Highest Wicket Takers In Test Cricket


James Anderson and Muttiah Muralitharan are the highest wicket takers in test history [X.Com]James Anderson and Muttiah Muralitharan are the highest wicket takers in test history [X.Com]

Cricket, with its rich history and deep statistics, has seen some phenomenal bowlers who have left lasting marks on the Test format through their ability to take wickets consistently.

The sign of great bowlers in Test cricket is not just their skill but their endurance, adaptability, and tactical brilliance, allowing them to outsmart batters over long periods.

The record for the most wickets in Test cricket is proof of these qualities, held by players who have dominated the game across different eras and conditions.

Let’s take a look at the highest wicket-takers in history of Test cricket

Highest Wicket Takers In Test Cricket

Player
Span
Matches
Wickets
Average
EconomyBest Figures
4/5 Wicket Hauls
Muttiah Muralitharan1992-201013380022.722.479/5145/67
Shane Warne1992-200714570825.412.658/7148/37
James Anderson2003-202418770026.522.797/4232/32
Anil Kumble 1990-200813261929.652.6910/7431/35
Stuart Broad2007-202316760427.682.978/1528/20
Glenn McGrath1993-200712456321.642.498/24
28/29
Nathan Lyon
2011-Present12953030.282.938/5024/24
Courtney Walsh1984-2001132519
24.442.537/3732/22
Ravichandran Ashwin2001-Present10051623.752.817/5925/36
Dale Steyn2004-20199343922.953.247/5127/26
Kapil Dev1978-1994
13143429.642.789/8317/23
Rangana Herath1999-20189343328.072.809/12720/34
Richard Hadlee1973-19908643122.292.639/5225/36
Shaun Pollock1995-200810842123.112.397/8723/16
Harbhajan Singh1998-201510341732.462.848/8416/25
Wasim Akram1985-200210441423.622.597/11920/25
Curtly Ambrose1988-20009840520.992.308/4521/22
Makhaya Ntini1998-200910139028.823.237/3719/18
Ian Botham1977-199210238328.402.998/3417/27
Tim Southee2008-Present10038029.612.987/6419/15


Highest Wicket Takers in Tests: FAQs

Q.1. Who is the highest wicket taker in Test history?

Answer: Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for the highest number of wickets in Test cricket history. His remarkable career spanned from 1992 to 2010 during which he claimed a record 800 Test wickets.

Q.2. How many bowlers have taken 700 test wickets?

Answer: Three bowlers have surpassed the 700-wicket mark in Test matches: Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and James Anderson.

Q.3. How many bowlers have 500 test wickets?

Answer: Nine bowlers have reached the milestone of 500 wickets in Test cricket. This elite group includes Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, James Anderson, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath, Stuart Broad, Nathan Lyon, Courtney Walsh, and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Q.4. Who is the no. 1 bowler in world history?

Answer: Muttiah Muralitharan is often considered the no. 1 bowler in world history, holding the record for the most wickets in Test matches as well as leading the tally in ODIs.

Q.5. Who has taken 10 wickets in an innings?

Answer: Only three bowlers have taken all 10 wickets in a single Test innings: Jim Laker of England, Anil Kumble of India, and Ajaz Patel of New Zealand. This feat is one of the rarest in cricket history.