
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 21.88
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 52.17
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.52
- Volume
- 175 wickets
England
- Bowling average
- 19.54
- Bowling strike rate
- 43.18
- Away bowling average
- 28.04
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.00
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 39.53
- Bowling average in wins
- 13.75
- Volume
- 99 wickets
India
- Bowling average
- 19.67
- Bowling strike rate
- 46.67
- Away bowling average
- 23.38
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 19.04
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 27.59
- Bowling average in wins
- 17.18
- Volume
- 57 wickets
Australia
- Bowling average
- 18.59
- Bowling strike rate
- 38.91
- Away bowling average
- 37.63
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 19.77
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 43.24
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.30
- Volume
- 82 wickets
Australia
- Bowling average
- 20.03
- Bowling strike rate
- 43.50
- Away bowling average
- 24.17
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.15
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 26.92
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.83
- Volume
- 108 wickets
- Simon Harmer
- 91.8 — led by Bowling average (24.5 of it), then Away bowling average (14.8)
- Jasprit Bumrah
- 91.3 — led by Bowling average (23.7 of it), then Away bowling average (14.5)
- Matt Henry
- 90.9 — led by Bowling average (22.8 of it), then Away bowling average (14.4)
- Kagiso Rabada
- 90.8 — led by Bowling average (22.0 of it), then Bowling strike rate (14.5)
- Marco Jansen
- 86.9 — led by Bowling average (22.6 of it), then Bowling strike rate (14.8)
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- 84.4 — led by Bowling average (22.3 of it), then Bowling average vs strong opposition (13.2)
- Ollie Robinson
- 83.6 — led by Bowling average (24.2 of it), then Bowling average vs strong opposition (13.0)
- Axar Patel
- 80.4 — led by Bowling average (23.9 of it), then Bowling average vs strong opposition (14.3)
- Scott Boland
- 80.1 — led by Bowling average (24.7 of it), then Bowling strike rate (14.4)
- Josh Hazlewood
- 79.9 — led by Bowling average (23.4 of it), then Bowling average vs strong opposition (12.9)
Transparent by design
How this ranking was calculated
The list is computed from scorecards, not selected by an AI model. Every player is measured against the same qualified peer population, and the rules below determine the order.
- Build the eligible peer population using the selected format, time window and qualification bars.
- Calculate every batting or bowling factor directly from the matching scorecards.
- Convert each factor to a score against qualified peers, respecting whether higher or lower is better.
- Apply the published weights. If a factor is unavailable, its weight is redistributed across that player's recorded factors.
- Add the weighted factors to produce the verdict score out of 100, then rank from highest to lowest.
Compared with 94 bowlers who played at least 10 innings and bowled at least 1,500 balls.
Contribution: total runs or wickets measure output within the selected period.
Fixed-era weighting: longevity is not scored because a player should not be penalised when only part of their career overlaps the era. Its allocation moves to runs or wickets.
Editorial scope: this is a transparent judgement model, not an official record table. It does not insert or promote named players, and it applies no blanket era multiplier.