Height plays a direct role in cricket, especially for fast bowlers.
Taller players generate more bounce from the pitch due to the release point being higher. This makes deliveries harder to handle for batsmen.
Most tall cricketers become fast bowlers because height provides a natural advantage.
The steep angle created by their height produces extra bounce and uncomfortable lift. This forces batsmen to adjust their technique quickly.
Height affects bowling angles significantly. Tall bowlers extract more from pitches that offer uneven bounce. Their deliveries rise sharply, creating problems for both defense and attack.
Very tall players remain rare in cricket. Most players stand between 5’8″ and 6’2″, making anyone above 6’5″ exceptional. Only a small group has crossed the 6’7″ mark in international cricket.
Tallest Cricketer in the World

All height measurements in this article reflect updated data for 2026. Player ages have been adjusted to match the current year. Rankings are based on verified playing career heights.
List of All Tallest Cricketers in The World
| Rank | Player Name | Height (CM) | Height (Feet) | Country | Playing Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammad Irfan | 216 | 7’1″ | Pakistan | Fast Bowler |
| 2 | Marco Jansen | 206 | 6’10” | South Africa | Fast Bowler |
| 3 | Boyd Rankin | 204 | 6’8.5″ | England/Ireland | Fast Bowler |
| 4 | Billy Stanlake | 203 | 6’8″ | Australia | Fast Bowler |
| 5 | Joel Garner | 203 | 6’8″ | West Indies | Fast Bowler |
| 6 | Bruce Reid | 203 | 6’8″ | Australia | Fast Bowler |
| 7 | Kyle Jamieson | 203 | 6’8″ | New Zealand | Fast Bowler |
| 8 | Blessing Muzarabani | 203 | 6’8″ | Zimbabwe | Fast Bowler |
| 9 | Cameron Cuffy | 203 | 6’8″ | West Indies | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Peter George | 203 | 6’8″ | Australia | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Curtly Ambrose | 201 | 6’7″ | West Indies | Fast Bowler |
| 12 | Sulieman Benn | 201 | 6’7″ | West Indies | Spin Bowler |
| 13 | Steven Finn | 201 | 6’7″ | England | Fast Bowler |
| 14 | Jason Holder | 201 | 6’7″ | West Indies | All-Rounder |
| 15 | Chris Tremlett | 201 | 6’7″ | England | Fast Bowler |
Top 15 Tallest Cricketer in the World of All Time
Mohammad Irfan
Following the strict format for each player:
- Bullet points with: Height, Height in Feet, Country, Age (as of 2026), Primary Role
- Then one 2-3 line paragraph about how height helped
- NO achievements, match stats, career summaries
- Height: 7’1″ (216 cm)
- Height in Feet: 7 feet 1 inch
- Country: Pakistan
- Age (as of 2026): 42 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Irfan’s 216 cm height made him the tallest player in international cricket. His release point generated an extreme bounce that troubled batsmen across all formats. The steep angle from his height created deliveries that rose sharply after pitching.
Marco Jansen
- Height: 6’10” (206 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 10 inches
- Country: South Africa
- Age (as of 2026): 25 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Jansen stands 10 cm shorter than Irfan but remains the second tallest active player. His height produces difficult angles for batsmen in Test cricket. The bounce he generates from his release point makes him effective on bouncy pitches.
Boyd Rankin
- Height: 6’8.5″ (204 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 8.5 inches
- Country: England/Ireland
- Age (as of 2026): 41 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Rankin’s 204 cm frame placed him among the tallest in cricket history. His height advantage worked best on seaming tracks where extra bounce troubled top-order batsmen. He represented both England and Ireland during his playing career.
Billy Stanlake
- Height: 6’8″ (203 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 8 inches
- Country: Australia
- Age (as of 2026): 30 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Stanlake holds the record as Australia’s tallest international cricketer at 203 cm. His height, combined with pace, created a significant bounce in limited-overs formats. The sharp lift from his deliveries made him difficult to score against.
Joel Garner
- Height: 6’8″ (203 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 8 inches
- Country: West Indies
- Age (as of 2026): 72 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Garner used his 203 cm height to bowl yorkers from a high release point. His bounce made even full-length deliveries rise sharply. The height advantage helped him maintain pressure through accurate bowling lines.
