Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has secured the third position in a list of the top 10 bowlers of the 21st century selected by England cricketers Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad. The Indian pacer was placed ahead of legendary bowlers Glenn McGrath and Muttiah Muralitharan, while Australia’s late spin great Shane Warne topped the rankings.
Buttler, England’s wicketkeeper-batter, and former England fast bowler Broad revealed their selections on their jointly hosted podcast, For the Love of Cricket. Their list features several of the most successful bowlers in international cricket, representing Australia, England, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Bumrah’s third-place finish puts him among the leading names of the modern era. The selection also places him above several celebrated bowlers known for their achievements across international cricket.
Shane Warne leads the rankings
Australia’s Shane Warne occupies the first position in Buttler and Broad’s list. The late leg-spinner finished his international career with 1,001 wickets and a World Cup title.
Warne is one of only two bowlers to have taken at least 1,000 international wickets, alongside Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. He also remains the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and Australia’s leading wicket-taker.
His position at the top of the list reflects the standing he holds among international cricket’s most successful bowlers. Warne’s achievements across his career have made him one of the most prominent names in discussions about the greatest bowlers of the modern game.
England’s James Anderson occupies second place. Anderson finished his international career with 991 wickets, making him England’s leading wicket-taker. He also formed a highly successful fast-bowling partnership with Broad during his career.
Bumrah ahead of McGrath and Muralitharan
Bumrah has been placed third, ahead of Australian fast-bowling great Glenn McGrath, who occupies fourth position, and Muralitharan, who is sixth.
The Indian pacer has taken 511 wickets in 243 international matches, including 18 five-wicket hauls. His performances in overseas Test matches and his ability to take wickets in Indian conditions have contributed to his reputation as one of the leading fast bowlers of the modern era.
Bumrah is also India’s eighth-highest wicket-taker in international cricket. His position in the list makes him the only Indian player included in the selected top 10.
He has won two T20 World Cup titles with India. Bumrah was named Player of the Tournament during the 2024 edition and received the Player of the Match award in the 2026 final against New Zealand.
McGrath, meanwhile, finished fourth in the rankings. The Australian fast bowler took 949 wickets in 376 international matches and was part of three World Cup-winning teams. He also holds the record for the most wickets in the history of the Cricket World Cup, with 71.
Muralitharan, the leading wicket-taker in international cricket with 1,347 wickets, was placed sixth. During a career spanning 20 years, the Sri Lankan spinner won the 1996 Cricket World Cup and the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy.
Pat Cummins and South African bowlers feature
Australia’s Pat Cummins occupies fifth place in the rankings. Cummins, who captained Australia to the 2023 Cricket World Cup and World Test Championship titles, has taken 535 international wickets.
South Africa has three representatives in the list, with Dale Steyn placed seventh, Kagiso Rabada eighth and Shaun Pollock ninth.
Steyn has taken 699 international wickets, while Rabada has claimed 631. Pollock, another prominent South African bowler, finished his international career with 823 wickets.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc completes the top 10. The left-arm fast bowler has taken 773 international wickets and has been part of two World Cup-winning teams. He has also won the World Test Championship with Australia.
Several leading bowlers miss out
The selection has also drawn attention to the notable players who did not make the cut. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Anil Kumble are among the omissions. Australia’s Nathan Lyon and New Zealand’s Tim Southee are also absent.
The list therefore features only one Indian bowler, despite the presence of several accomplished names from the country in international cricket.
Buttler and Broad’s selections offer their perspective on the leading bowlers of the 21st century. With Warne and Anderson occupying the first two places and Bumrah ranked third, the list places three highly regarded international bowlers at the top, followed by a mix of established fast bowlers and spin specialists.
Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad’s top 10 bowlers of the 21st century
- Shane Warne — Australia
- James Anderson — England
- Jasprit Bumrah — India
- Glenn McGrath — Australia
- Pat Cummins — Australia
- Muttiah Muralitharan — Sri Lanka
- Dale Steyn — South Africa
- Kagiso Rabada — South Africa
- Shaun Pollock — South Africa
- Mitchell Starc — Australia
The rankings place Bumrah ahead of several celebrated names, including McGrath and Muralitharan, while leaving out accomplished bowlers such as Ashwin, Jadeja, Kumble, Lyon and Southee.