Top 10 best New Zealand fast bowlers of all time

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is known for its reputation for producing quality fast bowlers in its history. The New Zealand national cricket team have had a plethora of pacers making a name for themselves in international cricket. Needless to say, the ones who have maintained sheer consistency, in the long run, have gone on to achieve great things in their careers.

The cricket fraternity has seen pacers, fast-medium and medium-fast bowlers from New Zealand. While the fast bowler generates incredible pace and bounce depending on the wicket, the fast-medium bowler uses more seam and swing techniques. On the other hand, a medium-fast bowler uses more of his upper body strength with seam and swing bowling techniques.

Now, in this listicle, let’s take a look at the top 10 New Zealand fast bowlers of all time.

1. Sir Richard Hadlee

Sir Richard Hadlee is widely recognized as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. The former New Zealand cricketer etched his name into the record books when he became the first bowler to take 400 wickets in Tests. He had the potential to generate pace, swing and bowl wicket-taking deliveries. In 86 Tests, he took 431 wickets including 36 fifers and 9 ten-wicket hauls.

2. Shane Bond

Known for his blistering pace, Shane Bond stunned the cricket fraternity by clocking 156.4kmph delivery in the 2003 World Cup. Despite the fact that his career was marred by constant injuries, he kept making rebounds and delivering the goods. He took 87 wickets in Tests, 147 wickets in ODIs and 25 wickets in T20Is. Bond bagged 5 fifers in Tests and 4 fifers in ODIs.

3. Tim Southee

Tim Southee is one of the greatest fast bowlers in the New Zealand cricket team. He is best known for generating immense swing coupled with pace, which makes him a deadly bowler. The right-arm fast-medium bowler took 359 wickets in Tests including 14 fifers. On the other hand, he took 210 wickets in ODIs including 3 fifers. He took 134 wickets in T20Is including 1 fifer.

4. Chris Martin

Chris Martin was one of those rare breeds of New Zealand bowlers who had the potential to move the ball around, in the air and off the pitch. Notably, he was a superb seam bowler in the longest format of the game. Having played 71 Tests, he took 233 wickets including 10 fifers. On the contrary, the former New Zealand paceman took 18 wickets in ODIs and seven wickets in T20Is.

5. Jack Cowie

Jack Cowie might have played only nine Tests for the nation but he was acknowledged as one of the best fast bowlers in the history of New Zealand. He accounted for 45 dismissals at an impressive bowling average of 21.53 including 4 fifers in Tests. On the other hand, he has taken 359 wickets in first-class cricket. For the record, 114 of the wickets came in England-Ireland in 1937.

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6. Chris Cairns

Chris Cairns was one of the important pillars of the New Zealand cricket team during his heydays. He extended his services as a productive all-rounder for more than 15 years. Notably, he is one among the very few cricketers to possess the double of 200 wickets and 3000 runs in Tests. The former New Zealand all-rounder took 218 wickets including 13 fifers in Tests and 201 wickets including one fifer in ODIs.

7. Trent Boult

Trent Boult has been one of the pivotal pacers of the New Zealand cricket team for more than a decade. Ever since making his debut for New Zealand in 2011, he went on to bowl a plethora of impactful bowling spells. Boult, who is a master of swinging the ball has taken 317 wickets in 78 Tests, 187 wickets in 99 ODIs and 74 wickets in 55 T20Is. Notably, he took 10 fifers in Tests and 5 fifers in ODIs.

8. Jacob Oram

Jacob Oram was one of the very few New Zealand cricketers who played across all three formats of the game for over a decade. He delivered the goods for the team with the ball and bat. Oram has taken 60 wickets in Tests, 173 wickets in ODIs including two fifers and 19 wickets in T20Is. The former all-rounder hit five tons and 6 fifties in Tests, one ton and 13 fifties in ODIs and two fifties in T20Is.

9. Danny Morrison

Darry Morrison is currently plying his trade as a commentator for various T20 leagues across the globe. Let’s also not forget the fact that he was one of the terrific fast bowlers for the New Zealand cricket team during the playing days of his career. He took 160 wickets in 48 Tests including 10-wicket hauls. On the other hand, he has taken 126 wickets in 96 ODIs including two five-wicket hauls.

10. Neil Wagner

Neil Wagner is best known for his searing pace and reverse swing abilities. Despite having age on his side, the 36-year-old has been delivering the goods for the team when it mattered the most. Notably, he has accounted for 258 dismissals in the longest format of the game. The left-arm seamer who has played only in one format has bagged a total of 9 five-wicket hauls to his name.

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