Harsh Thakor
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In this list I am ranking in my personal order of merit the pace bowlers who performed best overseas.I have placed greater emphasis on overseas paceman's performances in the sub-continent where the tracks are flat and thus a truer test.Really hard where to place players like Barnes,Davidson.Lindwall etc who were all genius's bit took into account figures and era.I have not merely depended on statistics but also moral level of performance in accordance to era and overall impact.
1.Malcolm Marshall
Although better average in the West Indies still outstanding overseas ,particularly in England in 1988and India in 193-84 or Pakistan in 1986.Brilliantly bamboozled opponents in Kanpur at the start of both innings slicing through the top order in 1983-84 with 4 wickets apiece and slashed through the Indian batting in the 2nd innings at Kolkata claiming 6-37 in the same series.In England in 1988 bowler better than any paceman ever at fast-medium rattling the English batsmen with his swerve and unpredictable skidding bounce.In 1983-84 at his best in Australia capturing 28 wickets including a 10 wkt.haul at Adelaide. 219 wkts at 21.58 away.
2.Glen Mcgrath
Outstanding particularly in the Carribean capturing a record 30 scalps in 1999 but also a match-winner when taking 25 scalps in 1995.Mcgrath was superb in the sub-continent taking 72 scalps .Inspite of only being fast-medium nagged the best of batsmen with his phenomenal control .274 wkts. at 20.81 away .
3.Curtly Ambrose
The best ever overseas paceman in Australia who was unplayable on pitches of great pace and bounce.His phenomenal accuracy combined with disconcerting bounce from a good length made him a terror on a deteriorating pitch .In Perth in 1992-93 reminded one of a cowboy skittling down 7 opponents with a revolver when ripping through the heart of the Aussie batting ,capturing 7-33.Although very economical in Pakistan in 1990 missed some subsequent tours.202 wkts at 20.79 away.
4.Richard Hadlee
In Australia a revelation in 1985-86 taking 33 wickets exhibiting pace bowling skill by an overseas paceman never seen before .Very Effective in the seaming conditions of England in 1983 and 86 and also a consistent performer in India in 1988-89 taking 18 wickets .230 wickets at 21.78 away.
5.Sydney Barnes
Never seen him but assesing period in history played in era where thee wee very few test playing nations.Rated high purely on statistical record.126 wkts. at 17.96 away.
6.Courtney Walsh
Brilliant on both the 1994-95 and 1987-88 tours topping the bowling averages and wicket aggregates.Displayed great depth of skill in obtaining bounce and seam movement on placid sub-continent tracks.Also classical at his best in Australia and in England like in 2000.On flat pancake more effective than partner Curtly Ambrose.290 wkts at 25.03 away.
7.Imran Khan
Magnificient on both the 1977 and 1982 tours of West Indies,the 1976-77 and 1981-82 tour of Australia and the 1982 and 1987 tour of England.Displayed the spirit of fiery tiger attacking his prey taking agression to it's highest zenith.Considered the fact that he reached pealk late and even in his early part bowled like a champion in West Indies and Australia.199 wkts at 25.76 away.Got less support than even Wasim or Waqar did later.
8.Andy Roberts
A marvel on the tour of India in 1974-75 taking 32 wickets single-handedly spearheading the bowling attack in batting friendly conditions.At his best in Australia when taking 22 scalps in the 1975-76 Frank Worrell trophy and 26 in the 1977-78 world series cricket supertests.130 wickets at 23.88 away.
9..Michael Holding
Even on flat sub-continent Indian pitches produced deadly speed and movement taking 30 scalps in 1983-84.At his best the most lethal paceman in Australia when taking 6-21 at Perth and in England in 1976 bowled test cricket's best ever spell at the Oval taking 16-149.In 1981-82 captured 24 wickets in 3 tests in Australia ,arguably peforming better than any Calypso paceman ever down under.Took the art of pace bowling to perfection never surpassed by any pace bowler overseas.163 wkts at 23.65 away.
10.Joel Garner
At his best the no 1 paceman in the world in 1984 and arguably the best of the quartet in England in 1980.Ranked low as he did not play on the sub-continent.136 wkts .at 19.74 away.
11.Wasim Akram
Although performed on par with Imran Khan in the Carribean and Australia,overshadowed any Pakistani paceman in New Zealand in 1994.Also lethal in England in 1992 and 1996 and all but won a series in the Carribean in 2000.260 wkts.at 24.45 away.
