Top 10 Best Yorker Bowlers In The World: Who Is The Yorker King?

1. Lasith Malinga: The Undisputed Yorker King

Lasith Malinga tops every list of yorker bowlers due to his unique sling-arm action, accuracy, and ability in the death overs. His yorkers were not only fast but also extremely deceptive, often turning late and hitting the stumps. One of his most memorable moments came in the 2007 World Cup, when he took four wickets in four balls, a record still unmatched in World Cup history. Malinga’s legacy as a great yorker bowler endures. Thus, he influenced an entire generation of fast bowlers around the world.

2. Waqar Younis: The Master of Reverse Swing and Toe-Crushers

Waqar Younis was a nightmare for batsmen in the 1990s. With his incredible speed and ability to reverse swing the old ball, his late-dipping yorkers uprooted the stumps of batsmen around the world. Even in the final years of his career, Waqar bowled dangerous full-length deliveries, earning him the nickname “Burewala Express.” His total of 789 wickets in Tests and ODIs reflects his dominance.

3. Dale Steyn: Speed, Skill, and Perfect Execution

Dale Steyn’s bowling was characterized by his pace, swing, and lethality. Although he is remembered for his brilliant Test cricket spells, his yorkers were equally lethal. A memorable moment was when Steyn dismissed Sachin Tendulkar with a brilliant yorker in an ODI. Steyn’s long innings and his consistency make him one of the greatest fast bowlers the game has ever seen.

4. Jasprit Bumrah: The Modern Yorker Machine

Since his debut in 2016, Jasprit Bumrah has redefined modern fast bowling. His short run-up, unique action, and exceptional rhythm give him the ability to bowl yorkers out of the blue—even in the final balls of a match. Bumrah has bowled some of the best yorkers of his career in the IPL, T20 World Cup, and Test cricket. His impressive performances have earned him a nomination for the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year in 2024. Many believe he could one day surpass Malinga to become the new yorker king.

5. Wasim Akram: The Sultan of Swing and Deadly Yorkers

Wasim Akram wasn’t just a swing bowler, he was also adept at varying his pace and bowling sharp, curving yorkers. His precise yorkers were nearly impossible to decipher. Even today, young fast bowlers study his wrist position and seam control to understand how he was able to generate such high speeds over such long periods of time. Akram is one of the most complete fast bowlers in cricket history.

6. Shoaib Akhtar: Sheer Pace + Deadly Yorkers

Shoaib Akhtar, the world’s fastest bowler, clocking a speed of 161.3 kilometers per hour, was not only fast but also dangerous. Trained by Waqar Younis, Akhtar developed a powerful yorker that often deceived left-handed batsmen.

Some of his best performances include:

• 6/11 in Tests
• 6/16 in ODIs

With speed and precision, Akhtar established himself as one of the deadliest yorker bowlers of all time.

7. Brett Lee: Raw Pace with Late Movement

Brett Lee consistently bowled at speeds in excess of 150 km/h throughout his career. His yorkers, often bowled at high speed, swung late and dismissed even the best batsmen. Lee’s rhythm, energetic run-up, and aggressive bowling style earned him a huge fan following worldwide. His combination of speed and accuracy forever places him among the greatest yorker bowlers of all time.

8. Andrew Flintoff: England’s Yorker Specialist

Andrew Flintoff was not only a powerful all-rounder but also a world-class fast bowler capable of playing aggressively under pressure. His ability to vary his pace while maintaining accuracy made him extremely effective in difficult conditions. Flintoff played a key role in England’s successes in the early 2000s, particularly in the 2005 Ashes series.

9. Mitchell Starc: The Left-Arm Yorker Beast

Mitchell Starc is one of the best left-arm yorker bowlers of the modern era. His fast, late swing is extremely difficult to counter. Starc’s iconic yorker to dismiss Ben Stokes in the 2019 World Cup is still considered one of the best deliveries of all time. With many years left in his career, Starc could rise even higher on this list in the future.

10. Shaun Tait: Raw Pace That Terrified Batsmen

Shaun Tait was one of the fastest bowlers in the world at his peak, often clocking speeds of over 155 km/h. Although injuries cut short his international career, his lightning-fast yorkers were almost unmatched. Tait’s potential was immense, and with more matches, he could become one of the best yorker bowlers in history.

What Makes a Perfect Yorker?

The yorker is difficult to bowl because it needs to land exactly at the batsman’s feet. A two-inch error can turn it into a full toss or a half-volley.

A perfect yorker requires:

• Consistent accuracy
• High pace
• Late swing
• Strong wrist position
• Ability to disguise the length

This is why only a handful of bowlers have mastered it.

Why Is a Yorker So Hard To Play?

A yorker is difficult for batters because:

• It jams the toes
• Offers no room to swing the bat
• Limits scoring options to just digs or scoops
• Comes at high pace
• Dips suddenly due to late swing

When bowled well, it often results in bowled or LBW.

Conclusion

While many bowlers have mastered the yorker, Lasith Malinga remains a reigning champion. His accuracy, unique action, and consistent dominance, especially in the death overs, make him a legendary yorker bowler.

However, rising stars like Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc are keeping the legacy alive. This proves that the art of yorker bowling is constantly evolving.