3 Bowlers who have spent most days as No 1 Test bowler
Topping the ranking charts defines the stature and quality of a bowler or a batter. In the longest and oldest format of the game, the Test format, a bowler has to keep on delivering spells and picking up wickets for his side. To occupy the no. one position in the ICC rankings for a longer period of time is a tough task but few legendary bowlers have managed to do so and they feature in this article.
Let’s take a look at the 3 bowlers who have spent most days on the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings:
3. Muttiah Muralitharan (1711)
Former Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan finds himself in the third position. He has spent 1711 days in the number position in the ICC Test rankings. One of the greatest and finest bowlers the world cricket ever produced, offspinner Muralitharan first rose to the no. one rank in the year 2003. However, he dominated the rankings for three long years, from 2006 to 2009. Notably, the legendary spinner is the highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket with 800 wickets to his name in 133 matches.
2. Curtly Ambrose (1719)
Former West Indian fast bowler Curtly Ambrose is the second name on this list. The right-arm fast bowler spent 1719 days in the top position of the ICC Test rankings from the 1991-1995 period. Having made his debut in the purest format of the game against Pakistan in 1988, Ambrose played 98 matches for West Indies and picked up 405 scalps at an average of 20.99. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for the Caribbean side to date. His last appearance came against England in 2000, ending a 12-year-old Test career.
- Dale Steyn (2343)
South Africa’s gun pacer Dale Steyn is at the top of this list. He spent 2343 days, from the year 2009 to 2014, the most by any bowler in the history of ICC rankings. Protea’s lethal seam bowler made his Test debut against England in the year 2004 and has played 93 games. The quick picked up 439 scalps at an average of 22.95 which included 26 five-wicket hauls. His last appearance in the format came against Sri Lanka in the year 2019 and he is still South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the Whites.
