One of the greatest weapons of a fast bowler is the yorker. The yorker is a delivery aimed at the batsman’s toes. This is done to ensure the batsman does not have enough room to hit a shot. This is especially valuable during the death overs when the batsman is looking to score a four/six in every ball.
In this article, we will look at the 10 best Yorker Bowlers in the world to ever grace the game of cricket.
1. Lasith Malinga
Known for his unique round-arm delivery, the Sri Lankan sprinter became famous for his knack of striking Yorkers with deadly accuracy. Lasith Malinga’s yorker bowling, particularly in key moments of games, frequently changed the outcome in the Sri Lankan team’s favor.
His remarkable achievement of hitting four wickets with four balls against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup is forever remembered by devoted fans. Malinga’s mastery of the yorker cemented him as one of the greatest practitioners of this bowling style in cricket’s history, a legacy that lasted throughout his remarkable career.
| Name | Lasith Malinga |
| Date of Birth | 28 August 1983 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 2004-2020 |
| Nationality | Sri Lanka |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI/T20I) | 30/226/84 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI/T20I) | 101/338/107 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/50 (Test Cricket)6/38 (ODI Cricket)⅚ (T20I Cricket) |
2. Waqar Younis
Known for his outstanding abilities, the Pakistani paceman rose to prominence as a powerful presence in his time. He was celebrated for his intense speed and impressive control over out swinging yorkers, instilling dread in the minds of opponents.
His yorkers, thrown with precision, presented a significant obstacle for the opposing team, forcing them to fight to protect their wickets. With his deadly yorkers, Waqar played a vital part in achieving many wins for Pakistan, earning him a rightful place in the respected Hall of Fame.
| Name | Waqar Younis |
| Date of Birth | 16 November 1971 |
| Age | 50 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 1989-2003 |
| Nationality | Pakistan |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI) | 87/262 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI) | 373/416 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 7/76 (Test Cricket)7/36 (ODI Cricket) |
3. Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar, the former Pakistani fast bowler, earned widespread admiration on the cricket field. Known as the “Rawalpindi Express” for his incredible pace, Akhtar instilled fear in the minds of batsmen worldwide.
The Rawalpindi Express is well known for its pace! Shoaib Akhtar has bowled the fastest delivery in world cricket. His delivery of 161.3 km/h still holds the world record, hence it can’t be argued how dangerous his yorkers would have been.
Having learned from Waqar Younis himself, Akhtar was a deadly yorker specialist. His figures of 6/11 in Test Matches and 6/16 in ODI Cricket cemented his legacy. Hence Shoaib Akhtar is easily one of the best yorker bowlers in the world.
| Name | Shoaib Akhtar |
| Date of Birth | 13 August 1975 |
| Age | 46 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 1997-2011 |
| Nationality | Pakistan |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI/T20I) | 46/163/15 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI/T20I) | 178/247/19 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 6/11 (Test Cricket)6/16 (ODI Cricket)3/38 (T20I Cricket) |
4. Dale Steyn
He hails from South Africa and was a former elite cricketer for the South African Cricket Team. The South African bowler picked up 439 Test Wickets in just 93 matches and this shows his prowess.
A pivotal moment in Steyn’s career happened during an ODI game, where he consistently bowled yorkers to get legendary Sachin Tendulkar out. This demonstrated Steyn’s outstanding skills and his ability to consistently bowl yorkers accurately under pressure.
Dale Steyn was chiefly known for swinging the ball both ways. Hence this just made his yorkers even more lethal. Injuries eventually caught up to the bowlers and he has not played international cricket since 2020.
| Name | Dale Steyn |
| Date of Birth | 27 June 1983 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 2004-2020 |
| Nationality | South Africa |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI) | 93/125/47 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI) | 439/196/64 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 7/51 (Test Cricket)6/39 (ODI Cricket)4/9 (T20I Cricket) |
5. Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram, the celebrated Pakistani cricketer, embodies the remarkable talent of quick bowling and is known for his outstanding mastery of the Yorker technique. Akram’s performance of Yorkers was a work of art, demonstrating a deadly combination of velocity, spin, and perfect accuracy.
