James Anderson, Test, Test Cricket
James Anderson is the highest wicket takers among fast bowlers in test cricket. (Photo: SLC)
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Fast bowling has been the most traditional type of delivering the ball to the batsmen. Most captains use fast bowlers at the start of the innings where the ball is new and hard, which enables them to generate swing to trouble the batters. Also, the skipper deploys the pacers in death overs in white-ball cricket as well to restrict the opposition from scoring briskly.

Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar Recalls The Time When Facing Richard Hadlee In New Zealand Was His Toughest Test

The likes of Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Allan Donald have made the art of fast bowling delightful to watch. With their ability to find swing, variations and bowling with intensity, these men ran through batting line-ups with ease. As such, most teams have discovered potent pacers of their own to measure up to their counterparts. Also, sub-continent teams, who are mostly known for producing spinners, have cultivated formidable fast bowlers too.

On that note, we take a look at leading Test wicket-takers among fast bowlers for each team:

Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh) – 78 wickets

Mashrafe Mortaza
Mashrafe Mortaza. (Photo: TOI)

As much fruitful his ODI career was, Mashrafe Mortaza couldn’t replicate the same in the Test arena. Mortaza made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in 2001 on the back of Andy Roberts endorsing his inclusion, who was coaching Bangladesh then. Even though he picked four wickets in his debut, constant injuries forced him to miss out on the action. The former captain played his last of 36 Tests in 2009.

He hasn’t announced his retirement from Tests, but the Board doesn’t allow him to feature in the most extended version, owing to injuries. Mortaza’s strengths comprise generating uncomfortable bounce and getting good movement off the seam. In his prime, he would also deploy pace as a weapon; however, injuries derailed it. With 78 scalps, the 36-year old is the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Tests among pacers.

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