Off-spin, left-arm orthodox spin, leg break, and left-arm unorthodox spin are the four subcategories of this bowling style that can be distinguished based on the physical method employed.
Depending on the method, the bowler may employ either a dominating wrist action or a finger motion. Take a look at the top 10 spin bowlers in the world.
| Cricketer | Format | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | 5-Wicket | 10-Wicket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Test | 133 | 800 | 9/51 | 22.72 | 2.47 | 67 | 22 |
| ODI | 350 | 534 | 7/30 | 23.08 | 3.93 | 10 | 0 | |
| T20I | 12 | 13 | 3/29 | 22.84 | 6.31 | 0 | 0 | |
| Shane Warne | Test | 145 | 708 | 8/71 | 25.41 | 2.65 | 37 | 10 |
| ODI | 194 | 293 | 5/33 | 25.73 | 4.25 | 1 | 0 | |
| T20 | 73 | 70 | 4/21 | 26.61 | 7.22 | 0 | 0 | |
| Anil Kumble | Test | 132 | 619 | 10/74 | 29.65 | 2.69 | 35 | 8 |
| ODI | 271 | 337 | 6/12 | 30.89 | 4.30 | 2 | 0 | |
| T20 | 54 | 57 | 5/5 | 24.36 | 6.69 | 1 | 0 | |
| Saqlain Mushtaq | Test | 49 | 208 | 8/164 | 29.83 | 2.64 | 13 | 3 |
| ODI | 169 | 288 | 5/20 | 21.78 | 4.29 | 6 | 0 | |
| T20 | 9 | 14 | 3/24 | 18.92 | 7.57 | 0 | 0 | |
| Daniel Vettori | Test | 113 | 362 | 7/87 | 34.36 | 2.59 | 20 | 3 |
| ODI | 295 | 305 | 5/7 | 31.71 | 4.12 | 2 | 0 | |
| T20I | 34 | 38 | 4/20 | 19.68 | 5.70 | 0 | 0 |
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Muttiah Muralitharan, a renowned Sri Lankan right-arm off-break bowler, etched his name in cricket history by holding the coveted number one spot among Test bowlers for an impressive 1,711 days in the International Cricket Council's player rankings. In 2002, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack hailed him as "the greatest Test match bowler ever." Over his illustrious career spanning from 1992 to 2010, Muralitharan claimed a staggering 800 wickets in 230 innings, a feat achieved across 133 test matches. His best bowling performance in a single innings was an astounding 9/51, and in a solitary test match, he recorded a remarkable 16/220.
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Shane Warne, the legendary Australian right-arm leg-break bowler, earned the distinction of being named one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 1994 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. His retirement from professional cricket in 2007 marked, as described by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, the "end of an era." During his career, spanning from 1992 to 2007, Warne captured 708 wickets in 273 innings across 145 test matches. His best bowling figures in an innings were 8/71, while in a single test match, he achieved an impressive 12/128.
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Anil Kumble, a revered right-arm leg-break bowler and former captain of the Indian cricket team, stands as one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time. He was recognized as one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1996 and further solidified his legacy by being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in February 2015, becoming the fourth Indian cricketer to achieve this honor. Between 1990 and 2008, Anil claimed 619 wickets in 236 innings across 132 test matches. His most remarkable bowling performance in an innings was 10/74, and in a single test match, he achieved a remarkable 14/149.
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Saqlain Mushtaq, the retired Pakistani right-arm off-break bowler, is renowned for pioneering the "doosra." He made history by becoming the fastest bowler to reach 100 wickets in the history of One Day Internationals. During his career from 1995 to 2004, Saqlain secured 208 wickets in 86 innings across 49 test matches. His best bowling figures in an innings were 8/164, and in a single test match, he recorded 10/155. Notably, his Test bowling average stood at 29.83, accompanied by an economy rate of 2.64.
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Daniel Vettori, a trailblazing slow left-arm orthodox bowler representing the New Zealand cricket team, left an indelible mark on the sport. He became the eighth player in Test history to amass 3,000 runs while also claiming 300 wickets. Additionally, Vettori assumed the role of captain for the New Zealand team from 2007 to 2011.
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