Jan 27 min read

Tallest Cricketer in the World: Top 10 Towering Players (Updated)

Cricket is a sport known for its many talented players. One standout is the world's tallest cricketer, whose towering presence has truly caught the attention of fans worldwide.

In the sports world, cricket is interesting because it combines skills, strategies, and athleticism. People have always liked tall cricketers, and the story of the world's tallest cricketer is a unique and exciting part of the sport's history.

Early Years of the Tallest Cricketers in the World

Every great story starts somewhere, and the journey of the tallest cricketer begins in their early years. The way they grew up and their childhood greatly influenced who they became and what they aimed for, and the world's tallest cricketer is no exception.

Just like any aspiring cricketer, the first exposure to the sport is crucial. The tallest cricketer's early journey in cricket had its share of ups and downs. These initial years laid the foundation for an extraordinary career that was yet to unfold.

Relatively, to spice things up, we've put together a list of the tallest cricketers ever to have played at the highest level. It will offer a peek into the towering players who have made a lasting impact on the game.

List of the Top 10 Tallest Cricketers in the World

1. Mohammad Irfan (Pakistan) - 7 feet 1 inch (216 cm)

You might already know that the tallest cricketer ever is Mohammad Irfan from Pakistan. Imagine him running up to the crease and bowling from way up high – it can be pretty scary for batsmen. It's not just his bouncers and short deliveries that are tricky; even his regular-length ones go up to chest height for most batters.

People call him the 'Burj Khalifa' of Pakistan. He has played in 4 Tests, 60 ODIs, and 20 T20Is for his country. Despite doing pretty well at the top level, he often had injuries that kept him out of the team. Teams facing him in matches even practice against players on stools to get used to his unique delivery height. Thanks to his special run and a little jump, Mohammad Irfan's hand reaches an impressive 8 feet when he bowls.

2. Marco Jansen (South Africa) - 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)

Standing at a height of 2.06 meters, Marco Jansen is easily spotted as a fast bowler. However, he actually started his cricket career as a batter. His dad, Koos, coached him and his twin brother Duan in their hometown of Potchefstroom. When they were 17, they got the chance to bowl to the Indian cricket team during their practice, impressing players like Virat Kohli with their speed and accuracy.

In 2019, Jansen went to India with South Africa's Under-19 team. He did really well and became the top wicket-taker for North West in a provincial competition. He then joined South Africa's Test squad for a tour to Pakistan in 2021. He was picked up by Mumbai Indians for the IPL shortly after. Jansen had his Test debut against India in the Boxing Day Test in 2021 and made history as the first player born in the 2000s to play for the national team.

3. Boyd Rankin (Ireland) - 6 feet 8.5 inches (204 cm)

Boyd Rankin played for both Ireland and England in his international career. He is the third-tallest player in cricket history. Standing at 6 feet 8.5 inches (2.04 meters), he was a challenging and lively presence for opponents. Rankin participated in three Tests for England and 75 ODIs and 50 T20Is for both England and Ireland throughout his career. He managed to claim a total of 169 wickets across all formats and for both international teams, with the majority of them coming in the limited-overs formats.

4. Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand) - 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)

When you see Kyle Jamieson, the first thing that stands out is his height. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches, he's one of the tallest fast bowlers around. Like many tall bowlers, he's known for causing trouble with tricky bounce. However, what sets him apart is his exceptional fuller delivery, especially when it swings in towards the stumps.

Originally from Auckland, Jamieson plays cricket for them in local matches. But it was during his time at Canterbury, especially in the 2019 Super Smash T20 game, that he got a lot of attention. In that match, he took an amazing 6 wickets for just 7 runs in four overs. He set a record in New Zealand that only three other players in the world have beaten.

He started playing for New Zealand in February 2020 against India. He quickly became an important player, especially in a close match at Eden Park. Now, he's seen as a valuable player for New Zealand in all types of cricket, and he's really good in Test matches. In his first four matches, he took two five-wicket hauls and has also shown he can bat well. Even though he's just starting his career, people are already talking about how successful Jamieson might become.

5. Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) - 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)

Blessing Muzarabani, standing tall at 2.03 meters. He is often compared to Kagiso Rabada in the Zimbabwean domestic cricket scene. Despite being just 21 years old, he can bowl at speeds ranging from 135 to 140. And this made him the fastest bowler in Zimbabwe.

