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The debate over who the most dangerous bowler in cricket history is has been ongoing for decades. Fast bowlers have always played a crucial role in the game, with their raw pace, accuracy, and ability to generate swing and bounce making them a nightmare for batters. Every era has produced exceptional pacers who have dominated opposition batters and won matches for their teams. From the fearsome West Indian quicks of the past to modern-day fast bowlers, the discussion about the most lethal pacers remains open-ended.
While some believe the likes of Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, and Shoaib Akhtar should be in the conversation, others argue that the West Indies’ dominance in the past was unmatched. Former Pakistan cricketer Moin Khan recently weighed in on this debate and named the three bowlers he considers the most dangerous in world cricket.
Moin Khan picks three most lethal bowlers
Choosing the most dangerous bowlers in cricket history is a difficult task, but Moin had no hesitation in naming his top three. The former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter overlooked Pakistani and Indian pacers and instead picked three legendary West Indian fast bowlers—Malcolm Marshall, Courtney Walsh, and Curtly Ambrose.
“When we used to play, there were many bowlers but the West Indies players were very dangerous. They used to be tall. I believe that at that time the West Indies bowlers were the most dangerous bowlers in the world. In my view, Courtney Walsh, Malcolm Marshall and Curtly Ambrose were the most dangerous bowlers,” said Moin as quoted by NDTV.
Moin’s selections highlight the dominance of West Indian fast bowlers during the late 20th century. Marshall, widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, possessed exceptional control, pace, and the ability to generate late swing. Similarly Walsh was known for his relentless accuracy and ability to extract bounce and was a nightmare for batters, while Ambrose, with his towering height and lethal deliveries, made life difficult for even the best in the world.
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Modern-day fast bowlers continue the legacy
While Moin’s choices reflect an era when West Indian pacers ruled the cricketing world, fast bowling continues to thrive in modern cricket. Today’s game features several speedsters who have established themselves as match-winners with their pace, movement, and consistency.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah, with his unorthodox action and ability to deliver pinpoint yorkers, has been one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket. Australia’s Mitchell Starc, known for his raw pace and deadly inswinging deliveries, has also terrorized batters across formats. Other pacers, such as England’s Jofra Archer and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, have carried forward the legacy of fast bowling dominance.
