World’s Tallest Cricketers: As a die-hard cricket follower, many of us at least for a time might searched the answer for “Does height play a role in a player’s success in cricket“.
But on second thought, we might conclude that height may not be the key factor for a player to be successful but it might add an advantage to them. Many players with average and below-average height have emerged as successful players in this particular sport.
Notably, there is no minimum height requirement for a player to join a cricket team. In cricket, if a player measures considerably high compared to the others, he might have an advantage in tackling the ball while batting, can add extra bounce while bowling, and can swing his arm to an extended height to grab a catch while fielding.
However, height is not the sole determining factor for a player’s success, skill, technique and strategy also play a vital role in a player’s effectiveness.
“God of Cricket” Sachin Tendulkar is one of the best examples to justify that height might not be the key factor for a player’s success in cricket.
Indian legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s stature is 5’5″ while the average height for Indian cricketers is around 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) to 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm).
With this height, Sachin Tendulkar scripts various records and went on to score 100 centuries which remains unbroken to date.
World’s Tallest Cricketers – Top 10
While speaking of the World’s Tallest Cricketers, Mohammed Irfan is the name that flashes in everyone’s mind. Hailing from Pakistan, the speedster’s vertical measurement stands at 7 feet 1 inch and he is the only cricketer with a stature over 7 feet.
The top 10 World’s Tallest Cricketers along with their nationality and measurement are followed.
| Rank | Player | Team | Ht (cm) | Ht (feet/inch) |
| 1 | Mohammed Irfan | Pakistan | 216 | 7’1” |
| 2 | Marco Jansen | South Africa | 209 | 6’10” |
| 3 | Boyd Rankin | England/Ireland | 204 | 6’8” |
| 4 | Kyle Jamieson | New Zealand | 203 | 6’8” |
| 5 | Blessing Muzarabani | Zimbabwe | 203 | 6’8” |
| 6 | Cameron Cuffy | West Indies | 203 | 6’8” |
| 7 | Bruce Reid | Australia | 203 | 6’8” |
| 8 | Joel Garner | West Indies | 203 | 6’8” |
| 9 | Peter George | Australia | 203 | 6’8” |
| 10 | Jason Holder | West Indies | 201 | 6’7” |
Mohammed Irfan – 7’1”
Born in Gaggo, Punjab, Pakistan, Mohammed Irfan has represented Pakistan in Test, ODI and T20 cricket between 2010 and 2019. Irfan debuted for the Pakistan national cricket team at 28 years of age and represented the team in 4 Tests and 60 ODIs bagging 10 and 83 wickets respectively.
Marco Jansen – 6’10”
Marco Jansen was born on 1 May 2000 in Klerksdorp, North West, South Africa and made his first-class debut for North West in the 2018–19 CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup on 11 October 2018.
Jansen was added to South Africa’s Test squad for the Pakistan series in 2021. He made his international debut in December 2021 in a Test match against India and bagged his maiden test wicket by dismissing Jasprit Bumrah.
Boyd Rankin – 6’8”
Boyd Rankin was born on July 5 1984 in Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland and represented Ireland in every age group from U-13 upwards, by the age of 15, he was playing first-team cricket for Bready, his local club.
On 21 May 2021, Rankin announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. During his career, Rankin played 3 Tests, 75 ODIs, 50 T20Is and bagged 8, 107 and 55 wickets respectively.
Kyle Jamieson – 6’8”
Kyle Jamieson was born on 30 December 1994 in Auckland, New Zealand. Jamieson attended Auckland Grammar School and was part of New Zealand’s squad for the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
In his youth, Jamieson played point guard at the New Zealand Breakers academy but preferred cricket over basketball as he was a proficient fast bowler.
Jamieson made his international debut for the New Zealand cricket team in February 2020 against India. Jamieson was a key member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship, where he picked up 5 wickets in the first innings during the final.
Blessing Muzarabani – 6’8”
Blessing Muzarabani was born on 2 October 1996 in Murewa, a small town in Zimbabwe. The right-arm bowler made his first-class debut for Rising Stars in the 2017–18 Logan Cup on 4 October 2017.
Muzarabani made his international debut for Zimbabwe in 2017 in a Test match against South Africa and made his ODI debut for Zimbabwe on 15 January 2018 in a match against Bangladesh.
Cameron Cuffy – 6’8”
With his impressive, 6’8” figure former West Indies bowler Cameron Cuffy managed to hold a spot in the top 10 World’s Tallest Cricketers list. Cuffy represented in West Indies at international levels between 1994 and 2002.
The right-arm pacer made his international debut on 17 October 1994 in an ODI match against India. Cuffy represented the West Indies in 15 Tests, and 41 ODIs and bagged 43 and 41 wickets respectively.
Bruce Reid – 6’8”
Bruce Reid is a former Australian international cricketer, born in Perth, Western Australia on 14 March 1963. With his 6’8” figure, the former Aussies cricketer still holds a place in the top 10 World’s Tallest Cricketers list.
Bruce Reid represented Australia in 27 Tests and 61 ODIs between 1985 and 1992. Bruce ended his career with 113 Test wickets and 63 ODI wickets. He was a part of the Australian team that won their first world title during the 1987 Cricket World Cup and is the first Australian to take a hat-trick in the ODI format of the game.
Joel Garner – 6’8”
Former West Indies cricketer Joel Garner was born in Christ Church, Barbados on 16 December 1952 and made his international debut for West Indies in 1977 and continued to represent the team till 1987.
During his decade-long career, Garner played 58 Tests, and 98 ODIs and bagged 259 and 146 wickets. Garner was a member of the West Indies team that won their second world title in the 1979 Cricket World Cup as well as finishing as runners-up at the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
Peter George – 6’8”
Former Australian Test cricketer Peter George who played only one Test for Australia still holds a spot in the top 10 World’s Tallest Cricketers list with his vertical measurement of 6’8”. He made his Test cricket debut for Australia in the second Test against India at Bangalore. In his only Test, George bagged two wickets for 48 runs.
Jason Holder – 6’7”
Barbadian cricketer Jason Omar Holder was born on 5 November 1991 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The right-arm medium-fast bowling all-rounder made his international debut in 2013 in an ODI match against Australia.
With his phenomenal 6’7” height, Holder played multiple crucial knocks for West Indies. Notably, Holder was a member of the West Indies team that won the 2016 T20 World Cup.
He is also the second West Indian, after Sir Garfield Sobers, to attain both 2500 runs and 150 wickets in test match cricket.
