Since time immemorial, height has been a crucial factor in the game of cricket, and that especially holds for fast bowlers. The tall players, by virtue of their stature, extract extra bounce from the pitch, and their deliveries become batsmen's nightmares and uncertainty. The sport has witnessed a number of outstanding tall players throughout the years, who were able to make winning and losing of the matches by their mere presence, and such has been their impact on the sport's history.

Through this article, we will be discussing the tallest cricketers who ever lived, their particular strengths, as well as the role height played in their success.

Why is Height Such a Big Deal in Cricket?

Height in fast bowling lends a hand to a bowler in the way that he/she will be able to release the ball from a higher point, thereby causing steep bounce even from flat surfaces. To put it in simple terms, height makes a bowler's short-pitched balls more difficult to control and consequently good for batsmen's mistakes, as they get all the time to be over-defensive. Besides, tall players are also very good at creating awkward angles when they deliberately bowl across the batsman.

However, height is not the only factor that contributes to a bowler’s success in the first place; when it comes to the combination of pace, control, and discipline, it is a sure-fire weapon.

Mohammad Irfan – The Tallest Cricketer Ever (7’1”)

Mohammad Irfan, a Pakistani bowler, is the tallest international cricketer ever, and the height of 7 feet 1 inch is nothing but amazing. Added to that height is his unusual ability to gain a lot of bounce from the pitch, which came particularly in handy for him in limited-overs formats.

He represented Pakistan in ODIs as well as T20Is and was very effective with the new ball in the latter. In fact, even seasoned batsmen found it difficult to judge his length because of his high release point. Irfan was also active in the franchise league, like the PSL, and even there, his height was a problem for the best of the players.

Modern Tall Pacers Making an Impact

Marco Jansen (South Africa – 6’10”)

One of the tallest active players today, Marco Jansen, has quickly become a player that South Africa can no longer do without. His steep bounce, left-arm angle, and improving batting skills make him a valuable all-round option, especially in Test cricket.

Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand – 6’8”)

Jamieson’s height and accuracy helped him shine in international cricket early in his career. His ability to move the ball both ways and maintain consistency makes him one of New Zealand’s most reliable fast bowlers.

Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe – 6’8”)

Zimbabwe’s pace attack has been strengthened by Muzarabani, whose height and bounce often unsettle batsmen. His development has been a positive sign for Zimbabwean cricket in recent years.

Legendary Tall Bowlers of the Past

Joel Garner (West Indies – 6’8”)

His nickname "Big Bird" says it all. Joel Garner is one of the most feared fast bowlers of all time. His deadly yorkers and gigantic frame were among the main factors that brought the West Indies to the top of the world with a dominating performance in the late 70s and 80s.

Curtly Ambrose (West Indies – 6’7”)

Heights were one part of Ambrose’s package, plus great accuracy and a strong mind. He would frequently come up with spells that won the game, and he still is one of the fastest bowlers cricket had.

Jason Holder (West Indies – 6’7”)

Despite his height, like many cricketers, Holder was a real all-rounder. He was a player who could not be excluded very often from the West Indies team through seam bowling, lower-order batting, and leadership.

Tall Cricketers Beyond Fast Bowling

Not all tall cricketers depended only on the pace. The 6'7'' left-handed spinner Sulieman Benn was more than just a tall bowler; he would use his height to draw more bounce and to change the pace—an aspect of spinners that has rarely been seen before.