Top 10 Best Swing Bowlers in Cricket History
Cricket has seen its fair share of legendary bowlers over the years, but few have captured the imagination quite like swing bowlers. These masters of the art of bowling are able to manipulate the ball in such a way that it swings in the air, confounding even the most skilled of batsmen.
But what exactly is a swing bowler, and what makes for a good one? In simple terms, a swing bowler is someone who is able to get the ball to move in the air, either towards or away from the batsman, after it has left their hand. This can be achieved through a number of techniques, including changes in grip, release point, and body position.
A good swing bowler is someone who is able to consistently produce this swing, even in less-than-ideal conditions. This requires a great deal of skill and experience, as well as a deep understanding of the game of cricket and the physics of ball movement.
Over the years, there have been many great swing bowlers who have left their mark on the sport of cricket. From the likes of Sir Richard Hadlee and Wasim Akram to more recent stars like James Anderson and Trent Boult, these bowlers have thrilled fans with their ability to swing the ball in all conditions.
But who are the best swing bowlers in cricket history? That's a question that has been debated by fans and experts alike for years. To help settle the matter once and for all, we've put together a list of the top swing bowlers in cricket, as voted on by fans from around the world.
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is an Indian international cricketer who has represented India in all three formats of the game. He is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and was the first Indian bowler to take five-wicket hauls in all formats. As of 2025, he continues to play in the Indian Premier League... read more
Number 1 of number 1. No words for him. He is a swingster daredevil.
"Frightening batsmen when Bhuvneshwar is at the bowling end."
Master of swing bowling. Best death bowler in the second innings.
He is a good bowler and also a specialist in death overs. He is the king of swing! He is better than the bowlers from Pakistan.
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Glenn McGrath
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Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram is a Pakistani former cricketer who captained the national team and is considered one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history. Known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, he played a pivotal role in Pakistan's victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup. After retiring, he worked... read more
He is the number one swinger in the world.
He is the swing master. I think he is the number one swing bowler in cricket history.
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Dale Steyn
Dale Willem Steyn, born June 27, 1983, is a former professional cricketer from South Africa. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in modern cricket, noted for his speed, swing, and consistency.
His international career spanned from 2004 to 2020, during which he took 439 Test... read more
Best swing bowler.
He delivers fast-paced swing.
Now that's a nightmare for batsmen.
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James Anderson
James Michael Anderson, usually known as Jimmy Anderson, is an English cricketer. He plays for Lancashire County Cricket Club and has also had a long international career with the England national team. Anderson is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history.
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Brett Lee
Brett Lee is a former Australian international cricketer and film actor. Known for his express pace, he was one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history. After retiring from cricket, Lee worked as a commentator for Channel Nine and has also appeared in several films, including in India.
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Lasith Malinga
Separamadu Lasith Malinga is a retired Sri Lankan cricketer widely regarded for his skill in limited-overs formats. He was known for his distinctive round-arm bowling action and his ability to bowl yorkers. Malinga captained Sri Lanka's T20 team to victory in the 2014 ICC World T20 and officially retired... read more
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Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Guy Johnson (born November 2, 1981) is a former Australian cricketer who played in all formats of international cricket. He represented Australia in Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 cricket between 2005 and 2015. A left-arm fast bowler and capable lower-order batsman, he was part... read more
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Mohammad Asif
Nobody can compete with Asif. He was the uncrowned king of swing bowling. Kevin Pietersen rates him as the best bowler, and AB de Villiers also praised him as the hardest bowler he has ever faced.
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Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan is a former Indian cricketer who played all formats of the game for the Indian national team from 2000 to 2014. He was known for his skill as a left-arm fast-medium bowler. Zaheer played a key role in India's 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup victory.
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Waqar Younis
If you are talking about swing without mentioning Waqar, then it is not cricket.
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S. Sreesanth
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Imran Khan
Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born October 5, 1952) is a Pakistani politician, former cricketer, and philanthropist who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to April 2022. He is the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which he established in 1996. As of July 2025... read more
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Mohammad Amir
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Jasprit Bumrah
Someone just said he was an average bowler. Please have another look and dare to say that again.
His swinging balls are amazing to see. Imagine the condition of the batsmen while playing against him.
He should be in the top ten. Who kept him at number 13? Unfortunately, he missed out on 2-3 hat-tricks in a single World Cup, which was also his first.
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Irfan Pathan
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Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Aaron Starc is an Australian cricketer who currently plays first-class cricket for the New South Wales Blues. He is a left-arm fast bowler known for his pace and swing, and he also represents Australia in international matches. Starc played a key role in Australia's 2015 and 2023 Cricket World... read more
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Mohammed Shami
One of the best at the Test level. He swings the ball both ways.
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Praveen Kumar
Praveen Kumar swings both off and leg. He can swing the ball widely, but he is dead slow!
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Shahid Afridi
Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi, widely known as Boom Boom, is a retired Pakistani cricketer. He played international cricket from 1996 to 2017 and was known for his aggressive batting and leg-spin bowling. Afridi famously held the record for the fastest century in One Day Internationals for nearly... read more
Hi, how are you? You are a great all-rounder. I am a big fan of yours and want you to be in Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
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Trent Boult
Trent Alexander Boult is a New Zealand international cricketer who plays as a left-arm fast-medium bowler and a lower-order batsman. He represents Northern Districts in New Zealand's domestic competitions and continues to play for the New Zealand national team. In the Indian Premier League, he has played... read more
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Shaun Pollock
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Saeed Ajmal
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Ajit Agarkar
He is one of the best swing bowlers in Indian cricket history. He has the ability to swing the new ball with perfect line and length. Once the ball gets older, he bowls reverse swing late in the game.
Despite his relatively short height compared to other Indian bowlers like Srinath and Zaheer, he could bowl as fast as 85 mph. Ajit was the fastest Indian bowler to reach 50, 150, 200, and 250 wickets, ending his career with 288 wickets in 191 matches.
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Chaminda Vaas
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Junaid Khan
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Mustafizur Rahman