We discussed in a previous article about the 10 bowlers who have never bowled a no ball in their careers and it was very informative for me as well and now we are back with the same list but the bowlers who have not bowled a single wide ball in their careers. Bowling a wide is more common than bowling a no ball as different situations force the bowlers to bowl wide or outside the leg stump and thus they bowl wide. So to not bowl a single wide ball is commendable.
The list of bowlers in this article are some of the greatest of all time and the consistency that they had was impeccable and a lot of these bowlers were also on the list for zero no balls bowled in their careers so the discipline that they showed and still picked up so many wickets is a testament to their greatness. So, let’s look at the 10 bowlers who have never bowled a wide ball in their careers.
Sir Richard Hadlee
The greatest New Zealand fast bowler ever to play the sport of cricket and no one else since he has been able to match his level and certainly not without bowling a single wide ball in their careers. Richard Hadlee played 86 Test matches and 115 ODI matches which means a total of 201 international matches without bowling a single wide ball. No bowler has that level of discipline now.
Also Read | Richard Hadlee’s magic figure
Sir Garfield Sobers
The second name on this list is also an all time great in the history of cricket and he was someone who played 93 Test Matches in his career and a few ODIs as well and in those test matches he bowled a total of 20660 balls and not a single wide ball. He was truly Mr Everything who could do it all and this record will not be broken by any West Indies bowler in the future.
Also Read | Best Garfield Sobers Innings
Sir Ian Botham
The third player on our list is also an all time great from England and we can see that only the greatest players of all time are featured on this list till now and Sir Ian Botham played 100 matches for England in both the formats of the game which will be 102 Test Matches and 116 ODI Matches and in these 218 Matches nor a single wide ball bowled by him is an incredible achievement and proves that if you show discipline in line and length then also a bowler can pick lots of wickets.
Interesting Read | Ian Botham’s Test
Clarrie Grimmett
He is the first player on this list that not a lot of cricket lovers might have heard till now but no worries I will make him known to our readers as he is also a bowler who bowled not a single wide ball in his career. He was born in New Zealand but he represented Australia in international cricket after playing some domestic cricket as well. He played 37 test matches for Australia and he bowled a total of 14453 balls and not a single wide ball.
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Lance Gibbs
Another great bowler in cricket history finds his name in this list and Lance Gibbs was a big part of the West Indies team which dominated the 1970s and he played 79 ODIs in his career meaning almost 1000 overs as it was 60 over matches those days and still not bowling a single wide ball is a special feat in his career.
Derek Underwood
Another great England cricketer who finds himself in this list and he is also a player who has played over 100 international matches for England in which he played 86 Test matches and 26 ODIs and he used to bowl regularly for England and he never once bowled a wide ball in his long career.
Dennis Lillee
One of the greatest Australian fast bowlers of all time and a genuine fast bowler at that and Dennis Lillee is one of the people on this list who have not bowled a single no ball or a wide ball and that is something unbelievable. He played 70 Test matches for. Australia picked over 350 Test wickets but not a single wide ball In them.
Also Read | Dennis Lillee – An Artist Of Whirlwind Bowling
Bob Willis
It looks like the former English Bowlers were among the most disciplined Bowlers as we have another all time great in Bob Willis who has found a mention in this list and the fact that he played over 170 International matches for England for 13 years and not a single wide ball. He played a total of 90 Test matches and 80 ODIs and among the thousands of balls he bowled, not a single wide ball.
Imran Khan
The ninth person in this list is the greatest from Pakistan cricket history and he is also one of those Bowlers who have not Bowled a single no ball or wide ball. Imran Khan played 88 Test matches and 175 ODI matches for Pakistan and the shocking fact is that he never bowled a wide ball in so many years of playing cricket. Young Bowlers van learn so much from him.
Fred Trueman
The last and final name in our list is yet another great bowler from England and this one played 67 international matches and 603 domestic Matches and not a single wide ball he bowled in his career. Today’s bowlers might be wondering how these 10 greats of the game took so many wickets and troubled the batters without a single wide Ball. The discipline is lacking these days and hopefully the bowlers of today can take a leaf out of these legends' books.
