It has been evident in cricket over the years that a reputed bowling unit generally hunts in pairs. It goes with the fact that pressure is to be created from both the ends and not letting the batsmen get away easily.
Test cricket has had many good bowlers in partnerships on both sides which were utmost helpful for the skipper. The best example to prove that statement is Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who picked up loads of wickets while bowling together at the international level.
Bowling partnerships over the years have been instrumental in the success of their teams. Whether it be fast-bowling pairs or spin twins, or combination of both, their ability, focus, and hunt have made the batsmen fussing. They have found support from others in their careers.
Let’s have a look at the most deadly bowling attacks in Test cricket in the present cricket world:
- James Anderson – Stuart Broad
English new-ball duo is the most prolific pair in Test cricket who has been troubling the batsmen with their two-way swinging deliveries since 2008. Undoubtedly the best bowling pair for England has achieved a remarkable feat in Test cricket.
They have picked up 611 wickets combined in 80 Test matches played together. They had 29 five-wicket hauls and 5 ten-wicket hauls individually. The combined average of the pair is 29.37 and the strike rate is 58.90 in the test matches they played together.
- Ravichandran Ashwin – Ravindra Jadeja
Perfect combo a skipper would opt for with the variations they possess. Right-arm offie spinning the ball with bounce and left-arm spinner’s skidded balls kissing the stumps proved to be a deadly combo for the opposition. This spin combination was the deciding factors of India’s success in the recently concluded Gandhi-Mandela Test series 2015 against South Africa.
The No.2 and No.7 Test bowler currently, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja respectively have formed a lethal combination in the mission to destroy the formidable South African batting line-up. They have picked up 106 wickets combined in the 9 Tests they played together since 2012 which also includes a commendable performance against the Aussies in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2012-13. This pair has the highest (wickets/matches) ratio.
- Dale Steyn – Morne Morkel
The Steyn-Morkel combination makes one of the finest, fast and furious in world cricket. Dale Steyn, one of the bests in this era along with the lanky and furious Morne Morkel have sent back 507 batsmen together in 60 matches so far since 2008. The deadly and the No.1 Test bowler currently, Dale Steyn is currently on 402 wickets is on the verge of becoming the highest wicket-taker for the Proteas, just 19 wickets behind Shaun Pollock.
He has the best average among the best bowlers in this generation. Morne Morkel, on the other hand, troubles the batsmen with his natural bounce off the deck and supports his partner on the other hand.
- Trent Boult – Tim Southee
One of the greatest exhibitioner of swing bowling and a treat to watch, the Kiwi duo, Boult and Southee have always outplayed the opposition batsmen with the genuine swinging deliveries that move both ways.
The variations of the right and left arm pacers have troubled the batsmen with their consistent line, length, and bounce. Former greats have termed them as the best ever new-ball pair. They are at the top of their game. This formidable duo has picked up 239 wickets combined in the 31 Tests they played together since 2011.