Top five Bowlers who bowled the most balls in cricket history
Jul 26, 2016 at 3:55 PM
Some people like to do one thing for a long time. We have seen few bowlers who used to bowl many deliveries in cricket. Here, we look at the top five bowlers who have bowled their way to the top of the cricketing charts. They have collectively started half a million run-ups, half a million turns of the arm and hurled close to half a million deliveries.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan had 19-year cricket career. He bowled 63132 deliveries, with an astonishing average of 22.86. He ended with a total of 1347 wickets. The most balls bowled by Murali in an innings was 450 (75 overs), in a Test match against India at Mohali, 1997.
Span |
Matches |
Balls |
Runs |
Wickets |
BBI |
BBM |
Avg. |
Econ |
5WI |
10WI |
|
1992-2011 |
495 |
63132 |
30803 |
1347 |
09/51 |
16/220 |
22.86 |
2.92 |
77 |
22 |
2. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble is on number 2 on the all-time list of most deliveries bowled in cricket. The leg-spinner who hardly ever spun the ball. Kumble was often the go-to guy for Indian captains, and it’s no wonder that he is so far up the list. Kumble bowled his highest quota of balls in an innings against Sri Lanka in Colombo 1997 when he sent down 432 balls (72 overs).
Span |
Mtchs |
Balls |
Runs |
Wkt |
BBI |
BBM |
Avg. |
Econ |
5WI |
10WI |
|
1990-2008 |
403 |
55346 |
28767 |
956 |
10/74 |
14/149 |
30.09 |
3.11 |
37 |
8 |
3. Shane Warne
Shane Warne makes it to the podium. In a 15-year span, Warney bowled a little more than 51000 balls, picking up literally a ton of wickets. His economy rate of 2.98 is astonishing, considering the art that he practised. The most that Warne bowled in an innings was 70 overs (420 balls) in a match against South Africa at Cape Town, 2002.
Span |
Matches |
Balls |
Runs |
Wkts |
BBI |
BBM |
Avg. |
Econ |
5WI |
10WI |
|
1992-2007 |
339 |
51347 |
25536 |
1001 |
8/71 |
12/28 |
25.51 |
2.98 |
38 |
10 |
4. Daniel Vettori
New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, the Kiwi maestro played for 14 years, sending down well over 40000 deliveries with that lovely left arm action. Easily the best and most successful spin bowler to come out of New Zealand, Vettori’s recent injuries have reduced his time on the field. He has played 421 matches and pick up 681 wickets in all forms of the game. The most, Vettori bowled in one innings was 71 overs (426 balls) in a Test match against India in Mohali, 1999.
Span |
Matches |
Balls |
Runs |
Wkts |
BBI |
BBM |
Avg. |
Econ |
5WI |
10WI |
|
1997-2014 |
421 |
42528 |
22101 |
681 |
7/87 |
12/49 |
32.45 |
3.11 |
22 |
3 |
5) Glenn McGrath
The highest ranked pace bowler on this list, Australia’s Glenn McGrath comes in at no. 5 on the list of most deliveries bowled. The Aussie had a knack for consistently bowling a great length and line, and he will go down as one of the most accurate and deadly bowlers in the world of cricket. His career best figures of 8/24 and 10/27 tell you all you need to know about him – quick, accurate and consistent.
Span |
Matches |
Balls |
Runs |
Wkts |
BBI |
BBM |
Avg. |
Econ |
5WI |
10WI |
|
1993-2007 |
376 |
42266 |
20656 |
949 |
8/24 |
10/27 |
21.76 |
2.93 |
|
36 |
3 |