Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn top fast bowlers in the world: Adam Gilchrist

Former Australian skipper Adam Gilchrist, who was known for his destructive batting display, has rated countryman Mitchell Starc and South Africa's Dale Steyn as the best fast bowlers in the world.

The 44-year-old said Starc is among the top handful of pacemen going around the world while speedster Steyn has set the benchmark for Test bowlers with his durability and consistency.

"(Starc) is definitely in that bracket. If he's not top, then he's definitely in the top few (fast bowlers in the world)," Gilchrist was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"Dale Steyn is just coming back from injury but he's the class act that all fast bowlers of this generation aspire to be like. They aspire to have the results he's had and the longevity he's had. I think the greatest test of any champion is longevity," he added.

Steyn, who has bagged a total of 416 Test wickets in a 12-year international career, is the second-leading wicket-taker in Test cricket behind England's James Anderson (463).

Meanwhile, Anderson's new ball partner Stuart Broad sits on third spot with 358 Test scalps.

Gilchrist, who was dismissed by Anderson in his final Test against England at the SCG, admitted that the England bowler also belongs to the top echelon of current Test seamers alongside Starc, Steyn, as well as Broad.

"Stuart Broad's a guy who just continues to impress me. And his bowling partner Jimmy Anderson, who our (playing) group just caught at the start of his career. I don't think we held him in as high a regard as what he clearly is now; England's highest-ever wicket-taker," the former wicketkeeper-batsman said.

--ANI