Muzarabani made his Test debut in the historic four-day pink ball Test against South Africa. During his ODI debut against Bangladesh, he faced a setback by bowling four consecutive no-balls. It lowered the expectations from him according to Heath Streak and the team management. However, it's important to note that he possesses all the essential qualities to potentially become one of Zimbabwe's best fast bowlers.

Despite initial high hopes, Muzarabani couldn't make the most of his early chances with Zimbabwe. In 2018, he opted out of national selection and joined Northamptonshire as a Kolpak player. In his first season with Northamptonshire, he took 17 wickets with an average just under 28 in seven first-class appearances. But rules changed about players like him, so he had to leave the team and return to Zimbabwe in 2020.

6. Cameron Cuffy (West Indies) - 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)

Cameron Cuffy had the potential to continue the legacy of fast bowling for the Windies. However, things didn't work out as planned by the time he finished his career. Cuffy was good at making the ball bounce, even on regular deliveries and not-so-helpful pitches. However, facing tough competition from players like Walsh, Ambrose, and Benjamin was a big challenge.

Because of this, he found it difficult to be a regular player in the team and didn't play in every match. Injuries and inconsistent performances also made his career a bit difficult.

Cuffy was once ranked 10th in the ICC ODI bowlers' rankings. Unfortunately, he ended his international career with 41 wickets in as many games. In the 15 Tests he played, he took 43 wickets before deciding to retire.

7. Bruce Reid (Australia) - 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)

Bruce Reid is a tall and lean left-arm pace bowler. He started playing cricket around the same time as Merv Hughes and Geoff Marsh in 1985-86, a tough period for Australian cricket. He was good at making the ball do tricky things and became an important player for Australia. One of his best moments was taking a lot of wickets against England in Melbourne in 1990 and against India in the same place the next year.

However, because he was thin, Reid couldn't handle the challenges of fast bowling very well. In December 1987, when he was only 24, he had to stop playing during a match against New Zealand in Adelaide because of a back injury. Even though he tried to come back and play more, Reid could only play 12 more Tests and had to retire at 29 in 1992. Still, his short career was impressive. In 27 Tests, he took 113 wickets at an average of 24.63, with a strike rate of 55.20.

8. Joel Garner (West Indies) - 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)

Joel Garner is known as the Big Bird. He was an amazing fast bowler from the Caribbean islands in the '70s and '80s. He was really scary for batsmen because of how fast he bowled. Even though we talk about bowlers who are good at yorkers today, Garner was already a pro at it back then.

His yorkers were so good that they hit the base of the stumps before the batsmen could do anything. And because he was so tall, over 7 feet, the ball bounced in a way that made it really hard for batsmen, especially towards the end of a game.

In his best years, Garner was almost impossible to deal with in the final overs. In 58 Tests, he got 259 wickets, and in 98 ODIs, he took an impressive 146 wickets.

9. Peter George (Australia) - 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)

Peter George is another Australian cricketer on this list. He was kind of like Glenn McGrath because of how he bowled and how tall he was. He had the potential to be a great fast bowler. However, his first Test match in Bengaluru, India, was also his last, and he hasn't played for the national team again.

George is a tall bowler who bowls really fast and confuses batsmen with the bounce he gets. In the only international game he played, he even got out the legendary Sachin Tendulkar when he was on 32.

Right now, at 32 years old, Peter George is still playing for South Australia. Even though he hasn't played much for the country, he might think about coming back since he still has a few years left in his cricket career.

10. Jason Holder (West Indies) - 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm)

Jason Holder was once a captain for the Windies in both Test and ODI cricket. He is a tall cricketer from Barbados. Even though he's quite young, he's become a really important player for the Windies team. He has played in 37 Test matches and 98 ODIs, taking 93 and 125 wickets in those two types of games.

Holder is good at learning and always tries to get better at his cricket skills. He might not be the fastest bowler, but he's clever at making the ball bounce a lot when it hits the pitch. His success comes from being very careful about where he bowls the ball.

Apart from being a bowler, Jason Holder is also a useful batsman, especially when he bats later in the order. He can hit the ball hard because of his long reach, making him an important player in many aspects of the game.