In Test cricket, bowlers have the big task of picking up 20 wickets of the opponent team in 2 innings. But if they are playing in their home countries, then their job becomes a bit easier, as the bowlers are familiar with the conditions.
The favourable conditions at home help the bowlers scalp wickets at regular intervals by conceding fewer runs. These efforts in turn reflect in their better bowling averages, showcasing their fine control over the red ball.
In this article, we’ll look at the top 10 bowlers with the best bowling average at home in Tests (min. 200 wickets).
Best Bowling Average in Home Tests
| Player | Innings | Runs Conceded | Wickets | Average at Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) | 134 | 9646 | 493 | 19.56 |
| Fred Trueman (ENG) | 90 | 4590 | 229 | 20.04 |
| Ravindra Jadeja (IND) | 97 | 4929 | 238 | 20.71 |
| Shaun Pollock (SA) | 109 | 4955 | 235 | 21.08 |
| Curtly Ambrose (WI) | 93 | 4302 | 203 | 21.19 |
| Ravi Ashwin (IND) | 127 | 8263 | 383 | 21.57 |
| Dale Steyn (SA) | 99 | 5643 | 261 | 21.62 |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 131 | 6483 | 289 | 22.43 |
| Richard Hadlee (NZ) | 75 | 4615 | 201 | 22.96 |
| Rangana Herath (SL) | 92 | 6575 | 278 | 23.65 |
Key Insights
19.56: Muthiah Muralidaran has the best bowling average in Test matches played at home among the bowlers with a minimum of 200 wickets. The Sri Lankan spin magician picked up 493 wickets at an impressive bowling average of 19.56. And he is the only bowler with an average of less than 20. (Check out Muralidaran’s complete records here.)
493: Muralidaran’s wicket tally of 493 is the highest by any bowler in home conditions in the Test format. James Anderson is the other bowler with more than 400 wickets to his name.
20.04: Fred Trueman’s average of 20.04 is the best among the pacers with 200 Test wickets at home.
22: The averages of India’s most successful bowling pair — Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja — are below 22. This is the only pair with both bowlers having bowling averages under 22 while playing at home.
25: There are 15 bowlers with an average of under 25, while the number extends to 22 bowlers with an average of under 30. Nathan Lyon is the only bowler with more than 30 average, as the Australian spinner averages close to 31 (30.88).
