Last Updated on 2 months by Charbel Coorey

India superstar Jasprit Bumrah has one of the best bowling averages in Test history. Among bowlers with at least 150 wickets, Bumrah’s average of 20.06 is right up there, with just one bowler – who played in the 1900s – ahead of him.

Here is a look at the six bowlers who average less than 21 with 150+ wickets to their name.

Lowest bowling averages in Tests among bowlers with 150+ Test wickets

Sydney Barnes (England): 16.43

The great Sydney Barnes, England’s right-arm quick who made his debut in 1901, took 189 wickets at an incredible average of 16.43.

Against South Africa in Johannesburg 1913, Barnes took 17 wickets (9/103 and 8/56) is a remarkable performance. “It was Barnes’s match. On no occasion during the tour was the great bowler seen to quite such advantage. He took seventeen wickets- eight for 56 and nine for 103- proving quite irresistible on the last morning,” read the match report, published by ESPNcricinfo.

In 2013, Barnes, who also took 719 First Class wickets at 17.09, was inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame.

Jasprit Bumrah (India): 20.06

Jasprit Bumrah comfortably holds the title of India’s greatest ever fast bowler. After 41 Tests, Bumrah has taken 181 wickets at a magnificent average of 20.06, second only to Barnes among bowlers with 150+ Test wickets.

Bumrah averages 18.80 in Australia (40 wickets), where visiting bowlers have found it tough over the years. He also averages a staggering 17.19 in India (47 wickets).

“Jasprit [Bumrah] will go down as probably one of the greatest fast bowlers to play the game. I think we’re finding that at the moment — how challenging he can be, and it’s nice to play against that,” said Australia batsman Travis Head during the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

ALSO READ: Bumrah is comfortably the best bowler in the world across formats – Michael Vaughan

Alan Davidson (Australia): 20.53

Australia’s Alan Davidson was magnificent between 1953 and 1963, with injuries unfortunately costing him more matches. In 44 Tests, the left-arm pace bowler took a brilliant 14 five-wicket hauls, part of his 186 wickets at an average of 20.53. He also scored 1,328 Test runs at an average of 24.59.

Davidson starred in the 1960 tied Test against West Indies. He took 11 wickets (5/135 and 6/87) and was magnificent with the bat as well (44 and 80). A true superstar of the game.

Malcolm Marshall (West Indies): 20.94

Whenever there is a conversation around the best fast bowlers of all time, Malcolm Marshall is always part of it. Fast, relentless and determined, his 376 wickets cost just 20.94 apiece, taking wickets all over the world, including 71 at a superb average of 23.05 in Asia.

“Malcolm started with a good rhythm, but as time went on he learned a lot about fast bowling. He could evaluate opposition hitters so quickly and so easily. In those days you didn’t have many tapes or computers, it was all in his head. He understood how to deal with hitters,” said Michael Holding, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Joel Garner (West Indies): 20.97

Standing at 6ft 8in, Joel Garner was a nightmare for batsmen. Part of the West Indian era of incredible fast bowling, Garner would regularly get the ball to rear off a length or nail opponents with his superb yorker.

Only India (7 wickets at 43.00) managed to keep Garner somewhat quiet. He took 45 wickets in Australia at 25.37, 123 wickets in West Indies at 22.34, and averaged below 20 in England (16.56), New Zealand (16.92), and Pakistan (19.20).

Curtly Ambrose (West Indies): 20.99

Curtly Ambrose has the most wickets of any bowler with an average under 21. The legendary fast bowler took 405 scalps in 98 Tests at an average of 20.99.

Ambrose averaged below 30 in every country he played in, with the highest being Pakistan (25.20). He was outstanding in Australia, averaging just 19.79 in 14 Tests (78 wickets).

Undoubtedly one of Ambrose’s best performances was his remarkable spell of 7/1 off 32 balls against Australia at Perth in 1993. “I was in the kind of mood that, I don’t think anyone on planet earth could have stopped me that day – everything just felt right,” Ambrose said to cricket.com.au.