In test cricket, Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka currently holds the record for most wickets taken.
In cricket, bowlers provide the batters with the necessary balance. The bowlers have always been the stars of their teams because they are the ones who win games by bowling out the opposition, even though they are not as respected as the players with the willow.
Test cricket is the pinnacle of bowler’s tests because it allows bowlers to bowl an unlimited number of overs, putting their strength, endurance, and pressure-handling skills to the test. In cricket, bowlers have demonstrated their value by winning games on their own in certain situations. Great bowlers have entered the game since its inception. There is Top 10 test cricket bowlers with the most wickets
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 800 wickets
Since no bowler in the current playing field has taken as many wickets in test cricket as Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka has taken a record 800 wickets, he is likely to stay the highest wicket-taker for a very long time. In 1992, he played his first Test match for Sri Lanka against Australia.
With one of the most intriguing and controversial bowling strokes, Murali played eighteen years in the test match game, taking 800 wickets in 133 matches, including a record 67 five-wicket hauls. He is still the only bowler in Test history to have taken two nine-wicket hauls.
2. Shane Warne (Australia) – 708 wickets
The first bowler to reach 700 wickets in a test match was the legendary Shane Warne, who concluded his career with 708 wickets. Warne became the world’s greatest leg-spinner after making his test debut against India in 1992.
In 145 tests, he claimed 37 five-wicket hauls, including a 1994 hat-trick against England. Sadly, in 2022, this genius passed away at the age of 52.
3. James Anderson (England) – 700 wickets
James Anderson is arguably the best pace bowler England has ever produced. He began his career against Zimbabwe in 2003 and has continued to this day. Anderson, 41, has taken 700* wickets in 187 tests, which is second most in test history behind Sachin Tendulkar’s 200 matches.
Known as the “Swing King,” he has picked 32 fifers in tests and is capable of swinging the ball both ways. On March 9, 2024, Anderson became the third bowler overall and the first fast bowler in history to take 700 or more wickets in the game’s longest format.
4. Anil Kumble (India) – 619 wickets
Anil Kumble of India has taken 619 wickets in his 132 test matches, placing him fourth on the list of all-time test wicket takers. Kumble played his final test match for India against Australia in 2008 after making his debut for the country against England in 1990.
He has claimed 35 five-wicket hauls in the game’s longest format. He is best known for his incredible 10/74 haul, which made him just the second bowler after Jim Laker to take all 10 wickets in a test innings. In the 1999 Delhi test against Pakistan, he accomplished the feat.
5. Stuart Broad (England) – 604 wickets
In the Ashes 2023 series, England’s Stuart Broad recently became just the second fast bowler in history to take 600 test wickets. He was listed alongside James Anderson, his opening partner and fellow countryman.
After making his test debut for England in 2007, Broad developed into one of the country’s all-time best pacers. The Nottingham-born player has played for England in 166 matches, claiming 604 wickets (20 fifers among them).
With an 8 for 15 bowling average, he had his best Ashes match against Australia in 2015. Stuart Broad is a capable batsman who has scored 169 against Pakistan in a test match to record his first test century. In tests, he is also one of the few bowlers to record multiple hat-tricks.
6. Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 563 wickets
Glenn McGrath, regarded as one of the all-time great fast bowlers, participated in 14 years of test cricket (1993–2007), taking 563 wickets in his 124 test matches.
One of the few bowlers to ever take a test hat-trick, McGrath is renowned for his flawless line and length. He accomplished this feat in 2001 against the West Indies. He still holds the record for most pace bowling wickets taken by Australia in Test matches with an 8/24 effort against Pakistan.
7. Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 530 wickets
In 2011, Nathan Lyon made his test debut against Sri Lanka, ending with a fifer to his name and taking a wicket with his first delivery as an Australian. He is now regarded as Australia’s best off-spinner of all time.
In 129 tests, he has so far claimed 530 wickets for Australia, including four ten-wicket hauls in addition to 24 five-wicket hauls.
8. Courtney Walsh (West Indies) – 519 wickets
One of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Courtney Walsh of the West Indies, was the first bowler to reach the 500-wicket milestone. With 519 wickets in 132 matches, Walsh finished his career as the highest wicket-taker for the West Indies. He played his first test match against Australia in 1984.
Walsh and Curtly Ambrose forged one of the most formidable opening bowling combinations, and Walsh even had some success leading the West Indies team.
9. Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 516 wickets
Even though Ravichandran Ashwin of India is categorised as a spinner, he is a true all-round player with over 3,000 runs and five centuries in test cricket. His greatest contribution to India, though, has come as an off-spinner. He made his test debut against the West Indies in 2011 and has since become one of the top wicket-takers in the world of cricket.
His efforts assisted India in replacing Harbhajan Singh, whose form declined as his career came to an end.With 516* wickets in 100* games, he holds the ninth position for most test wickets taken. The spin guru recently made history by being the second Indian bowler to claim over 500 wickets in test matches. sustaining a respectable 23.83 average, Ashwin has bagged 35 fifers to date
10. Dale Steyn (South Africa) – 439 wickets
After making his test cricket debut against England in 2004, the South African went on to become one of the greatest bowlers of all time. Possibly the greatest fast bowler of the past ten years is the African legend.
Throughout his 15-year career in test cricket, he has claimed 439 wickets in 93 games (2004–2019). He has sustained numerous injuries during his cricket career. But he bowled with everything he had until the end of his career. As of right now, he is the only bowler who has five wickets against every test-playing country.
In test cricket, he is South Africa’s top wicket-taker and was ranked as the best test bowler for six years running (2008–2014).
FAQ About Most Wicket’s in Test Cricket
1. Is there anyone who has taken 10 wickets in a Test?
It is uncommon to take ten wickets in one innings. In Test cricket, it’s only happened three times. Anil Kumble of India, Ajaz Patel of New Zealand, and Jim Laker of England are the only players to have accomplished this feat.
2. Who has 50 wickets and 10,000 Test runs?
The formidable South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis is the third-highest run scorer in the history of Test cricket. 13,289 runs in 166 matches is an amazing total, and Kallis was a very consistent batsman.
3. Who is No 1 wicket-taker in Test?
In Test cricket, Muttiah Muralitharan has claimed the most wickets. With 800 wickets as of March 2024, former Sri Lankan cricket player Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for the highest aggregate.
Join Our Telegram Channel for More Updates – Cricket Sutra
Follow Bite-Size Cricket News at Cricket Sutra