12..Alan Davidson
Close to the best left arm bowler ever who bowled his heart out in England and WEst Indies 102 scalps at 20.11.
13.Dennis Lillee
Rated low because he never bowled well on the sub-continent or was not sufficiently test there.Also not at his best in the Carribean.124 wkts at 24.28 away.
14.Alan Donald
Great performer in Australia and England combing pace with swerve ,control and movement.Alan was deadly down under in 1994 and 1997-98 and in England in 1998.153 wickets at 23.96 away.
15.Dale Steyn
At his best a terror down under and in England or West Indies.175 wkts.at 24.02 away.
16.Kapil Dev
Considering he got no support a performer in the Imran Khan or Andy Roberts class.A class act in Australia in 1991-92,in England in 1986,and on both tours of West Indies in 1983 and 89.Never seen a medium -pace of his era trouble the great Wst Indian batsmen as much as Kapil Dev.Gave one of the the finest exhibitions of seam bowling at Lords in 1982 .215 wkts at 32.85 away.
17.Waqar Younus
Hostile in New Zealand but not at his best in Australia or West Indies.211 wkts at 26.07 away.
18.Ray Lindwall
Had he played in the 1970's,80's or 90's would have been right up there .116 wkts at 23.96 away
Statistics below compiled from cricinfo by Anantha Narayana
Away average
Bowler Team Tests Wickets Avge Away Wkts Avge
SF Barnes ENG 27 189 16.43 126 17.96
J Garner WIN 58 259 20.98 136 19.74
AK Davidson AUS 44 186 20.53 102 20.11
CEL Ambrose WIN 98 405 20.99 202 20.79
GD McGrath AUS 124 563 21.64 274 20.81
MD Marshall WIN 81 376 20.95 219 21.58
RJ Hadlee NZL 86 431 22.30 230 21.72
AA Donald SAF 72 330 22.25 153 22.96
MA Holding WIN 60 249 23.69 163 23.65
CV Grimmett AUS 37 216 24.22 111 23.86
AME Roberts WIN 47 202 25.61 130 23.88
RR Lindwall AUS 61 228 23.03 116 23.96
DW Steyn SAF 84 416 22.24 175 24.02
DK Lillee AUS 70 355 23.92 124 24.28
1.Malcolm Marshall
Although better average in the West Indies still outstanding overseas ,particularly in England in 1988and India in 193-84 or Pakistan in 1986.Brilliantly bamboozled opponents in Kanpur at the start of both innings slicing through the top order in 1983-84 with 4 wickets apiece and slashed through the Indian batting in the 2nd innings at Kolkata claiming 6-37 in the same series.In England in 1988 bowler better than any paceman ever at fast-medium rattling the English batsmen with his swerve and unpredictable skidding bounce.In 1983-84 at his best in Australia capturing 28 wickets including a 10 wkt.haul at Adelaide. 219 wkts at 21.58 away.
2.Glen Mcgrath
Outstanding particularly in the Carribean capturing a record 30 scalps in 1999 but also a match-winner when taking 25 scalps in 1995.Mcgrath was superb in the sub-continent taking 72 scalps .Inspite of only being fast-medium nagged the best of batsmen with his phenomenal control .274 wkts. at 20.81 away .
3.Curtly Ambrose
The best ever overseas paceman in Australia who was unplayable on pitches of great pace and bounce.His phenomenal accuracy combined with disconcerting bounce from a good length made him a terror on a deteriorating pitch .In Perth in 1992-93 reminded one of a cowboy skittling down 7 opponents with a revolver when ripping through the heart of the Aussie batting ,capturing 7-33.Although very economical in Pakistan in 1990 missed some subsequent tours.202 wkts at 20.79 away.
4.Richard Hadlee
In Australia a revelation in 1985-86 taking 33 wickets exhibiting pace bowling skill by an overseas paceman never seen before .Very Effective in the seaming conditions of England in 1983 and 86 and also a consistent performer in India in 1988-89 taking 18 wickets .230 wickets at 21.78 away.
5.Sydney Barnes
Never seen him but assesing period in history played in era where thee wee very few test playing nations.Rated high purely on statistical record.126 wkts. at 17.96 away.
