Spin bowling is an art in patience, shaping Test match through guile, craftsmanship, and moments of brilliance. Here's a look at the best of those ever to do it, ranked according to the ICC all-time rankings.
The ICC rankings operate on a points system which rates players from 0 to 1,000, based on performance. This system has also been applied retrospectively, allowing cricketers from earlier eras to be compared with modern-day players. Within this framework, only a handful of spinners have managed to cross the 900-point mark, underlining their dominance in the format.
The ratings listed below reflect the highest ICC points each spinner achieved during their Test career.
1. Muttiah Muralidaran
920 points v Bangladesh, 2007
The highest-rated spinner in ICC’s all-time Test rankings, Muttiah Muralitharan, remains unmatched for sheer volume and consistency. With 800 wickets, he is the leading wicket-taker in Test history, ending his career at an average of 22.72. He also took 10 wickets in a match on 22 occasions - no other bowler achieved more than 10. He held the No.1 ranking for a staggering 1,711 days, the longest reign for any bowler in the game’s history.
2. Tony Lock
912 v New Zealand, 1958
Left-arm spinner Tony Lock was one of England’s most successful slow bowlers of the 1950s, reaching a peak rating of 912, which puts him on second position on the ICC rankings of spinners. He took 174 wickets in 49 Tests at an average of 25.58, often operating in tandem with Jim Laker to form one of England’s most feared spin pairings. He is also most famously known for being the bowler who took the “other wicket” when Laker achieved his world record of 19-90 in 1956. At just 20 years old, he was selected for the 1952 Ashes, and six years later, his consistency and control carried him to a Test rating of 912.
3. Derek Underwood
907 v New Zealand, 1971
The left-arm orthodox spinner thrived whenever conditions turned damp and sticky, which earned him the nickname “Deadly”. Derek Underwood finished with 297 wickets from 86 Tests at an average of 25.83, still the highest tally by any England spinner. His career included 17 five-wicket hauls and six 10-wicket match hauls, while his strike rate of 73.6 stood out. Underwood reached a career-high rating of 907 in 1971, which remains the third-highest ever achieved by a spinner in the ICC Test rankings.
4. Shane Warne
905 v England, 1994
It took Shane Warne barely two years from his debut to reach a peak rating of 905, confirming his dominance as arguably the greatest of all-time. Warne changed the art of leg-spin forever, combining extravagant turn with relentless accuracy and an unmatched sense of theatre. With 708 wickets in 145 Tests, he remains the second-highest wicket-taker in history, including 37 five-wicket hauls and 10 ten-fors. His magical “ball of the century” to Mike Gatting in 1993 epitomised his genius and remains one of cricket’s iconic moments.
5. R Ashwin
904 v England, 2016
India became one of the most daunting destinations for visiting teams for over a decade in the 21st century, and at the heart of that dominance was Ravichandran Ashwin. Combining sharp off-spin with clever variations, he quickly established himself as India’s most impactful spinner of the modern era. Of his 537 Test wickets, 383 came on home soil, often turning matches single-handedly. Alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin formed one of the most lethal spin duos in recent history, finishing his career with 32 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket matches.
6. Clarrie Grimmet
901 v South Africa, 1936
Clarrie Grimmett announced himself on the international stage with an 11-wicket haul on debut in 1925, still the third-highest for a Test debutant. He became the fastest bowler to reach 200 wickets in just 36 matches, a record which stood for more than eight decades. His 44 wickets against South Africa in 1935/36 remain the third-most in a single series, at an astonishing average of 14.59 across five Tests. Grimmett played at the highest level until the age of 45, becoming the second-oldest bowler to take ten wickets in a Test, leaving a legacy of longevity, consistency, and mastery that set the benchmark for spin bowling.
7. Bill Johnston
900 v West Indies, 1952
Bill Johnston was one of Australia’s most versatile bowlers, seamlessly blending pace and off-spin to devastating effect. Across 40 Tests, he claimed 160 wickets at 23.91, using swing, seam, and subtle variation to outfox batters in any condition. His adaptability allowed him to open the attack with sheer pace or turn to off-spin when the pitch demanded, making him a constant threat. Johnston’s brilliance was on full display during the 1948 Ashes, where he picked up 27 wickets at 15.33, helping Australia complete the “Invincibles” tour unbeaten and cementing his place as one of cricket’s most complete bowlers.
7. Bill O’ Reilly
900 v New Zealand, 1946
Bill O’Reilly's leg-spin bowling, along with fearsome turn and accuracy, made life miserable for the batters. In 27 Tests, he captured 144 wickets at 22.59. He was described by Jack Fingleton as “a flurry of limbs, fire and steel-edged temper,” while Don Bradman called him the greatest bowler he had faced.
9. Ravindra Jadeja
899 v Australia, 2017
The only active spinner on this list, Ravindra Jadeja’s record speaks volumes. With 330 Test wickets, including 15 five-wicket hauls, he has rapidly established himself among the world’s elite. Often overshadowed by R. Ashwin, Jadeja has been a pillar of India’s long-standing home dominance. His sharp left-arm spin and exceptional agility in the field have made him a constant threat, while his lower-order batting has added crucial depth, helping India seize key moments, which helped maintain one of the longest unbeaten home runs in Test cricket.
10. Jim Laker
897 v Australia, 1956
Jim Laker remains one of England’s most accomplished off-spinners. Across 46 Tests, he claimed 193 wickets at an average of 21.24, including nine five-wicket hauls and three ten-fors. Laker’s legendary 19-wicket haul against Australia at The Oval in 1956, with figures of 9 for 37 and 10 for 53, remains the highest in a single Test.
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