Cricket creates specialists all the time. Some bowlers thrive in tests with long spells and sharp discipline. Some excel in the 50-over format using their rhythm and smart planning. On the other hand, others survive the fast pace of T20 cricket with clever tricks.
But mastering all three formats is incredibly rare. Only five bowlers in cricket history have taken 100 wickets in each format. Let’s now take a look at them below.
1. Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga stands as the most natural choice on this list. His sling action changed fast bowling forever. His yorkers crushed batting lineups. His accuracy at the death overs looked almost unreal. Malinga finished with 101 Test wickets, 338 ODI wickets, and 107 T20I wickets. The Test numbers look smaller, but the impact remains enormous.
Malinga proved that an unorthodox bowler can succeed anywhere. His spells in ICC tournaments shaped Sri Lanka’s white-ball reputation. The hat tricks, the pressure overs, and the calm mindset, all of these moments turned him into a global force. Any talk about multi-format mastery must begin with Malinga. His success opened the door for many others.
2. Tim Southee
Tim Southee often stays in the shadows of louder fast-bowling stars. That feels unfair because his record speaks with authority. Southee has 391 Test wickets, 221 ODI wickets, and 164 T20I wickets. Few fast bowlers match this level of consistency for such a long time.
Southee builds his success on swing, control, and calm thinking. He reads conditions quickly. With the red ball, he becomes a new-ball specialist. In T20 cricket, he uses subtle variations and smart planning. New Zealand’s strong bowling identity over the last decade has his influence all over it. He rarely receives enough credit. Among the names on this list, Southee remains the most underrated, but his record leaves no room for doubt.
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3. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan adds a unique flavour to this club. He is the only spinner with 100 wickets in every format. That statistic alone shows his class, patience, and cricketing brain. He has 246 Test wickets, 317 ODI wickets, and 149 T20I wickets.
Even on flat surfaces, he finds ways to trouble batters. Bangladesh cricket improved sharply because of his presence. He brought balance and stability to their attack for more than a decade. His record deserves more global applause. Shakib carried a nation through many tough phases and did it with remarkable consistency.
4. Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Afridi joined this list at an age when many bowlers are still learning their craft. That alone makes him special. His raw pace, natural swing, and bold attitude shape his identity. He has 121 Test wickets, 135 ODI wickets, and 126 T20I wickets already.
Shaheen’s biggest strength is his ability to strike early. One sharp spell from him can break the game open. Pakistan relies on him in big moments, and he usually delivers. If fitness and form stay with him, Shaheen can build one of the most powerful all-format careers of this era. Entering this club so early hints at a huge future.
5. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah stands at the peak of modern fast bowling. His accuracy, control, and pinpoint or toe-crushing yorkers challenge batters in every format. His unusual action gives him an extra edge. The Ahmedabad Express has accounted for 234 dismissals in the red-ball format, whereas he has bagged 149 wickets in ODIs. On the other hand, he has taken 101 wickets in T20Is.
His success in all conditions proves his intelligence and adaptability. India has produced many great bowlers. However, Bumrah’s all-format brilliance places him in a special league.
