Who is the world's best bowler?

Having revealed the world’s top 10 batsmen, it’s now time to take a look at how the bowling fraternity stack up against one another according to the ICC world rankings.

Using a simple formula – adding together the rankings of each player across the three formats, and whoever has the lowest total earns the highest position – we’ve come up with the bowlers who dominate in every form of the game at the highest level … and it’s sure to raise some eyebrows.

Australia’s Mitchell Johnson comes in as the highest-ranking Australian, just outside the top 10 in 11th position, with his rankings of 3 (Test), 9 (ODI) and 70 (T20) giving him 82 rankings points.

Topping the list is Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal, a constant menace to batsmen the world over be it in Tests, ODIs or Twenty20 internationals.

Such is Ajmal's threat, Australia have brought in the mastery of Muthiah Muralidaran in a bid to help their batsmen combat his mystery spin in their upcoming tour to the UAE.

No contemporary top 10 bowling list is complete without South Africa spearhead Dale Steyn somewhere near the pointy end, and his position at No.2 is hardly surprising given his complete control of the new and old ball in all forms.

Incredibly, spinners occupy five of the next seven positions, demonstrating just what a weapon the turning ball has become, particularly in the game’s shortest format, Twenty20.

Sunil Narine for example, so dangerous in the limited-overs formats, earns his place on this list courtesy of his No.2 rankings, but has played just six Tests and is yet to cement a permanent place in the West Indies line-up.

Amazingly, Pakistani batsman and part-time tweaker Mohammad Hafeez sneaks into ninth position, again largely due to his exploits with the white ball, and his handy off-breaks having gathered 35 wickets in 36 Tests.

The spinning group is broken up by pacemen Tim Southee at No.5, and Morne Morkel – the second South African to make the list – at No.8, with England’s Stuart Broad, who recently collected his 250th Test wicket, rounding out the list.