Bowlers are crucial in cricket, balancing the game against the batters. Though they may not get as much attention, they often win matches by taking key wickets. Test cricket is the ultimate challenge for bowlers, testing their skills, stamina, and pressure-handling abilities. Over the years, we’ve seen many great bowlers shine in this format.
Top 10 Highest Wicket-Takers in Test Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Wickets | Bowling Average | Best Bowling in an Innings | Five-Wicket Hauls | Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 133 | 800 | 22.72 | 9/51 | 67 | 1992–2010 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 145 | 708 | 25.41 | 8/71 | 37 | 1992–2007 |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 188 | 704 | 26.39 | 7/42 | 32 | 2003–2024 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 132 | 619 | 29.65 | 10/74 | 35 | 1990–2008 |
| 5 | Stuart Broad | England | 166 | 604 | 27.68 | 8/15 | 20 | 2007–2023 |
| 6 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 124 | 563 | 21.64 | 8/24 | 29 | 1993–2007 |
| 7 | Nathan Lyon | Australia | 129 | 530 | 31.99 | 8/50 | 24 | 2011–Present |
| 8 | Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 101* | 520* | 23.83 | 7/59 | 36 | 2011–Present |
| 9 | Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 132 | 519 | 24.44 | 7/37 | 22 | 1984–2001 |
| 10 | Dale Steyn | South Africa | 93 | 439 | 22.95 | 7/51 | 26 | 2004–2019 |
10. Dale Steyn (South Africa) – 439 wickets
The South African made his mark in Test cricket against England in 2004 and went on to become one of the greatest bowlers in history. This African legend is often regarded as the best fast bowler of the past decade.
Over his 15-year Test career (2004–2019), he played 93 matches and claimed 439 wickets. His career was plagued by injuries, but he continued to bowl with all his strength until the very end. He remains the only bowler to have taken five-wicket hauls against every Test-playing nation.
He holds the record for the most Test wickets for South Africa and maintained the No. 1 spot in the Test bowler rankings for six straight years (2008–2014).
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9. Courtney Walsh (West Indies) – 519 wickets
Courtney Walsh from the West Indies was the first bowler to take 500 wickets and is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers ever. He made his Test debut in 1984 against Australia and finished his career as the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies, claiming 519 wickets in 132 matches.
Walsh created a formidable opening bowling duo with Curtly Ambrose and also had a successful stint as the captain of the West Indies team.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 520 wickets
Ravichandran Ashwin, although primarily known as a spinner, is truly a complete all-rounder. He has scored over 3,000 runs and has hit six centuries in Test cricket.
His most significant contribution to India has been as an off-spinner. Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and has become one of the top wicket-takers in world cricket. His exceptional performances have helped India move on from Harbhajan Singh, who struggled towards the end of his career.
Ashwin ranks eighth on the list of players with the most Test wickets, having taken 520 wickets in 101 matches. Recently, he became the second Indian bowler to achieve over 500 Test wickets. With an impressive average of 23.83, Ashwin has claimed 36 five-wicket hauls so far.
7. Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 530 wickets
Nathan Lyon began his Test career in 2011 when he played against Sri Lanka. He took a wicket with his very first ball and finished the match with five wickets. Today, he is recognized as Australia’s best off-spinner.
As of now, Lyon has taken 530 wickets in 129 Test matches. He has achieved 24 five-wicket hauls and has also recorded four ten-wicket hauls in his career.
6. Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 563 wickets
Glenn McGrath is regarded as one of the best fast bowlers ever. He had a remarkable career in Test cricket that lasted from 1993 to 2007, during which he took 563 wickets in 124 matches.
Renowned for his precise line and length, McGrath is among the few bowlers who have taken a Test hat-trick, accomplishing this against the West Indies in 2001. His top bowling performance was 8 wickets for just 24 runs against Pakistan. To this day, he holds the record for the most wickets taken by an Australian pace bowler in Test cricket.
5. Stuart Broad (England) – 604 wickets
Stuart Broad from England recently became the second fast bowler in history to achieve 600 Test wickets during the Ashes 2023 series. He joined his fellow English bowler and opening partner, James Anderson, in this achievement.
Broad made his Test debut for England in 2007 and has developed into one of the best fast bowlers the country has ever seen. Born in Nottingham, he has played in 166 matches for England and taken 604 wickets, including 20 five-wicket hauls.
His best bowling performance came in the 2015 Ashes against Australia, where he took 8 wickets for just 15 runs. As a useful batsman, Stuart Broad has also scored a Test century, making 169 runs against Pakistan. He is among the few bowlers who have taken more than one hat-trick in Test cricket.
4. Anil Kumble (India) – 619 wickets
India’s Anil Kumble ranks fourth on the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in Test cricket, having taken 619 wickets over his 132 matches. He started his Test career in 1990, playing his first game against England, and his last match was in 2008 against Australia.
Kumble recorded 35 five-wicket hauls in Test matches. He is especially remembered for his remarkable achievement of taking 10 wickets for 74 runs in a single innings. This made him only the second bowler in history, after Jim Laker, to achieve this milestone. He accomplished this feat during the 1999 Test match in Delhi against Pakistan.
3. James Anderson (England) – 701 wickets
James Anderson, considered one of the best fast bowlers England has ever had, announced his retirement from Test cricket in July 2024. He made his Test debut in 2003 and went on to play 188 matches for England. This total puts him second only to Sachin Tendulkar (200) for the most Test appearances.
Throughout his impressive 21-year Test career, Anderson took 704 wickets, the highest for any fast bowler and the third most in Test cricket history overall. He also achieved 32 five-wicket hauls in his Test matches.
2. Shane Warne (Australia) – 708 wickets
The legendary Shane Warne was the first bowler to reach 700 wickets in Test cricket, ending his career with a total of 708 wickets. He made his Test debut against India in 1992 and became known as the best leg-spinner in history.
Warne played 145 Test matches and achieved 37 five-wicket hauls, including a memorable hat-trick against England in 1994. Sadly, we lost this remarkable talent at the age of 52 in 2022.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 800 wickets
Muttiah Muralitharan from Sri Lanka is expected to hold the record for the most wickets in Test cricket for a long time. No active bowler comes close to his incredible total of 800 wickets. He started his Test career with Sri Lanka against Australia in 1992.
With a unique and often debated bowling style, Murali played Tests for 18 years, taking 800 wickets in 133 matches. He achieved an impressive 67 five-wicket hauls and is the only bowler in Test history to have two nine-wicket hauls.
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