Having a good height is always advantageous, especially in the world of sports and cricket. Taller cricketers possess a natural advantage, leveraging their height to generate bounce and pace as bowlers, while also commanding a wide reach and strong stance as batsmen. Beyond the physical advantages, their towering presence often lends an imposing aura on the field.
Players like Joel Garner, famously known as “Big Bird,” stood at 6 feet 8 inches and intimidated batsmen with his lethal pace and bounce. Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan, standing at a staggering 7 feet 1 inch, brought a unique dimension to fast bowling.
Take a look at some of the tallest cricketers in the world to have played the game.
List of 10 Tallest Cricketers in the World
| Name | Country | Height |
| Mohammad Irfan | Pakistan | 7 ft 1 inches |
| Boyd Rankin | Ireland/England | 6 ft 8 inches |
| Cameron Cuffy | West Indies | 6 ft 8 inches |
| Joel Garner | West Indies | 6 ft 8 inches |
| Peter George | Australia | 6 ft 8 inches |
| Bruce Reid | Australia | 6 ft 8 inches |
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | 6 ft 8 inches |
| Kyle Jamieson | New Zealand | 6 ft 8 inches |
| Sulieman Benn | West Indies | 6 ft 7 inches |
| Jason Holder | West Indies | 6 ft 7 inches |
1. Mohammad Irfan
Mohammad Irfan, the Pakistani left-arm medium-pacer, holds the distinction of being the tallest cricketer in the world, standing at an impressive height of 7 feet 1 inch. This gives him a unique advantage on the cricket field as he generates steep bounce and troubling angles for batsmen.
Irfan made his debut for the Pakistan national team in 2010 and quickly became known for his ability to extract extra bounce from any pitch. His ODI career saw him participating in 60 matches, claiming 83 wickets at an average of 30.71. In the T20 format, Irfan played 22 matches and took 16 wickets.
2. Boyd Rankin
Ireland’s fast bowler Boyd Rankin, who stands at a height of 204 cm, is the second tallest player on this list. Rankin began his international career with Ireland before switching to play for England, making his Test debut in the 2013-2014 Ashes series.
However, he later returned to represent Ireland. Over his career, Rankin played in all three formats, taking 106 wickets in ODIs and 55 in T20Is. His height and pace made him a significant asset, allowing him to generate bounce and trouble batsmen consistently.
3. Cameron Cuffy
Third on this list is Cameron Cuffy with a height of 6 feet 8 inches. Making his Test debut in 1994, Cuffy played 15 Test matches and took 43 wickets at an average of 33.97, with best figures of 5 for 16. In ODIs, he appeared in 41 matches, claiming 41 wickets at an average of 34.41, with best figures of 4 for 24.
Although not prolific, Cuffy was known for his ability to extract bounce and maintain tight lines, contributing significantly to the West Indies’ pace attack during his career.
4. Joel Garner
Fourth on the list is Joel Garner with a height 6 feet and 8 inches. Known as “Big Bird,” Garner’s ability to deliver devastatingly accurate and lethal yorkers made him a nightmare for batsmen.
Throughout his career, Garner played 58 Test matches, taking 259 wickets at an outstanding average of 20.97, with best figures of 6 for 56. In ODIs, he played 98 matches, capturing 146 wickets at an impressive average of 18.84, with best figures of 5 for 31. Garner’s intimidating presence and exceptional bowling skills were crucial to the West Indies’ dominance in the late 1970s and 1980s.
5. Peter George
Another cricketer with a height of 6 feet 8 inches is Australia’s Peter George. George made his Test debut for Australia in 2010 against India in Bangalore. He played only one Test match, where he took 2 wickets for 148 runs.
In first-class cricket, George had a more extended career, playing 60 matches and taking 194 wickets at an average of 30.73, with best figures of 8 for 84. Although his international career was brief, George’s height and ability to generate bounce made him a notable player in domestic cricket.
6. Bruce Reid
Former Australian bowler Bruce Reid has a height of 6 feet 8 inches. Reid made his Test debut in 1985 and played 27 Test matches, taking 113 wickets at an average of 24.63, with best figures of 7 for 51. In ODIs, he played 61 matches, claiming 63 wickets at an average of 29.35, with best figures of 5 for 53. Known for his ability to extract bounce and swing, Reid’s career was often hampered by injuries.
7. Marco Jansen
South Africa’s Marco Jansen is another player with a height of 6 feet 8 inches. He made his Test debut for South Africa against India in December 2021, and has since played 13 Tests, picking up 49 wickets. In ODIs, Jansen has 35 wickets in 23 matches.
8. Kyle Jamieson
New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson also features in the list with a height of 6 feet 8 inches. Since making his international debut in 2020, Jamieson has represented New Zealand in 19 Tests, 13 ODIs and 13 T20Is, picking up 80, 14 and 10 wickets respectively.
9. Sulieman Benn
With a height of 6 feet 7 inches, Sulieman Benn is one of the tallest cricketers in the world. He made his mark in international cricket, particularly in Test matches and ODIs, where his ability to extract bounce and his accurate lines troubled top-order batsmen. In 26 Tests, 47 ODIs and 24 T20Is, Benn picked up 87. 39 and 18 wickets respectively.
10. Jason Holder
At 6 feet 7 inches, Jason Holder is one of the tallest cricketers in the world. Since making his international debut in 2013, Holder has played a key role for the West Indies across formats. In 64 Tests, he has taken 157 wickets and scored 2797 runs at an average of 29.44. In ODIs, the all-rounder has 159 wickets and 2237 runs in 138 matches. In the shortest format, Holder has scored 491 runs and taken 66 wickets in 63 matches.
Conclusion
While not all tall cricketers achieved equal success, a few stand out for their contributions. Players like Joel Garner, known for his intimidating pace and Mohammad Irfan’s unmatched height reshaped the game. They demonstrate that height can offer advantages but it’s skill, dedication, and perseverance that truly define a cricketer’s impact.
FAQs about Tallest Cricketer in the World
Q) Who is the tallest cricketer in the world?
A) The tallest cricketer in the world is Mohammad Irfan from Pakistan, who stands at 7 feet 1 inch tall.
Q) What is the height of Jason Holder?
A) Jason Holder, the cricketer from Barbados, stands at 6 feet 7 inches tall.
Q) Who is the tallest Indian cricketer?
A) The tallest Indian cricketer recorded is Ishant Sharma, who stands at 6 feet 4 inches tall.
