For a long time in cricket, it has been a common saying: batters win you games, bowlers win you tournaments. High-quality bowlers are a much-desired entity for any team in the world.
Sometimes, they are selected in the side even before they have proven themselves for a consistent period on based on their tall, and lanky frame. There have been bowlers who have gotten opportunities or chances ahead of others majorly because they stood out tall literally compared to others.
What a tall fast bowler brings is the ability to generate more bounce and make discomfort for the batters. That’s why they are so vital on pitches and conditions where swing and seam movement is not much available.
Here are the 5 tallest currently active fast bowlers:
Mohammad Irfan – 7’1”
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan is the tallest international cricketer ever, measured at 7 feet and 1 inch.
The left-arm fast bowler made his international debut in 2010 and his last game for Pakistan was in 2019. Irfan snapped 99 wickets in ODIs and T20Is combined and 10 wickets in 4 Tests. He currently plies his trade in T20 and T10 leagues around the world.
Kyle Jamieson – 6’8″
New Zealand seamer Kyle Jamieson is the tallest New Zealand cricketer ever, standing 6 feet 8 inches tall. Jamieson was the Man of the Match in the 2021 WTC Final against India, where he dismissed Virat Kohli in both innings.
Jamieson has 72 wickets in only 16 Tests at an average of 19. He has bagged a hefty contract of INR 15 crore with RCB in the IPL 2021 auction.
Blessing Muzarabani – 6’8″
Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani is one of the most exciting talents in world cricket at the moment. Apart from his brilliant bowling, Blessing Muzarabani’s height of 6 feet 8 inches also makes him a pacer to watch out for.
The 26-year-old has taken 115 international wickets in 82 matches so far for Zimbabwe. Muzarabani is the second-tallest currently active fast bowler in the world.
Jason Holder – 6’7″
Former West Indies captain and star all-rounder Jason Holder is one of the tallest players in international cricket with his height being recorded at 6 feet 7 inches.
The 31-year-old from Barbados, Jason Holder, has a vast international experience of 257 international matches in which he’s taken 373 wickets alongside scoring over 5000 runs.
Shaheen Afridi – 6’6″
Arguably the best new-ball bowler in the world, and one of the best all-format fast bowlers, Shaheen Afridi is a not-to-miss player at the moment. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall, Shaheen Afridi has been Pakistan’s spearhead fast bowler for a while. The 23-year-old already has bagged 251 wickets in his Pakistan career.