Bruce Reid
- Height: 6’8″ (203 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 8 inches
- Country: Australia
- Age (as of 2026): 62 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Reid’s 203 cm height as a left-arm bowler created unique angles for batsmen. His height produced extra bounce on Australian pitches throughout his career. The combination of height and left-arm bowling made his deliveries difficult to read.
Kyle Jamieson
- Height: 6’8″ (203 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 8 inches
- Country: New Zealand
- Age (as of 2026): 30 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Jamieson’s 203 cm frame generates steep bounce in all three formats. His height creates problems for batsmen on pitches with any uneven bounce. The release point from his height produces deliveries that climb sharply.
Blessing Muzarabani
- Height: 6’8″ (203 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 8 inches
- Country: Zimbabwe
- Age (as of 2026): 30 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Muzarabani stands as Zimbabwe’s tallest international player at 203 cm. His height provides natural bounce that compensates for pitch conditions. The steep angle of his deliveries creates discomfort for batsmen facing him.
Cameron Cuffy
- Height: 6’8″ (203 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 8 inches
- Country: West Indies
- Age (as of 2026): 55 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Cuffy’s 203 cm height helped him extract bounce on West Indian pitches. His release point created a sharp lift that forced batsmen to adjust their shots. Height gave him the ability to maintain a consistent line with natural bounce.
Peter George
- Height: 6’8″ (203 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 8 inches
- Country: Australia
- Age (as of 2026): 38 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
George’s 203 cm height produced significant bounce during his limited international appearances. His frame allowed for steep angles that troubled batsmen. The height factor made his short spells effective when he played.
Curtly Ambrose
- Height: 6’7″ (201 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 7 inches
- Country: West Indies
- Age (as of 2026): 61 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Ambrose’s 201 cm height, combined with accuracy, made him one of the most effective bowlers. His release point created bounce even on low pitches. Height helped him bowl attacking lines while maintaining pressure through bounce.
Sulieman Benn
- Height: 6’7″ (201 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 7 inches
- Country: West Indies
- Age (as of 2026): 43 years
- Primary Role: Spin Bowler
Benn stands as one of the tallest spinners at 201 cm. His height created an unusual bounce for a slow bowler. The extra height helped him extract turn and bounce from pitches that suited spin bowling.
Steven Finn
- Height: 6’7″ (201 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 7 inches
- Country: England
- Age (as of 2026): 35 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Finn’s 201 cm height generated pace and bounce for England across formats. His release point created deliveries that rose sharply off the pitch. Height provided him with natural advantages in seaming conditions.
Jason Holder
- Height: 6’7″ (201 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 7 inches
- Country: West Indies
- Age (as of 2026): 33 years
- Primary Role: All-Rounder
Holder’s 201 cm height benefits both his bowling and leadership presence. His frame creates bounce that makes him effective in all conditions. Height gives him reach advantages while batting as well.
Chris Tremlett
- Height: 6’7″ (201 cm)
- Height in Feet: 6 feet 7 inches
- Country: England
- Age (as of 2026): 43 years
- Primary Role: Fast Bowler
Tremlett used his 201 cm height to generate bounce on English pitches. His frame helped him extract extra lift from surfaces with grass cover. The height factor made him effective in Test cricket conditions.
Height Rankings and Patterns in Cricket
Mohammad Irfan remains the tallest cricketer at 216 cm, standing 10 cm above the second-tallest player.
No other cricketer has crossed the 210 cm mark in international cricket. This 10 cm gap shows how rare extreme height is in the sport.
Most elite fast bowlers stand between 201 cm and 203 cm. Six players share the 203 cm height, making it the most common mark for very tall cricketers.
The 201 cm height also appears frequently, with five players at this measurement.
Fast bowlers dominate the height rankings because tall players naturally choose pace bowling.
Only one spinner appears in the top 15, showing height favors pace over spin.
The physical demands of fast bowling suit taller frames better than other cricket roles.
Extreme height above 205 cm remains exceptionally rare in cricket. Only two players have reached this level in the sport’s history.
Most professional cricketers fall between 175 cm and 190 cm, making anyone above 200 cm unusual.
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