6.Courtney Walsh
Brilliant on both the 1994-95 and 1987-88 tours topping the bowling averages and wicket aggregates.Displayed great depth of skill in obtaining bounce and seam movement on placid sub-continent tracks.Also classical at his best in Australia and in England like in 2000.On flat pancake more effective than partner Curtly Ambrose.290 wkts at 25.03 away.
7.Imran Khan
Magnificient on both the 1977 and 1982 tours of West Indies,the 1976-77 and 1981-82 tour of Australia and the 1982 and 1987 tour of England.Displayed the spirit of fiery tiger attacking his prey taking agression to it's highest zenith.Considered the fact that he reached pealk late and even in his early part bowled like a champion in West Indies and Australia.199 wkts at 25.76 away.Got less support than even Wasim or Waqar did later.
8.Andy Roberts
A marvel on the tour of India in 1974-75 taking 32 wickets single-handedly spearheading the bowling attack in batting friendly conditions.At his best in Australia when taking 22 scalps in the 1975-76 Frank Worrell trophy and 26 in the 1977-78 world series cricket supertests.130 wickets at 23.88 away.
9..Michael Holding
Even on flat sub-continent Indian pitches produced deadly speed and movement taking 30 scalps in 1983-84.At his best the most lethal paceman in Australia when taking 6-21 at Perth and in England in 1976 bowled test cricket's best ever spell at the Oval taking 16-149.In 1981-82 captured 24 wickets in 3 tests in Australia ,arguably peforming better than any Calypso paceman ever down under.Took the art of pace bowling to perfection never surpassed by any pace bowler overseas.163 wkts at 23.65 away.
10.Joel Garner
At his best the no 1 paceman in the world in 1984 and arguably the best of the quartet in England in 1980.Ranked low as he did not play on the sub-continent.136 wkts .at 19.74 away.
11.Wasim Akram
Although performed on par with Imran Khan in the Carribean and Australia,overshadowed any Pakistani paceman in New Zealand in 1994.Also lethal in England in 1992 and 1996 and all but won a series in the Carribean in 2000.260 wkts.at 24.45 away.
12..Alan Davidson
Close to the best left arm bowler ever who bowled his heart out in England and WEst Indies 102 scalps at 20.11.
13.Dennis Lillee
Rated low because he never bowled well on the sub-continent or was not sufficiently test there.Also not at his best in the Carribean.124 wkts at 24.28 away.
14.Alan Donald
Great performer in Australia and England combing pace with swerve ,control and movement.Alan was deadly down under in 1994 and 1997-98 and in England in 1998.153 wickets at 23.96 away.
15.Dale Steyn
At his best a terror down under and in England or West Indies.175 wkts.at 24.02 away.
16.Kapil Dev
Considering he got no support a performer in the Imran Khan or Andy Roberts class.A class act in Australia in 1991-92,in England in 1986,and on both tours of West Indies in 1983 and 89.Never seen a medium -pace of his era trouble the great Wst Indian batsmen as much as Kapil Dev.Gave one of the the finest exhibitions of seam bowling at Lords in 1982 .215 wkts at 32.85 away.
17.Waqar Younus
Hostile in New Zealand but not at his best in Australia or West Indies.211 wkts at 26.07 away.
18.Ray Lindwall
Had he played in the 1970's,80's or 90's would have been right up there .116 wkts at 23.96 away
Statistics below compiled from cricinfo by Anantha Narayana
Away average
Bowler Team Tests Wickets Avge Away Wkts Avge
SF Barnes ENG 27 189 16.43 126 17.96
J Garner WIN 58 259 20.98 136 19.74
AK Davidson AUS 44 186 20.53 102 20.11
CEL Ambrose WIN 98 405 20.99 202 20.79
GD McGrath AUS 124 563 21.64 274 20.81
MD Marshall WIN 81 376 20.95 219 21.58
RJ Hadlee NZL 86 431 22.30 230 21.72
AA Donald SAF 72 330 22.25 153 22.96
MA Holding WIN 60 249 23.69 163 23.65
CV Grimmett AUS 37 216 24.22 111 23.86
AME Roberts WIN 47 202 25.61 130 23.88
RR Lindwall AUS 61 228 23.03 116 23.96
DW Steyn SAF 84 416 22.24 175 24.02
DK Lillee AUS 70 355 23.92 124 24.28
