In the fast-paced world of cricket, a well-executed yorker can be a game-changer. A delivery that lands exactly at the base of the batsman’s stumps, leaving them with little to no time to react, can be a thing of beauty. But only a few have mastered this art.
In this article, we’ll count down the top 10 best yorker bowlers in the world, who have consistently demonstrated precision, skill, and the ability to destroy opposition batting lineups with their toe-crushing deliveries.
1. Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga, a Sri Lankan fast bowler, became well-known for his unique round-arm bowling style. He was especially famous for his ability to bowl Yorkers with incredible accuracy, often at crucial moments in matches. His precise bowling played a big role in helping the Sri Lankan team win many games.
One of his most memorable achievements was taking four wickets in four consecutive balls against South Africa during the 2007 World Cup. This feat is still celebrated by cricket fans today. Malinga’s ability to consistently bowl deadly Yorkers made him one of the best bowlers in cricket history, and his legacy continues to be remembered.
| Name | Lasith Malinga |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 28 August 1983 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 2004-2020 |
| Nationality | Sri Lanka |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI/T20I) | 30 (Test) / 226 (ODI) / 84 (T20I) |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI/T20I) | 101 (Test) / 338 (ODI) / 107 (T20I) |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/50 (Test) / 6/38 (ODI) / 5/6 (T20I) |
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2. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis, a famous Pakistani fast bowler, became well-known for his amazing skills during his cricket career. He was especially feared by batsmen for his high speed and his perfect control of outswinging yorkers.
His yorkers were so accurate that they became a big challenge for the opposing teams, making it hard for them to protect their wickets. Waqar’s deadly yorkers were key in many of Pakistan’s victories, earning him a well-deserved spot in the Hall of Fame.
| Name | Waqar Younis |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 16 November 1971 |
| Age | 50 years |
| Cricketing Career | 1989-2003 |
| Nationality | Pakistan |
| Matches Played | Test: 87 ODI: 262 |
| Wickets Taken | Test: 373 ODI: 416 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Test: 7/76 ODI: 7/36 |
3. Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar, a former fast bowler from Pakistan, is famous for his incredible speed on the cricket field. Nicknamed the “Rawalpindi Express,” he was feared by batsmen worldwide for his fast deliveries.
Shoaib Akhtar holds the world record for the fastest ball ever bowled in cricket, clocking in at 161.3 km/h. His yorkers were especially dangerous, making him one of the best in the world at bowling this type of delivery.
Learning from the great Waqar Younis, Akhtar became a master of the yorker. His best performances include taking 6 wickets for just 11 runs in a Test match and 6 wickets for 16 runs in an ODI. These achievements have solidified his place as one of the top yorker bowlers in cricket history.
| Name | Shoaib Akhtar |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 13 August 1975 |
| Age | 46 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 1997-2011 |
| Nationality | Pakistan |
| Matches Played | Test: 46 / ODI: 163 / T20I: 15 |
| Wickets Taken | Test: 178 / ODI: 247 / T20I: 19 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Test: 6/11 / ODI: 6/16 / T20I: 3/38 |
4. Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn is a former cricketer from South Africa who played for the South African Cricket Team. He was an exceptional bowler, taking 439 wickets in just 93 Test matches, which shows his skill.
One of the key moments in Steyn’s career was during an ODI game where he bowled yorkers consistently to dismiss the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. This highlighted his ability to bowl yorkers accurately under pressure.
Steyn was famous for swinging the ball both ways, making his yorkers even more dangerous. However, injuries eventually caught up with him, and he stopped playing international cricket in 2020.
| Name | Dale Steyn |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 June 1983 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 2004-2020 |
| Nationality | South Africa |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI/T20I) | 93/125/47 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI/T20I) | 439/196/64 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 7/51 (Test) |
| 6/39 (ODI) | |
| 4/9 (T20I) |
5. Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram, a legendary Pakistani cricketer, is famous for his exceptional fast bowling skills and mastery of the Yorker delivery. His Yorkers were a perfect blend of speed, spin, and accuracy, making them extremely difficult for batsmen to handle.
