| Bowling in test matches is a difficult job. Pitches could | | | | the scene, an English leg-spinner attempted to revive |
| be flat and the bowlers have to put their bodies | | | | the dying art of wrist spin. He failed miserably, leaving |
| under pressure with a repetitive bowling action that is | | | | Warne to do all the work. Ian Salisbury-like Asoka de |
| unnatural to the human body. Indeed, not everyone | | | | Silva-was a specialist bowler, although he was not too |
| is cut out for bowling in Test matches. This fact is | | | | bad with the bat. However, he could never score |
| validated by some career statistics. | | | | enough runs to compensate for his horrid bowling |
| Before revealing the worst of the lot, I should point | | | | average of 76.95. Salisbury scalped a mere 20 |
| out that there is a minimum qualification-to isolate | | | | wickets from 15 Tests for England between 1992 |
| statistical anomalies like those truly awful bowlers | | | | and 2000, making him a contender for the worst |
| who never stood a chance against the willow | | | | bowler in Test history. |
| wielders of world cricket. This list would only consider | | | | 4. Chris Harris (New Zealand)-Average 73.12 |
| those cricketers who bowled a minimum of 2000 balls | | | | Chris Harris was supposed to be an all rounder, so he |
| in Test matches. | | | | could be excused for falling short with the ball. Harris' |
| 1. Ellawalakankanamge Asoka Ranjit de Silva (Sri | | | | captain, Stephen Fleming would have hardly expected |
| Lanka)-Average 129.00 | | | | Harris to fall short enough to average 73.12 from 23 |
| The former Sri Lankan leg-spinner has the worst | | | | Tests. His strike rate of 160 demonstrated how |
| average of all players who bowled at least 2000 balls | | | | much he and the New Zealand fielders toiled when he |
| in Test cricket-and he was not even a part-time | | | | bowled his lollipops to opposing batsmen. |
| bowler. He might also have the worst name to | | | | 5. David O'Sullivan (New Zealand)-Average 68.00 |
| pronounce and remember in international cricket-or | | | | It seems as though the specialist bowlers who really |
| any form of cricket for that matter. Known as | | | | failed seemed to favour spin. O'Sullivan played for |
| Asoka de Silva, the leg-spinner played 10 Tests for | | | | New Zealand between 1973 and 1976 and averaged |
| Sri Lanka between 1985 and 1991, taking a meagre | | | | 68.00 from 11 Tests, taking only 18 wickets in the |
| eight wickets at a spectacular average of 129.00 | | | | process. He was a real bunny with the bat as well, |
| runs. He would later become one of the worst | | | | with a Test batting average of 9.29. David's slow left |
| umpires the modern game has seen, with | | | | arm bowling was the kind of stuff a Number 10 or 11 |
| commentators calling him "A Shocker de Silva." | | | | batsman would feast on. |
| 2. Motganhalli Jaisimha (India)-Average 92.11 | | | | There are worse averages than these five for |
| The former Indian Test player is somewhat | | | | bowlers who completed their careers, but such |
| unfortunate to make the list, since he was only a | | | | players were too awful to bowl the minimum 2000 |
| part-time offbreak bowler. Playing for India between | | | | balls. Asoka de Silva was really lucky-he was the |
| 1959 and 1971, Jaisimha bowled 2097 balls in Tests, | | | | worst bowler in this group-even his strike rate was |
| taking nine wickets at 92.11 runs per wicket. | | | | astronomical-but he still got to bowl enough deliveries |
| 3. Ian Salisbury (England)-Average 76.95 | | | | to make the top of this list. Such a distinction is as |
| Around the same time that Shane Warne arrived on | | | | dubious as Asoka's umpiring decisions. |