Test + ODI verdict list
Greatest Test & ODI Bowlers of All Time
Glenn McGrath rises above Muthiah Muralidaran by a breath. Muthiah Muralidaran keeps the better volume in Test bowling, 795 wickets to 563 wickets. Glenn McGrath's bowling average vs strong opposition in ODI bowling settles it, 24.38 to 28.53.
Australia
- Test
- 90.2
- ODI
- 91.9
Sri Lanka
- Test
- 90.4
- ODI
- 91.7
Pakistan
- Test
- 87.0
- ODI
- 92.4
New Zealand
- Test
- 91.2
- ODI
- 88.1
South Africa
- Test
- 87.0
- ODI
- 91.0
West Indies
- Test
- 89.5
- ODI
- 85.2
West Indies
- Test
- 86.2
- ODI
- 88.2
South Africa
- Test
- 84.7
- ODI
- 87.4
Pakistan
- Test
- 86.7
- ODI
- 85.5
Australia
- Test
- 86.4
- ODI
- 85.1
- Glenn McGrath
- 90.2 — led by Bowling average (26.4 of it), then Volume (23.7)
- Muthiah Muralidaran
- 90.4 — led by Bowling average (25.7 of it), then Volume (25.0)
- Wasim Akram
- 87.0 — led by Bowling average (25.1 of it), then Volume (22.5)
- Richard Hadlee
- 91.2 — led by Bowling average (25.9 of it), then Volume (22.7)
- Allan Donald
- 87.0 — led by Bowling average (26.1 of it), then Volume (21.6)
- Curtly Ambrose
- 89.5 — led by Bowling average (26.9 of it), then Volume (22.4)
- Joel Garner
- 86.2 — led by Bowling average (26.9 of it), then Volume (20.4)
- Shaun Pollock
- 84.7 — led by Bowling average (25.4 of it), then Volume (22.6)
- Waqar Younis
- 86.7 — led by Bowling average (25.1 of it), then Volume (22.1)
- Dennis Lillee
- 86.4 — led by Bowling average (24.8 of it), then Volume (21.8)
- Glenn McGrath
- 91.9 — led by Bowling average (18.5 of it), then Economy (16.0)
- Muthiah Muralidaran
- 91.7 — led by Bowling average (18.3 of it), then Economy (15.8)
- Wasim Akram
- 92.4 — led by Bowling average (18.1 of it), then Economy (15.8)
- Richard Hadlee
- 88.1 — led by Bowling average (18.7 of it), then Economy (16.9)
- Allan Donald
- 91.0 — led by Bowling average (18.7 of it), then Economy (14.4)
- Curtly Ambrose
- 85.2 — led by Bowling average (17.6 of it), then Economy (16.7)
- Joel Garner
- 88.2 — led by Bowling average (19.0 of it), then Economy (17.0)
- Shaun Pollock
- 87.4 — led by Bowling average (17.5 of it), then Economy (16.4)
- Waqar Younis
- 85.5 — led by Bowling average (17.8 of it), then Volume (14.5)
- Dennis Lillee
- 85.1 — led by Bowling average (18.8 of it), then Economy (16.5)
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 504 bowlers who played at least 20 innings and bowled at least 3,000 balls.
Compared with 441 bowlers who played at least 20 innings and bowled at least 1,500 balls.
Longevity: uses the square root of career span in years multiplied by matches selected. Match counts and first/last dates come from playing-XI appearances, so a did-not-bat or did-not-bowl match still counts.
Contribution: total runs or wickets measure output within the selected period.
Test average magnitude: overall averages use 85% peer position and 15% raw distance from the best qualified average. For bowlers the ratio is reversed because a lower average is better. Contextual averages remain pure percentiles.
Wicket magnitude: career and long-era wicket volume uses 85% peer position and 15% raw distance from the leading qualified wicket total. This preserves the difference between exceptional totals that sit together at the top of a percentile table. Run volume stays a pure percentile, because career run totals vary far more widely and blending raw magnitude there would penalise a short career of outstanding quality.
ODI eligibility: this curated list includes players representing current ICC full-member teams. All of their recorded opposition still counts.
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.