Buttler and Broad's Bold Picks for Top Bowlers of the 21st Century
Controversial Rankings by Buttler and Broad
In a recent episode of the 'For the Love of Cricket' podcast, England's wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler and former fast bowler Stuart Broad revealed their selection of the top 10 bowlers of the 21st century. Notably, they ranked Indian pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah at third place, surpassing legendary figures like Australian Glenn McGrath and Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan.
Muralitharan and McGrath's Rankings
Muttiah Muralitharan, the all-time leading wicket-taker in international cricket with 1,347 wickets, was placed sixth. He boasts a remarkable career that includes a Cricket World Cup victory in 1996 and an ICC Champions Trophy win in 2002. Glenn McGrath, a three-time World Cup champion and the highest wicket-taker in World Cup history with 71 wickets, was ranked fourth. McGrath has taken 949 wickets across 376 matches, making him the fifth-highest wicket-taker overall.
Top Three Bowlers
The top position was claimed by the late Shane Warne, an Australian leg-spin legend who concluded his international career with 1,001 wickets and a World Cup title. He remains one of only two bowlers to have crossed the 1,000-international-wicket milestone, alongside Muralitharan. Following Warne, England's James Anderson, with 991 wickets, was ranked second. Anderson is recognized as the most successful fast bowler in history and had a long-standing partnership with Broad.
Bumrah's Achievements
Jasprit Bumrah, regarded as one of India's finest fast bowlers, has taken 511 wickets in 243 matches, including 18 five-wicket hauls. His remarkable performances in challenging conditions, particularly in spin-friendly Indian pitches, have solidified his status as a cricketing legend. Bumrah has also contributed significantly to India's success in T20 World Cups, earning the 'Player of the Tournament' award in 2024 and 'Player of the Match' in the 2026 final against New Zealand.
Completing the List
Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia's 2023 World Cup-winning team, secured the fifth spot with 535 international wickets, followed by Muralitharan. The South African trio of Dale Steyn (699 wickets), Kagiso Rabada (631 wickets), and Shaun Pollock (823 wickets) occupied the seventh, eighth, and ninth positions, respectively. Rounding out the top ten is Australia's Mitchell Starc, a two-time World Cup champion with 773 international wickets.
Interestingly, several prominent bowlers of the 21st century, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Lyon, Ravindra Jadeja, Anil Kumble, and Tim Southee, were notably absent from this list.
Buttler and Broad's Top 10 Bowlers
The final rankings by Buttler and Broad are as follows:
- Shane Warne
- James Anderson
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Glenn McGrath
- Pat Cummins
- Muttiah Muralitharan
- Dale Steyn
- Kagiso Rabada
- Shaun Pollock
- Mitchell Starc