While cricket requires many skills, height can give players certain advantages, especially for bowlers. Taller bowlers can generate more bounce and create steeper angles, making it harder for batsmen to score. These five very tall cricketers have not only stood out because of their height but have also delivered memorable performances on the field. Let’s look at the top five tallest cricketers and some of their best bowling performances, and what makes them valuable to their teams.
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1. Mohammad Irfan (Pakistan) – 7’1 (216 cm)
Best Bowling Performance: 4 wickets for 30 runs against South Africa in 2013.
Mohammad Irfan is the tallest player to ever play international cricket. Irfan’s deliveries had extra bounce and created difficult angles for batsmen, making him a unique and potent threat. His story is quite remarkable. Before playing professional cricket, he worked in a factory. Irfan’s story is inspiring. It shows how raw talent and determination can lead to success, even from humble beginnings.
Career Highlight: He took 83 wickets across ODIs and T20Is. His spell against South Africa in 2013 remains his standout performance.
Status: Retired from international cricket in 2020.
Mohammad Irfan Career Summary:
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | BBI | BBM | 5W | 10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 4 | 10 | 38.90 | 3.28 | 71.2 | 3/44 | 4/86 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 60 | 83 | 30.71 | 4.92 | 37.46 | 4/30 | 4/30 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 22 | 16 | 35.13 | 7.44 | 28.31 | 2/18 | 2/18 | 0 | 0 |
2. Joel Garner (West Indies) – 6’8 (203 cm)
Best Bowling Performance: 6 wickets for 38 runs against Australia in the 1979 World Cup Final.
Joel Garner, nicknamed Big Bird because of his height and wingspan, was a force to be reckoned with. Garner’s height, accuracy and extra bounce made him a difficult bowler to face in both Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs). Garner holds the record for the best bowling average in World Cup history. He was also a pioneer in death bowling, specialising in bowling in the final overs of a match, before it became a special skill set.
Career Highlight: Took 259 Test wickets at an average of 20.97 and 146 ODI wickets. He still holds the record for the best bowling average in World Cup history (18.84).
Special Skill: A pioneer in death bowling, Garner’s toe-crushing yorkers set the standard for generations of bowlers to come.
Status: Retired in 1987; later worked as a coach and cricket administrator.
Joel Garner Career Summary:
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | BBI | BBM | 5W | 10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 58 | 259 | 20.98 | 2.48 | 50.85 | 6/56 | 9/108 | 7 | 0 |
| ODI | 98 | 146 | 18.85 | 3.10 | 36.51 | 5/31 | 5/31 | 3 | 0 |
3. Boyd Rankin (Ireland/England) – 6’8 (203 cm)
Best Bowling Performance: 5 wickets for 75 runs against Pakistan in 2018.
Boyd Rankin is unique because he played international cricket for both Ireland and England. Rankin’s height and ability to swing the ball made him a key player in Ireland’s cricket team as they moved up in international rankings. He is one of the few cricketers to have represented two different countries in all three formats of the game (Test, ODI, and Twenty20). Rankin’s career shows the growth and increasing competitiveness of associate nations in global cricket.### 4. Bruce Reid (Australia) – 6’8 (203 cm)
Unique Fact: One of the very few cricketers to play Test cricket for two nations.
Status: Retired from international cricket in 2021.
Boyd Rankin Career Summary:
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | BBI | BBM | 5W | 10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 3 | 8 | 38.00 | 4.12 | 55.38 | 2/5 | 4/91 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 75 | 107 | 27.64 | 4.79 | 34.65 | 4/15 | 4/15 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 50 | 55 | 22.16 | 6.85 | 19.42 | 3/16 | 3/16 | 0 | 0 |
4. Bruce Reid (Australia) – 6’8 (203 cm)
Best Bowling Performance: 7 wickets for 51 runs against England in 1990.
Bruce Reid’s height and left-arm angle made him a tough bowler to face, especially during the Ashes series against England. He is one of Australia’s best bowlers. After his playing career, he became a coach and helped develop fast bowlers for future generations.
Career Highlight: Claimed 113 wickets in just 27 Tests.
Post-Career: After retiring due to injuries, Reid turned to coaching and mentored upcoming Australian fast bowlers.
Status: Retired in 1992.
Bruce Reid Career Summary:
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | BBI | BBM | 5W | 10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 27 | 113 | 24.64 | 2.68 | 55.26 | 7/51 | 13/148 | 5 | 2 |
| ODI | 61 | 63 | 34.97 | 4.07 | 51.59 | 5/53 | 5/53 | 1 | 0 |
5. Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand) – 6’8 (203 cm)
Best Bowling Performance: 6 wickets for 48 runs against Pakistan in 2021.
Kyle Jamieson is a modern day Test cricketer who uses his height to generate pace, bounce and seam movement. Jamieson played a key role in New Zealand’s win in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) final. He has redefined tall fast bowling and shown his consistency and control.
Career Highlight: Key performer in New Zealand’s historic 2021 World Test Championship Final victory against India, where he took 7 wickets across both innings.
Status: Active player (as of 2025).
Kyle Jamieson Career Summary:
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | SR | BBI | BBM | 5W | 10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 19 | 80 | 19.74 | 2.66 | 44.48 | 6/48 | 11/117 | 5 | 1 |
| ODI | 17 | 17 | 39.47 | 5.17 | 45.76 | 3/45 | 3/45 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 15 | 13 | 36.46 | 9.06 | 24.15 | 3/8 | 3/8 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 13 | 14 | 29.71 | 9.67 | 18.43 | 3/41 | 3/41 | 0 | 0 |
