Australia has a long tradition of producing some of the legendary cricketers, be it batters, bowlers, or all rounders. Take, for example, Don Bradman and Shane Warne, who ruled the roost with bat and ball, respectively.
But it’s their pace battery that has destroyed many of the strong batting lineups with their speed and extraordinary skills. From Jeff Thomson to Mitchell Starc, the country has produced some quality fast bowlers who have helped Australia rule world cricket.
On that note, let’s look at the 10 greatest Australian fast bowlers of all time.
10. Jeff Thomson
Jeff Thomson is perhaps one of the fastest bowlers cricket has ever seen. His runup wasn’t much intimidating, but he delivered the ball at a hurling pace.
Thomson terrorised batters with his incredible speed early on in his career. He made his Test debut in 1972, but it was only two years later when he bowled at full tilt.
The right-arm pacer bagged wickets with consistency after threatening batters with his extreme pace. Later on, Thomson worked on his seam and swing bowling skills while trading his pace to keep himself fit.
He picked up 200 Test wickets in 51 matches, though he wasn’t as effective in ODIs, adding 55 scalps in 50 games.
9. Craig McDermott
Craig McDermott was Australia’s best new ball bowler in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He entered international cricket in 1984, getting his baggy green against the West Indies at MCG.
McDermott’s career stretched 12 years, though he couldn’t play as much as he would have loved. His career was hampered by injuries, which kept him out of action for quite some time.
Keeping aside his injuries, McDermott was a fine bowler who could bowl some excellent outswingers. He wasn’t as quick as many Australian pacers, but he could topple the best batting lineups with his skills.
Due to injuries, he had to retire at the age of 30, drawing curtains on his career, which saw him pick up 291 Test and 203 ODI wickets, respectively.
8. Jason Gillespie
Another Australian paceman whose career was riddled with not one but a lot of injuries. Jason Gillespie made his Test debut in late 1996, but he missed quite a lot of games thanks to his constant injuries.
Despite that, the tall pacer managed to form a successful new-ball partnership with Glenn McGrath. He wasn’t Australia’s strike bowler but just did enough in the early 2000s to retire with 402 wickets across formats.
Gillespie grabbed 259 scalps in 71 Tests at an average of 26.13. In ODIs, he took 142 wickets in 97 games and added a wicket in his only T20I match.
Gillespie was also a handy batter lower down the order, with his unbeaten 201 as a nightwatchman against Bangladesh being a memorable knock.
7. Josh Hazlewood
Standing at six feet four inches, Josh Hazlewood is among the best pacers in current times across the world. He made his ODI debut in 2010, but he missed the action for four years due to a back injury.
But Hazlewood returned in 2014, earning his Test cap against India at home. Since then, he has been their consistent performer across formats.
Hazlewood keeps batters in check with his tight lines and lengths. His relentless accuracy has fetched him a lot of wickets without leaking too many runs.
Thus far, the tall fast bowler has claimed over 280 wickets in Tests, followed by 140 in ODIs and 70 in T20Is.
6. Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins has a similar storyline as his current pace colleague Hazlewood. The right-arm quick made his ODI and Test debuts on the 2011 South Africa tour, where he delivered impressive performances.
But back injuries sidelined him from action soon. Cummins slowly increased his workload, returning to the ODI fold in 2014.
He ended his Test hiatus in 2017 on the India tour, becoming a regular in the squad. Since then, Cummins has been their prime bowler across all formats, with close to 500 wickets under his belt.Â
And now he is leading Australia exceptionally well after Tim Paine resigned from captaincy in 2021. Australia has tasted great success under his captaincy, having won the WTC and the ODI World Cup in 2023.
Cummins will perhaps go down as one of the finest fast-bowling captains in cricket history.
5. Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson kept the flag of fearsome fast bowling flying high. He intimidated batters with his express pace and aggression on his best days.
The left-arm pacer made his international debut in late 2005, though it was a topsy-turvy ride for him. Johnson’s absolute best performances came in 2013/14 before he retired in 2015.
His performance in the 2013/14 Ashes will always remain the best, as he bowled some devastating spells against England. Johnson claimed 313 wickets in 73 Tests, 239 wickets in 153 ODIs, and 38 wickets in 30 T20Is.
Read: Greatest Ashes Cricket Moments
4. Mitchell Starc
Australian pacers named Mitchell have a special liking for lethal left-arm pace bowling. As Johnson was reaching his peak, Mitchell Starc came along, adding further power to Australia’s pace attack.
After Johnson’s retirement, Starc has filled in well, becoming a regular in the squad across formats. He possesses a good pace along with incredible swing bowling skills. Starc’s inswinging yorkers have a separate fanbase altogether.
Since his debut in the early 2010s, the tall fast bowler has showcased his range in all formats. His excellent performance in the 2015 ODI World Cup handed Australia another ICC title, with more brilliant performances in the 2019 and 2023 editions.
In Tests, Starc has been spearheading Australia’s bowling attack in home and away conditions. He has racked up over 360 scalps in Tests, with close to 250 wickets in ODIs and 80 victims in T20Is.
3. Brett Lee
Brett Lee is one of the fastest bowlers of the 21st century, who could clock above 150 kmph with ease. It was this extreme pace that earned him a berth in Australia’s squad that already had the likes of McGrath and Gillespie in the ranks.
Lee then joined forces with both bowlers, forming a ruthless pace trio in the early 2000s. He started his international cricket journey in 1999, first in the ODIs, then in Tests.
The right-arm quick was equally adept at bowling with the white and red balls, and his numbers justify it. Lee bagged 310 wickets in 76 Tests and 380 scalps in 221 ODIs.
He always asked questions to batters with his searing bouncers and swinging deliveries. But injuries also kept him busy throughout his career, which brought an end to his Test career in 2008.
2. Dennis Lillee
Dennis Lillee was a terrifying pacer in his playing days, stoking fear among batters with his express speed. He made his Test debut in 1971 against England and bagged a fifer in the very first innings to show what was in store ahead.
As the years passed, he formed a lethal fast-bowling partnership with Jeff Thomson, emerging as a fearsome bowling pair. Lillee led Australia’s pace attack for over a decade, cementing his legacy as an out-and-out fast bowler.Â
His speed diminished towards the fag end of his career, but he worked out batters by varying pace and length. Lillee hung up his boots with 355 Test victims in 70 matches and 103 scalps in 63 games.
1. Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath is the undisputed fast-bowling great from Australia. He was a force behind Australia’s dominant run in the 1990s and 2000s.
The right-arm pacer didn’t rely a lot on express speed and rather stuck to consistent line and length. But that was enough for him to outclass batters and bag a lot of wickets.
McGrath’s performances in the ODI World Cups were the most noteworthy, as he helped Australia win the trophy in three consecutive editions between 1999 and 2007.
In the Test arena, he became the first Australian pacer to feature in 100 games before clinching his 500th victim. He is among a select few bowlers with 500 Test wickets, with 563 scalps under his belt in 124 appearances.
In ODIs, McGrath’s tally includes 381 wickets at an impressive average of 22.02, with his career-best of 7 for 15 against Namibia. With 950 international wickets in his kitty, McGrath bowed out as Australia’s greatest fast bowler.
