10 Best Spin Bowlers Of All Time

The finest spinner to have ever played was Muttiah Muralitharan. He was a distinctive off-spinner who became the first wrist-spinning off-spinner in cricket history by sharply turning the ball with his wrist.

[{"selector":"#anim-f7593739-7d74-4b44-b1f5-20f7faa37fa9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d81a001-b7bb-497b-9d14-695625962241","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66e6fdad-7672-42be-88f5-26390da411b5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b11a97c9-319a-4df9-9add-e0aa5fb0a3f3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Warne is arguably one of the best bowlers ever to grace the game of cricket. He completely changed the way spin bowling has to be done. Warne revolutionized cricket with his mastery of leg-spin bowling on the ground.

[{"selector":"#anim-7b52a100-519e-4c24-976b-59bbc08d3ee8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28c23585-af7b-4f1b-a12a-3a8cef0d95f0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec2cb13f-d9f0-4f64-a66f-157b3f1e4662","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c310cc6-cfd4-4b9e-86bc-367ee5b419b9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Anil Kumble, who took 619 wickets in Test matches and is the fourth-highest wicket-taker of all time as of 2022, is largely regarded as one of the best leg spinners in the history of Test cricket.

[{"selector":"#anim-1c465ddb-f81b-49e8-bd02-601b85ff42a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b5b5b7b-86d6-4932-bd55-8250dd8809eb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e4ce6ab-895d-4c44-94ae-805f578c37af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d38af3a-e2a5-4996-91a3-69be97d3ec81","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

He set a record in 1956 that has never been surpassed by another bowler. In a Test match against Australia at Manchester's Old Trafford Cricket Ground, he claimed a total of nineteen wickets.

[{"selector":"#anim-ab88a677-5897-4357-93c9-ecfd23a9053c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-613eb92e-a570-40b2-aa00-985f46895ca3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae9d171d-ed30-4453-a1ea-515727f854e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ceb603e9-a0a8-466b-bb3e-d8a261fdcae4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

One of the greatest right-arm off-break spinners of all time is Ravichandran Ashwin. In terms of innings played, he is the fastest Indian bowler to attain the 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 wicket milestones in Test cricket.

[{"selector":"#anim-0abee36a-3693-48f8-b88d-d336120ff7f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60e5f9dc-ed9c-4564-9a2b-9fa212f3396c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87ffd645-860f-438f-bf12-0a6046c490bb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67ec6522-4488-4f0f-b21d-e0e3e9a4b663","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

One of Pakistan's best leg-spinners was Abdul Qadir. Abdul Qadir undoubtedly made a significant contribution to the sport of cricket in the area of spin bowling.

[{"selector":"#anim-4bf45758-9e74-4d79-a6d5-5dea389f1511","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70f10e26-eba8-416b-8274-546cc64f9093","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a1a9246-019c-4c0a-a1a9-a154bd48defb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3eccf7ca-6873-4fe4-8186-63a5d36a5d7a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Erapalli Prasanna's spin bowling helped define the era of India in the 1960s and 1970s. He was well known for throwing unplayable spin to trick a batsman. He made his debut in 1962 against England.

[{"selector":"#anim-d4d8fe47-f8d5-46d1-9eb8-59e154fa27e9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e716b59-c511-420d-974c-281b0831b48b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0d10566-6644-4f9e-b39f-ae95bde60aa1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a165711d-539c-493d-a355-b3f009b218ef","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

He is regarded as one of the finest spin bowlers in cricket history and is most known for pioneering the "doosra", a leg break delivery bowled with an off-break action.

[{"selector":"#anim-ed464eca-063b-4e16-9182-cf84ca3140e2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dea83cd-c54e-43f5-be83-9b7e180348e1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e8fd0b2-5a85-4f78-b937-3a4849e2bd55","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07cd5e05-0bc4-4837-aa22-ad3979f329f5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Early in 1998, Harbhajan Singh made his debuts in the Test and ODI formats. One of the best spinners in Indian history, Singh is renowned for his top-off spin bowling, which is used to destroy the batting order of the opponent.

[{"selector":"#anim-4383bdb9-e9fa-47ba-94db-305342e36b54","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65d98f29-9df7-4167-af2a-06d957ca493c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bf032d7-883a-4f4b-8ceb-0cb2b1fd7c73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99552ffe-1e22-4d79-8f33-cc1cb9793b7d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Swann was one of the deadliest spinners in the game because of his control of the delivery, the way he used to give flight, and his tendency for consistently dropping the ball in the right spot.

[{"selector":"#anim-934e516c-9d0e-4b94-8db5-299ccff41528","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-744d9bba-f530-4104-bd26-8a64947866e3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d9eb2a1-e43a-4d1d-9288-915dc68197ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68705714-a29c-402f-9ac6-3305a9bc24c0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The finest spinner to have ever played was Muttiah Muralitharan. He was a distinctive off-spinner who became the first wrist-spinning off-spinner in cricket history by sharply turning the ball with his wrist.

Muttiah Muralitharan

Warne is arguably one of the best bowlers ever to grace the game of cricket. He completely changed the way spin bowling has to be done. Warne revolutionized cricket with his mastery of leg-spin bowling on the ground.

Shane Warne

Anil Kumble, who took 619 wickets in Test matches and is the fourth-highest wicket-taker of all time as of 2022, is largely regarded as one of the best leg spinners in the history of Test cricket.

Anil Kumble

He set a record in 1956 that has never been surpassed by another bowler. In a Test match against Australia at Manchester's Old Trafford Cricket Ground, he claimed a total of nineteen wickets.

Jim Laker

One of the greatest right-arm off-break spinners of all time is Ravichandran Ashwin. In terms of innings played, he is the fastest Indian bowler to attain the 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 wicket milestones in Test cricket.

Ravichandran Ashwin

One of Pakistan's best leg-spinners was Abdul Qadir. Abdul Qadir undoubtedly made a significant contribution to the sport of cricket in the area of spin bowling.

Abdul Qadir

Erapalli Prasanna's spin bowling helped define the era of India in the 1960s and 1970s. He was well known for throwing unplayable spin to trick a batsman. He made his debut in 1962 against England.

Erapalli Prasanna

He is regarded as one of the finest spin bowlers in cricket history and is most known for pioneering the "doosra", a leg break delivery bowled with an off-break action.

Saqlain Mushtaq

Early in 1998, Harbhajan Singh made his debuts in the Test and ODI formats. One of the best spinners in Indian history, Singh is renowned for his top-off spin bowling, which is used to destroy the batting order of the opponent.

Harbhajan Singh

Swann was one of the deadliest spinners in the game because of his control of the delivery, the way he used to give flight, and his tendency for consistently dropping the ball in the right spot.

Graeme Swann