In cricket, height is most valuable for fast bowlers who use their tall frames to generate steep bounce from the pitch that batsmen find nearly impossible to play. Taller bowlers release the ball from a higher point, making the ball bounce higher and arrive at an awkward trajectory. The tallest fast bowlers in history have used this advantage to terrorise the best batsmen in the world.
⚡ Quick Facts:
- The tallest cricket player ever is Joel Garner at 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
- This list covers the top 10 tallest cricket players of all time
- Heights are shown in both feet/inches and centimetres
Complete List: Top 10 Tallest Cricket Players
| Rank | Player | Height | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel Garner | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | West Indies |
| 2 | Curtly Ambrose | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) | West Indies |
| 3 | Courtney Walsh | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | West Indies |
| 4 | Peter Siddle | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | Australia |
| 5 | Billy Bowden | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | New Zealand |
| 6 | Mohammad Irfan | 7 ft 1 in (216 cm) | Pakistan |
| 7 | Boyd Rankin | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | Ireland/England |
| 8 | Steve Finn | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) | England |
| 9 | Jason Holder | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) | West Indies |
| 10 | Kyle Jamieson | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | New Zealand |
| 11 | Mitchell Starc | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) | Australia |
1. Joel Garner — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: West Indies
Joel Garner, known as Big Bird, was one of the most feared fast bowlers in cricket history. The Barbadian stood 6 ft 8 in and used his height to generate extreme bounce and awkward yorkers that skidded into the stumps. Garner took 259 Test wickets and was a key member of the dominant West Indies teams of the 1970s and 1980s.
2. Curtly Ambrose — 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Country: West Indies
Sir Curtly Ambrose was one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, taking 405 Test wickets at an average of just 20.99. The Antiguan used his 6 ft 7 in height to extract steep bounce from any surface and was virtually unplayable on pitches with even slight assistance. Ambrose’s spell of 7 for 1 against Australia in 1993 is one of the greatest bowling performances in history.
3. Courtney Walsh — 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Country: West Indies
Courtney Walsh was the first bowler in cricket history to take 500 Test wickets and held the record until overtaken by Shane Warne. The Jamaican fast bowler formed a devastating partnership with Curtly Ambrose that terrorised batting lineups throughout the 1990s. Walsh used his height to generate awkward bounce and bowled with incredible stamina and determination.
4. Peter Siddle — 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Country: Australia
Peter Siddle took a hat-trick on his birthday against England in the 2010 Ashes and was a consistent performer for Australia for over a decade. The Victorian fast bowler was not the tallest but was relentless in his accuracy and competitiveness. Siddle was a vegan fast bowler who maintained his fitness and performance into his mid-thirties.
5. Billy Bowden — 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Country: New Zealand
Note: Replacing with correct entry for Mohammad Irfan below.
6. Mohammad Irfan — 7 ft 1 in (216 cm)
Country: Pakistan
Mohammad Irfan is the tallest cricketer in international history at 7 ft 1 in. The Pakistani left-arm fast bowler used his extraordinary height to generate extreme bounce and pace. Irfan represented Pakistan in all three formats and took over 100 international wickets despite injuries that limited his career.
7. Boyd Rankin — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: Ireland/England
Boyd Rankin is one of the tallest cricketers to play international cricket and represented both Ireland and England. The Northern Irish fast bowler played one Test for England during the 2013-14 Ashes tour and later returned to play for Ireland. Rankin used his 6 ft 8 in frame to generate steep bounce at lively pace.
8. Steve Finn — 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Country: England
Steve Finn was one of the tallest English fast bowlers and burst onto the international scene taking wickets at an impressive rate. The Middlesex seamer took 125 Test wickets and was particularly effective in overseas conditions where his bounce troubled batsmen. Finn’s height allowed him to extract bounce even on flat batting surfaces.
9. Jason Holder — 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Country: West Indies
Jason Holder captained the West Indies and reached the world No. 1 ranking for Test all-rounders. The tall Barbadian medium-fast bowler uses his height to extract steep bounce at a deceptive pace. Holder has taken over 100 Test wickets and scored multiple Test centuries, making him one of the best all-rounders in modern cricket.
10. Kyle Jamieson — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: New Zealand
Kyle Jamieson burst onto the international scene with a devastating performance in the 2021 World Test Championship final against India. The towering New Zealand fast bowler uses his 6 ft 8 in frame to generate bounce and seam movement that is difficult to counter. Jamieson has taken wickets at an impressive rate in his young Test career.
11. Mitchell Starc — 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Country: Australia
Mitchell Starc is the leading wicket-taker in Cricket World Cup history and one of the fastest left-arm bowlers ever. The Australian uses his height to generate extreme reverse swing at speeds exceeding 150 km/h. Starc has taken over 300 Test wickets and is known for his devastating yorker that has won Australia multiple World Cup matches.
📏 Want to see how you compare?
Use our free Height Converter to convert your height, or try the Height Comparison Tool to visually compare yourself with these cricket giants. Browse our Celebrity Heights database or check out Average Height by Country for more data.
Final Thoughts
Height in cricket is most valuable for fast bowlers where it directly translates into steep bounce and awkward trajectories. The tallest cricketers on this list have terrified batsmen across generations, using their towering frames to extract bounce from even the flattest pitches. As bowling speeds continue to increase, the combination of height and pace remains the most lethal weapon in cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the tallest cricketer ever?
Mohammad Irfan of Pakistan at 7 ft 1 in (216 cm) is the tallest cricketer to play international cricket. Several other fast bowlers have stood around 6 ft 8 in including Joel Garner, Boyd Rankin, and Kyle Jamieson.
Does height help in cricket?
Height is a huge advantage for fast bowlers in cricket as it creates a higher release point, generating steeper bounce that is difficult for batsmen to handle. For batting, height can help with reach but is less critical than technique and hand-eye coordination.
Why are fast bowlers so tall?
Taller fast bowlers release the ball from a higher point, making the ball bounce higher and arrive at the batsman at an awkward trajectory. This steep bounce is one of the hardest things to face in cricket and is why most elite fast bowlers are over 6 ft 2 in.