Akram was also known for his incredible swing bowling, where he could make the ball move in both directions, making it very challenging for batsmen to predict where the ball would go.
| Name | Wasim Akram |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 3 June 1966 |
| Age | 55 years |
| Cricketing Career | 1984-2003 (Pakistan) |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI) | 104 (Test) / 356 (ODI) |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI) | 414 (Test) / 502 (ODI) |
| Best Bowling Figures | 7/119 (Test) / 5/15 (ODI) |
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6. Brett Lee
Brett Lee, known for his incredible speed and aggressive playing style, was a master of delivering yorkers. His yorkers were special because of their fast pace and the late movement, making them very hard for batsmen to handle.
As a key player in the Australian cricket team, Lee played a crucial role in their bowling lineup, contributing significantly to their dominance in world cricket.
Lee’s achievements include taking 310 wickets in Test matches and 380 wickets in ODIs during an exciting period for cricket. He is widely regarded as one of the best yorker bowlers in the history of the game.
| Name | Brett Lee |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 8 November 1976 |
| Age | 45 years |
| Cricketing Career | 1999-2012 |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Matches Played | Test: 76, ODI: 221, T20I: 25 |
| Wickets Taken | Test: 310, ODI: 380, T20I: 28 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Test: 5/30, ODI: 5/22, T20I: 3/23 |
7. Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff was a well-known English cricketer famous for his fast bowling and powerful batting. He was especially good at delivering yorkers, even when under a lot of pressure. Flintoff was a key player for England in the early 2000s and helped them win many important matches.
| Name | Andrew Flintoff |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 6 December 1977 |
| Age | 46 years |
| Cricketing Career | 1998-2010 (National Team) |
| Nationality | British |
| Matches Played | Test: 79, ODI: 141, T20I: 7 |
| Wickets Taken | Test: 226, ODI: 169, T20I: 5 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Test: 5/58, ODI: 5/19, T20I: 3/23 |
8. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is well-known for his yorkers, and no list of top yorker bowlers is complete without him. Since his debut in 2016, Bumrah has achieved great success, becoming India’s top fast bowler. He quickly mastered the game and is famous for his deadly yorker.
| Name | Jasprit Bumrah |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 6 December 1993 |
| Age | 30 years |
| Cricketing Career | 2016 – present |
| Nationality | India |
| Matches Played | Test: 29 / ODI: 68 / T20I: 57 |
| Wickets Taken | Test: 123 / ODI: 110 / T20I: 67 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Test: 6/27 / ODI: 5/27 / T20I: 3/11 |
9. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is a standout bowler and is currently ranked at number 9. The 32-year-old Australian bowler is known for his speed and precise yorkers.
Even at 32, Starc has achieved a lot and is expected to climb higher in the rankings. He could become one of the best yorker bowlers ever.
| Name | Mitchell Starc |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 30 January 1990 |
| Age | 34 years |
| National Team | Australia |
| Cricketing Career | 2010-present |
| Matches Played | Test: 69, ODI: 99, T20I: 50 |
| Wickets Taken | Test: 282, ODI: 195, T20I: 60 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Test: 6/50, ODI: 6/28, T20I: 3/11 |
10. Shaun Tait
Shaun Tait, an Australian fast bowler, is known for his incredible speed. He started his career as a pace bowler and became even faster over the years, especially with his yorkers. Imagine trying to face a yorker at speeds of 150-155 km/h—that’s what Shaun Tait was famous for. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from staying at his best for long.
| Full Name | Shaun Tait |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 22 February 1983 |
| Age | 41 years |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Cricketing Career | 2004-2016 |
| Matches Played | Test: 3, ODI: 35, T20I: 21 |
| Wickets Taken | Test: 5, ODI: 62, T20I: 28 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Test: 3/97, ODI: 4/39, T20I: 3/13 |
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