His unmatched skill in the craft of swing bowling, along with his knack for making the ball travel in two directions, presented a significant obstacle for batsmen in correctly predicting the path and distance of his throws.
| Name | Wasim Akram |
| Date of Birth | 3 June 1966 |
| Age | 55 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 1984-2003 |
| Nationality | Pakistan |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI) | 104/356 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI) | 414/502 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 7/119 (Test Cricket)5/15 (ODI Cricket) |
6. Brett Lee
Recognized for his rapid speed and fierce attitude, the Australian fast bowler showcased remarkable skill in throwing yorkers. Lee’s yorkers stood out due to his lightning-fast delivery and tricky late turn, making them extremely difficult for the opposing batsmen to deal with.
A consistent member of the Australian cricket team, he played an essential part in their bowling strategy, significantly aiding their powerful offensive.
Brett Lee picked up 310 Test Wickets and 380 ODI wickets in one of the most exciting times for World Cricket. Known for his pace and ability, Lee would easily go down as one of the best yorker bowlers of all time.
| Name | Brett Lee |
| Date of Birth | 8 November 1976 |
| Age | 45 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 1999-2012 |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI/T20I) | 76/221/25 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI/T20I) | 310/380/28 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/30 (Test Cricket)5/22 (ODI Cricket)3/23 (T20I Cricket) |
7. Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff, the versatile English cricketer, earned fame for his fierce bowling approach and strong batting skills. His ability to deliver the yorker, especially under intense pressure, was a standout feature of his talent.
Flintoff was instrumental for England in the early 2000s, playing a key part in their wins in many important games.
| Name | Andrew Flintoff |
| Date of Birth | 6 December 1977 |
| Age | 46 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 1998-2010 |
| Nationality | British |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI/T20I) | 79/141/7 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI/T20I) | 226/169/5 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/58 (Test Cricket)5/19 (ODI Cricket)3/23 (T20I Cricket) |
8. Jasprit Bumrah
No top Yorkers list is complete without recognizing Jasprit Bumrah. Since entering the scene in 2016, Bumrah has accomplished many impressive feats to secure his position as India’s top fast bowler. Known for his quick grasp of the game, he has always been equipped with a deadly yorker.
| Name | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Date of Birth | 6 December 1993 |
| Age | 30 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 2016-present |
| Nationality | India |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI/T20I) | 29/68/57 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI/T20I) | 123/110/67 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 6/27 (Test Cricket)5/27 (ODI Cricket)3/11 (T20I Cricket) |
9. Mitchell Starc
Coming in at number 9 is Mitchell Starc. The Australian pacer is one of the most exciting bowlers in the cricket world at the moment. The 32-year-old bowler combines raw pace with his accurate yorker abilities to make a difference.
At the age of 32, Starc has already impressed a lot of people with his abilities. Hence it has to be seen if Mitchell Starc can rise even higher in this list and become the best yorker bowlers in the world ever to grace the game.
| Name | Mitchell Starc |
| Date of Birth | 30 January 1990 |
| Age | 34 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 2010-present |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI) | 69/99/50 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI) | 282/195/60 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 6/50 (Test Cricket)6/28 (ODI Cricket)3/11 (T20I Cricket) |
10. Shaun Tait
Another Aussie that makes this list is the speedster, Shaun Tait. Having burst onto the scene as a pure pace bowler, Tait was already dangerous with his pace. But he went on to improve that even more in the coming years as he developed his yorker even more.
Just imagine facing a yorker at speeds of around 150-155! Scary right? Well, that is what Shaun Tait did best. Sadly injuries took their toll on his body and he could never stay at his full potential for long.
| Name | Shaun Tait |
| Date of Birth | 22 February 1983 |
| Age | 41 years |
| Cricketing Career (National Team) | 2004-2016 |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Matches Played (Test/ODI/T20I) | 3/35/21 |
| Wickets Taken (Test/ODI/T20I) | 5/62/28 |
| Best Bowling Figures | 3/97 (Test Cricket)4/39 (ODI Cricket)3/13 (T20I Cricket) |
