Over the years, the game of cricket has gone through a lot of changes and the players have been quick to adjust to it. It is a fact that each of the three formats, namely, Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODI), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) have their own different skill sets, but still only a few players have been able to make it to the top and reach the insane milestone of taking 100+ wickets in every format.
To everyone’s delight, India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has become the only fifth player to be enrolled in the list of bowlers with 100 or more wickets in all three formats, thereby gaining the privilege of being in the same club with the likes of Tim Southee, Lasith Malinga, Shakib Al Hasan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who, along with Bumrah, are the elite cricketers who have passed this milestone. Bumrah has also been the first Indian bowler ever to cross the historic line.
Before the IND vs SA 1st T20 match, Bumrah was only one wicket short and he achieved the milestone by getting Dewald Brevis out in the match.
Lasith Malinga
Malinga, the legendary pace king from Sri Lanka, is often credited with changing the game, particularly in the last overs of limited-overs cricket, opening with his unique style of bowling, excellent accuracy, and superb skills. He is primarily remembered for his perfect Yorkers and deceptive, loopy slow balls; meanwhile, Malinga’s 16-year long career, during which he took a total of 548 wickets across all formats, setting a milestone as the first one to cross the 100 wickets mark in all formats list, was characterized by these mentioned attributes.
Malinga, who announced his retirement from Tests in April 2011, focused on T20Is and ODIs, and his Test wicket tally slipped to 101 in just 30 matches, thus, stressing his flexibility to the conditions and formats. In ODIs, the right-arm fast bowler took 338 wickets among which eight were five-wicket hauls and he indeed is the only bowler ever to take three hat-tricks. Furthermore, his T20I performances were also very impressive and he ended his career with 107 wickets in 84 matches
Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan, the ex-captain of Bangladesh, has been the country’s ace player in all formats, and his influence has been felt not only in his bowling but also in his batting. Shakib is the bowler with the highest number of wickets taken for Bangladesh—317 in ODIs, 149 in T20Is, and 246 in Test matches. These extraordinary figures put him among the bowlers who have taken 100 or more wickets in all formats. The left-arm spinner’s orthodox spin, paired with excellent control of line and length and great tactical awareness, has secured his place among the best all-rounders in world cricket.
Tim Southee
The ex-New Zealand bowler Tim Southee was one of the most reliable players throughout his career in all formats. Moreover, Southee is the foremost wicket-taker for New Zealand in T20I cricket.
His aggregate of 747 wickets comprises 389 in Tests, 221 in ODIs, and 164 in T20Is, which leads him to the elite club of bowlers with more than 100 wickets in all formats. The right-handed bowler’s skill to swing the ball both ways and to change his speed has made him a nightmare for batsmen everywhere. His retirement from international cricket took place last year, but he still remains one of the most distinguished fast bowlers of the New Zealand cricket history.
His longevity, getting to play over 100 matches across all formats, is indicative of his fitness, talent, good game awareness, and desire to be the best.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been carrying Pakistan’s pace attack in all formats at a very young age of 25. He has managed to take 325 wickets in all formats—121 in Tests,137 in ODIs, and then 108 in T20Is—thus getting to the list of bowlers with 100 or more wickets in all formats.
The left-handed fast bowler, Afridi, brings a new aspect to the already existing fast bowling department and also provides bowling overs throughout the game particularly with the new ball and during the last few deliveries. His every success in all formats in such a short period is the proof of his talent and the talent of his generation, as he can easily face the bowlers on the basis of his speed and swing, hence making him a very promising player for the future of cricket
.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah who has so far captured 234 wickets in Tests and 149 in ODIs recently in the course of the IND vs SA 1st T20I in Cuttack reached the milestone of 100 wickets in T20I cricket thereby becoming the second Indian bowler after Arshdeep Singh. Since the day of his debut Bumrah has always been India’s reliable bowler and it is hard to disagree that he is the best all-format bowler of the current era. The unorthodox action, remarkable control, quick adaptation to conditions and outsmarting the batters, all these qualities make Bumrah a representative of the modern seamers. A boasting average of less than 24 across formats isn’t an easy task, but Bumrah is maintaining it for a long time, which is a testament to his talent and skills.