James Anderson blind ranks fast-bowling greats amid Ashes 2025-26; Jasprit Bumrah not number 1

Former England pacer James Anderson ranked fellow seam bowlers from one to ten in an interesting exercise amid the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes (Tailenderspod Instagram handle). The legendary seamer picked former Englishman Ian Botham at the top of his blind ranking.

Botham finished with 528 wickets in his international career at an average of 28.44, including 27 five-wicket hauls. Anderson picked his rival, Dale Steyn, at No. 2, thanks to his incredible all-format numbers.

The former South African pacer finished one wicket shy of 700, with a bowling average of 23.37, including 29 five-wicket hauls. Ace Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah came in at No. 3 on Anderson's list.

Bumrah is currently on 484 wickets at a remarkable average of under 21, including 18 five-wicket hauls. Anderson picked Wasim Akram as the top left-arm pacer and fourth overall, thanks to the Pakistan legend's phenomenal Test and ODI Numbers.

Akram finished with 916 international wickets, third all-time among pacers behind James Anderson and Glenn McGrath. Former West Indian pacer Michael Holding rounded off the top five, finishing his stellar international career with 391 wickets at an average of 22.84.

Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga came in at No. 6, thanks predominantly to his white-ball exploits, resulting in his overall international wickets tally of 546.

James Anderson's final four includes two left-arm pacers

James Anderson picked two left-handed and right-handed pacers each in the final four of his top 10. Former South African captain Shaun Pollock came in at No. 7, thanks to his 829 wickets across the formats at an average of under 24.

New Zealand left-armer Trent Boult was ranked eighth on Anderson's list, having picked up over 600 wickets in international cricket at an average of 25.60. Another left-arm seamer, Mitchell Johnson, was ninth on the ranking.

Johnson finished his Australian career with 590 wickets at an average of 26.65, including 15 five-wicket hauls. Finally, Anderson went with his former English teammate, Jofra Archer, at No. 10.

An injury-plagued career has seen Archer struggling to fulfill his potential, with the speedster still on 163 international wickets despite debuting for England in 2019.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran