New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has revealed his top five Test bowlers of all time, placing Pakistan’s legendary duo Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar on his elite list.

In a conversation with an Indian outlet, Ferguson praised fast bowlers who left a mark with their pace, aggression, and match-winning ability. His chosen five include Australia’s Mitchell Johnson, New Zealand’s Shane Bond, West Indies icon Curtly Ambrose, along with Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar. Interestingly, no Indian bowler made the cut.

“Shane Bond, Mitchell Johnson, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and Curtly Ambrose,” Ferguson said when asked about the bowlers he admired most.

The recognition adds to the global legacy of Wasim Akram, who retired in 2003 but continues to be celebrated as one of cricket’s greatest. Recently, former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock also included him in his all-time left-handers’ XI, alongside Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir and India’s Ravindra Jadeja.

Akram, famously known as the “Sultan of Swing,” remains the second-highest wicket-taker in ODIs with 502 wickets in 356 matches, in addition to 414 wickets from 104 Tests.

Shoaib Akhtar, remembered as the “Rawalpindi Express,” terrorized batters with his raw pace, finishing with 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 247 wickets in 163 ODIs. He still holds the record for the fastest delivery in cricket history — a scorching 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) against England in 2003.