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There are several cricketing sights that capture the fans' imagination and takes it to thrill-a-minute rides. From a delightful strokeplay by a batter to masterful spells by a bowler, cricket offers artistry and flamboyance in equal measure like very sports can.
Yet, in that, it can be argued that a bowler in the midst of a magical spell with the red cherry shines above the rest. Cricket's tradtional and oldest format - Tests, maybe on the decline but ask any player the best yardstick to measure his legacy and the answer would unanimously be the same - 'Test cricket'.
From the late 19th century until now, Test cricket has witnessed an abundance of bowlers display their unrelenting skill level, resilience, tenacity and killer instict in different dimensions. Ranking the ten best across three different centuries and over 10 decades is near impossible without a few cut-offs.
Hence, for the sake of his discussion, ranking the top 10 greatest Men's Test bowlers will be done with a cut-off of atleast 350 wickets - a figure that ensures longevity.
On that note, let us jump right into the ranking by mentioning a few honorable names, who were legends in their own right.
Honorable Mentions
Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Lyon, Stuart Broad, Joel Garner, Allan Donald, Waqar Younis, Courtney Walsh, Shaun Pollock, Imran Khan, Dennis Lillee.
#10 Anil Kumble
India's all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests, Anil Kumble makes it to the top 10 list on the back of innumerable match-winning performances in his illastrious career.
The champion leg-spinner is one of only four bowlers in cricket history with over 600 Test wickets. Kumble's 619 scalps is fourth all-time in Test history and his 35 five-wicket hauls is fifth all-time.
He is also one of only three bowlers in Test history to take all 10 wickets in an innings, along with Jim Laker and Ajaz Patel. Kumble was instrumental for India's incredible dominance at home in the red-ball format during the 1990s and 2000s.
The former captain would be much higher with his volume of wickets but his average of 29.65 is a tad lower than some of the upcoming names on the ranking.
Anil Kumble's Test numbers
132 matches, 619 wickets, 29.65 average, 35 five-wicket hauls
#9 Wasim Akram
The 'Sultan of Swing' and the greatest left-arm pacer in cricket history, Wasim Akram is next on this esteemed list of bowlers. The former Pakistan captain finished with 414 wickets at an outstanding average of 23.62 in 104 Test outings.
Beyond the numbers, Akram's ability to swing and seam the new ball in either direction and reverse swing the old ball at will makes him arguably the most complete pace-bowler in the sport.
Also worth remembering Akram played half his Tests on spin-friendly Pakistan wickets, making his overall numbers further extraordinary. The legendary bowler is also one of only four bowlers with multiple hat-tricks in Test cricket.
Wasim Akram's Test numbers
104 matches, 414 wickets, 23.62 average, 25 five-wicket hauls
#8 Malcolm Marshall
Arguably the most intimidating bowler in cricket history, Malcolm Marshall from the West Indies comes in at No.8 on all-time Test bowler rankings.
The fearsome pacer, who died at just 41 in 1999, finished with 376 Test wickets at a stunning average of 20.94 in 81 matches. Marshall's average remains the best in Test history among bowlers with atleast 350 wickets.
Along with Joel Garner, Michael Holding and Andy Robers, he formed an inimitable pace quartet that helped the West Indies dominate the sport in the 1980s.
Malcolm Marshall's Test numbers
81 matches, 376 wickets, 20.94 average, 22 five-wicket hauls
#7 Richard Hadlee
Some of former New Zealand pacer Richard Hadlee's numbers lends itself for a legitimate top three finish if only he played more matches.
As is, in 86 Tests, he picked up 431 wickets at an outstanding average of 22.29. Hadlee's 36 five-wicket hauls is fourth all-time and the most by a pace bowler in Test history.
He is also New Zealand's all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests and the only one with 400+ scalps from New Zealand.
Richard Hadlee's Test numbers
86 matches, 431 wickets, 22.29 average, 36 five-wicket hauls
#6 Curtly Ambrose
The West Indian factory of tall and intimidating fast bowlers from the 1980s carried over to the next decade with Curtly Ambrose taking over the mantle. A nightmare for the batters, Ambrose mixed relentless lines and lengths with unmatched aggression to pick up wickets for fun.
