Top 7 Best Swing Bowlers in Women Cricket History (2026 Ranked)

Swing bowling is difficult. The ball has to move sideways in the air. The conditions have to be right. The seam has to be straight. The grip has to be correct. The bowling action has to be perfect. When everything is right, the ball swings and deceives the batsmen. They play where the ball was, but the ball is somewhere else. The ball takes the edge of the bat and goes to the slips. The stumps are scattered. Wickets fall.

In the history of cricket, seven women have mastered swing bowling better than anyone else. They are from India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and England. They have taken hundreds of wickets with movement and accuracy. Some swung the new ball at the start of the innings. Some swung the old ball at the end of the innings.

1. Jhulan Goswami

Jhulan Goswami is from India. She is the leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs with 255 career wickets. This is the most wickets taken by any bowler in women’s ODI cricket. No one has taken more wickets than her. Her record reflects a very long career and consistent performance with the ball, particularly in terms of movement and accuracy.

She was known for her seam and swing bowling, especially in her early career and in helpful conditions. When the ball was new and the conditions were conducive to swing, she was almost unplayable. She could swing the ball both ways, making it difficult for batters to predict which way the ball would go. This uncertainty often led to edges and wickets.

She took 255 ODI wickets over a period of twenty years. She bowled in different countries and in varying conditions. Some pitches assisted swing, others didn’t. Yet, she consistently took wickets with skill and precision. When conditions were helpful, she dominated. When they weren’t, she found other ways to succeed.

India relied on her to take wickets with the new ball and to bowl tightly in the middle overs. She performed consistently well for two decades. Her accuracy meant that even when she wasn’t swinging the ball much, she didn’t concede many runs.

2. Megan Schutt

Megan Schutt is from Australia. She has consistently taken wickets in both ODIs and T20Is. According to one source, she has taken 87 ODI wickets in 59 matches and 89 T20I wickets in 67 matches. Another profile suggests she has over 100 T20I wickets and has crossed significant career wicket milestones in both formats.

She is known for her consistent conventional and late swing, which makes her a reliable weapon with the new ball. Australia utilizes her with the new ball in the powerplay. She swings the ball and takes early wickets. Early wickets put pressure on the batting team. This pressure often leads to more wickets.

Her consistency across all formats demonstrates her adaptability. ODI cricket and T20I cricket require different approaches. In ODIs, she can bowl longer spells and set up batsmen over several overs. In T20Is, she needs to take wickets quickly. She succeeds in both formats with her swing and accuracy.

3. Ellyse Perry

Ellyse Perry is from Australia. She has taken 39 Test wickets, 166 ODI wickets, and 126 T20I wickets in her career. Her best bowling figures are 7 wickets for 22 runs in ODIs and 4 wickets for 12 runs in T20Is. These figures demonstrate her ability to take crucial wickets when needed.

Perry is known for her movement and control, especially given her dual role as a top all-rounder. Her total wicket tally of over 330 international wickets across all formats showcases her tremendous impact over the years.

She swings the ball and utilizes variations, making it difficult for batters to settle against her. She constantly varies her pace and line, moving the ball both in the air and off the pitch. This variation makes scoring runs against her challenging, and she becomes even more dangerous when batters try to attack her.

As an all-rounder, she shoulders the responsibility of both batting and bowling. To be one of the world’s best batters while also taking over 330 international wickets is extraordinary.

4. Shabnim Ismail

Shabnim Ismail is from South Africa. She has an excellent T20 World Cup record. At one point, she was the leading wicket-taker in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, having taken forty-three wickets in the tournament alone. She has 191 ODI wickets to her name, making her the second-highest wicket-taker in women’s ODI cricket history. This tally also includes her 123 T20I wickets.

She is known for her express pace and late swing. She is one of the fastest bowlers in women’s cricket, and her presence with the new ball is intimidating for batters. When the ball swings at 130 kilometers per hour, batters have very little time to react. Edges are taken. Wickets fall.

Playing late swing is more difficult than playing early swing. The ball deviates late in the air. Batters decide on their shot based on the initial trajectory of the ball. Then the ball swings. By the time they adjust, it’s too late. Ismail’s late swing and express pace make her one of the most dangerous bowlers in women’s cricket.

Her T20 World Cup record shows that she performs well under pressure. The World Cup features the best batters in the world. Ismail consistently takes wickets against them.

5. Lea Tahuhu

Lea Tahuhu is from New Zealand. She has 115 Women’s ODI wickets and 93 Women’s T20I wickets to her name. Her best performance in ODIs is taking five wickets for 37 runs. Several instances of her taking four wickets demonstrate her ability to trouble batters.

She is known for her genuine seam and swing bowling at medium-fast pace, especially in the opening overs. New Zealand utilizes her with the new ball. She swings the ball and creates catching opportunities behind the wicket and in the slips.

Over 200 international wickets highlight her long and successful career. She has bowled for New Zealand in all formats for many years. Her consistency makes her a valuable player.

6. Issy Wong

Issy Wong is from England. She is a new player, but she has already made her mark, taking three wickets in ODIs and seven in T20Is early in her career for England. She has performed well in both domestic and international matches, showcasing her raw pace and ability to swing the ball.

She has also been involved in franchise cricket and has been recalled to the team based on her strong bowling performances. Her youth and pace make her a dangerous player. As she gains experience, she will learn when to swing the ball and when to bowl straight. She will learn how to outsmart batters.

Her pace is genuine. Finding genuine pace with swing in women’s cricket is rare. If she continues to perform consistently, she has the potential to become one of the best players.

7. Katherine Brunt

Katherine Brunt is from England. In her long international career, she took 170 ODI wickets and 114 T20I wickets for England. She is one of England’s most successful seam bowlers, known for her early swing and consistent line and length.

Her longevity and statistics make her one of the greatest female seam bowlers of all time. The 170 ODI wickets were taken while opening the bowling for England for many years. She consistently swung the ball early and took crucial wickets that led to England victories.

The 114 T20I wickets demonstrate her adaptability in the shortest format of the game. T20 cricket is challenging for bowlers, with batsmen attacking from the outset. However, Brunt found ways to take wickets through swing and variations.

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