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While batters are generally known to dominate cricket, spinners have shaped the sport in a nuanced manner over generations. Spinners play a critical role in 'turning' games. Their ability to deceive batters with flight, guile, and turn, especially on pitches that seem lifeless, makes their craft special.
The quicker bowlers rely on raw pace and aggression. Spinners, however, use a combination of technical skill and tactical intelligence to outclass batters.
The world of cricket was once again reminded of the importance spin bowlers hold by the impressive display of India's Ravichandran Ashwin in the opening Test against Bangladesh. Ashwin produced a remarkable all-around performance as he bagged six wickets and also scored a century, helping India win convincingly. His record of 37 five-wicket hauls in Tests puts him on par with the late Shane Warne. Ashwin is now only behind Muttiah Muralitharan (67 five-wicket hauls).
Additionally, the accomplishment serves as a reminder of the legacy left by some of the best spinners in history.
Here, we look at the top 10 greatest men’s spinners of all time.
Top 10 greatest men's spinners of all time
#10 Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)
One of Sri Lanka's most effective spinners, Rangana Herath played an important role in the bowling lineup after Muralitharan called quits on his international career.
Herath, the left-arm orthodox spinner, picked up 433 wickets in 93 Tests and 74 wickets in 71 One-Day Internationals.
He was Sri Lanka's go-to bowler in difficult circumstances. Herath also came to be regarded as one of the greats due to his long career and consistency.
#9 Derek Underwood (England)
Derek Underwood, also known as 'Deadly Derek,' was a successful left-arm orthodox spin bowler from England.
Underwood was a threatening bowler even on unresponsive surfaces as he possessed the skill to bowl consistent lines and lengths. In 86 Test matches, he accounted for 297 wickets. Given the conditions in which he bowled, these are exceptional numbers.
#8 Abdul Qadir (Pakistan)
Abdul Qadir was one of Pakistan's greatest leg-spinners. He was regarded as an artist with the ball and was well-known for his variations such as the leg-break, flipper, googly, and topspin.
In 67 Tests and 104 ODIs, he claimed 236 and 132 wickets, respectively.
These numbers speak for Qadir's class, so much so that England's Graham Gooch famously declared him as a better bowler than Shane Warne.
#7 Harbhajan Singh (India)
Known as the 'Turbanator,' Harbhajan Singh has been one of the most successful spinners from India. Harbhajan, who made his debut in 1998, was crucial to India's several wins, particularly their famous series victory over Australia in 2001. In Test cricket, he became the first bowler from India to bag a hat-trick.
Harbhajan claimed 417 wickets in 103 Tests, 269 wickets in 236 ODIs, and 25 wickets in 28 T20Is during his career. In 163 IPL games, he claimed 150 wickets.
#6 Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)
Daniel Vettori, the left-arm orthodox spinner from New Zealand, was renowned for his precision and control. For a number of years, he also led the Kiwis.
Vettori picked up 362 wickets in 113 Tests, 305 wickets in 295 ODIs, and 38 wickets in 34 T20Is. One of the most reliable spinners of his time, he could keep a check on the run flow while picking up wickets.
#5 Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
One of the greatest players of the modern era, Ravichandran Ashwin is the lone player on this list who is still active. Ashwin, a right-arm off-break bowler, has been a key member of India's bowling attack across formats over the years.
So far, Ashwin has bagged 522 wickets in 101 Tests, 156 wickets in 116 One-Day Internationals, and 72 wickets in 65 T20Is.
Ashwin's adaptability to various situations, with his versatility and variations, make him one of the world's most dependable spinners at the moment.
#4 Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan)
The creator of 'doosra,' a delivery that spins away from right-handed batter, Saqlain Mushtaq brought a transformation to the technique of off-spin bowling. He was one of Pakistan's best bowlers and also one of the quickest players to reach 100 wickets in ODIs.
Saqlain accounted for 288 wickets in 169 ODIs and 208 wickets in 49 Tests during his international career. His best ODI bowling figures were 5/20, while his best Test bowling figures were 8/164.
#3 Anil Kumble (India)
Anil Kumble is probably India's greatest spin bowler. He was known for his consistency and accuracy. He achieved the historic feat of taking all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 1999.
In a career that lasted almost two decades, Kumble grabbed 619 wickets in 132 Tests and 337 wickets in 271 ODIs. His ability to win matches single-handedly led him to be recognized as one of India’s greatest match-winners.
#2 Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan is widely regarded as the greatest off-spinner in the history of the game. Muralitharan's unorthodox bowling style, coupled with his ability to turn the ball prodigiously, was the reason he was considered a lethal weapon for Sri Lanka.
The record for the most wickets in Test cricket, with 800 scalps from 133 matches, a feat that remains unbeaten to date, is to Murali's name. He also scalped 534 wickets in 350 ODIs.
Muralitharan is considered the most successful spinner ever because of his enormous influence on the game.
#1 Shane Warne (Australia)
Many consider the late Shane Warne the best leg-spinner in cricket history. Warne made his international debut in 1992. His team would win matches, thanks to his destructive right-arm leg-break deliveries.
He dismissed Mike Gatting with the 'Ball of the Century' during the 1993 Ashes series, one of his career's most famous moments. Warne's unparalleled skill is well demonstrated by his 708 wickets from 145 Tests and 293 wickets from 194 ODIs. His best ODI figures are 5/33, while his best Test match figures are 12/128.