He is West Indies' second leading wicket-taker with 405 scalps and his average of 20.99 is the best in cricket history among bowlers with 400 wickets.
Curtly Ambrose's Test numbers
98 matches, 405 wickets, 20.99 average, 22 five-wicket hauls
#5 James Anderson
The recently-retired James Anderson comes in at No.5, thanks to his unatched consistency for over two decades.
England's premier pacer finished his 21-year Test career as the third all-time leading wicket-taker and the most by a fast bowler with 704 wickets. Anderson also boasts the second most five-wicket hauls for a pacer with 32.
With the ability to make the red cherry talk, the 42-year-old continously bamboozled batters even as the sport evolved at a rapid rate over the past decade. Anderson's career highlight was helping England to series wins in Australia and India in 2010/11 and 2012/13.
James Anderson's Test numbers
188 matches, 704 wickets, 26.45 average, 32 five-wicket hauls
#4 Dale Steyn
James Anderson's contemporary and closest rival Dale Steyn comes in at a spot higher despite finishing with fewer wickets. This has a lot with Steyn's unparalleled ability to win South Africa away series with match-winning spells.
With Steyn spearheading their attack, the Proteas drew back-to-back Test series in India in 2008 and 2010. They also won consecutive series in England and Australia in 2008 and 2012.
The 41-year-old was South Africa's most imactful player in all those series and his winning impact is evidenced by his strike rate of 42.38 - best in Test history among bowlers with atleast 300 wickets.
Steyn finished with 439 wickets - most by a South African bowler and tenth all-time in Tests.
Dale Steyn's Test numbers
93 matches, 439 wickets, 22.95 average, 26 five-wicket hauls
#3 Shane Warne
Undoubtedly the most aesthetically pleasing bowler in Test cricket, Australia's Shane Warne comes in at No.3. Warne's theatrical leg-spin bowling with the most incredible action and magical deliveries created a whole new dimension for the longest format.
He remains the second leading wicket-taker in Test history with 708 wickets at an average of 25.41. Warne's 37 five-wicket hauls in joint-second with India's Ravichandran Ashwin.
Despite playing his home matches on largely unfavorable Aussie conditions, Warne picked up over 300 wickets with 15 five-wicket hauls. By finally conquering his lone kryptonite - Indian conditions in 2004, Warne ensured he enjoyed one of the most complete Test careers in cricket history in terms of tangibles, intangibles and impact.
Shane Warne's Test numbers
145 matches, 708 wickets, 25.41 average, 37 five-wicket hauls
#2 Glenn McGrath
Australia's greatest and most clutch pacer Glenn McGrath was renowned for his unwavering accuracy and astute cricketing brains that troubled even the best batters in the world.
While most of even the best bowlers had one or multiple places they struggled in, McGrath averaged under 32 in every single country. His average of 21.30 in a place like India usually considered the death of fast bowlers speaks to his ability to remain impactful any and everywhere in the world.
McGrath finished with 563 wickets at an average of 21.64 - the best among bowlers with atleast 500 Test wickets. His 29 five-wicket hauls is third all-time among pacers behind only Richard Hadlee and James Anderson.
Glenn McGrath's Test numbers
124 matches, 563 wickets, 21.64 average, 29 five-wicket hauls
#1 Muttiah Muralitharan
It is a no brainer to guess that Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan tops the list of all-time great Test bowlers.
The Test record book can easily be clasified as Muralitharan's biography, for he owns almost all the key numerical records. He is the all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests with 800 scalps at an average of 22.72 in 133 outings.
Muralitharan's 67 five-wicket hauls in 30 clear of second-place Ravichandran Ashwin and Shane Warne. For context, if centuries are equated to five-wicket hauls, Muralitharan's feat is equal to 67 centuries - 16 more than the actual record of 51 by Sachin Tendulkar.
His 22 ten-wicket match hauls is also the most in Test history - 12 more than second-place Shane Warne.
Muttiah Muralitharan's Test numbers
133 matches, 800 wickets, 22.72 average, 67 five-wicket hauls
