Test cricket is considered one of the most loved formats of cricket. The bowlers are an integral part of the match, and without them winning the game of cricket would not be possible. To win a test match, a team has to take 20 wickets which put a lot of responsibility on the bowlers. To a large extent, the winning and losing of the game depending on how many wickets the bowler is able to take. The bowlers often have proved their exceptional skills and single-handedly taken their team to victory.
List of Players With Most Wickets in Test Cricket
Muthiah Muralitharan, former Sri Lankan right-arm spin bowler tops the list of most wicket-takers in test cricket of all time. Muralitharan has taken 800 wickets in 133 matches. He also has the record for the most number of 5-wicket hauls (67) and 10-wicket hauls (22) in Test cricket.
Let us glance over the top 10 bowlers with the most test wickets in cricket history.
| Player | Country | Matches | Wickets | Bowling Average | 5W | 10W |
| Muthiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 133 | 800 | 22.72 | 67 | 22 |
| Shane Warne | Australia | 145 | 708 | 25.41 | 37 | 10 |
| James Anderson | England | 188 | 704 | 26.45 | 32 | 3 |
| Anil Kumble | India | 132 | 619 | 29.65 | 35 | 8 |
| Stuart Broad | England | 167 | 604 | 27.68 | 20 | 3 |
| Glenn McGrath | Australia | 124 | 563 | 21.64 | 29 | 3 |
| Ravi Ashwin | India | 105 | 536 | 23.95 | 37 | 8 |
| Nathan Lyon | Australia | 129 | 530 | 30.28 | 24 | 5 |
| Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 132 | 519 | 24.44 | 22 | 3 |
| Dale Steyn | South Africa | 93 | 439 | 22.95 | 26 | 5 |
Only the best of players are able to take these many wickets in the toughest format of cricket. Play on the Howzat cricket fantasy app and become the champion of fantasy cricket!
Muttiah Muralitharan | 800 Wickets in 133 Matches
Without any debate, Muttiah Muralitharan is the greatest and highest wicket taker in test cricket. With 800 wickets under his belt, Muttiah has undoubtedly proven to be an exceptional performer. He also holds the record for most wickets in ODI (534). It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call Muttiah the God of Bowling. He played his last Test against India at Galle 2010 and took eight wickets to reach the magical figure of 800.
Shane Warne | 708 Wickets in 145 Matches
Shane Warne will always be credited for redefining leg spin bowling. This former Australian spin wizard is the 2nd highest wicket taker in test matches. Warne played 145 matches and has taken 708 wickets with a strike rate of 57.4. Shane Warne's leg break variations were excellent and used to keep the batters guessing most of the time. He was the man who could make the ball talk everywhere in this world. Warne played his last test against England in 2007.
James Anderson | 704 Wickets in 188 Matches
England’s James Anderson is the best swing bowler in the world. Started playing Test cricket in 2003, Anderson is called “Swing king” because of his ability to swing the ball both ways at a decent pace. Anderson has taken 704 wickets in 188 matches with 32 5-wicket hauls, making him the third-highest wicket-taker in the history of test cricket. He is the only pace bowler to take 700 test wickets.
Also read: Most Runs in Test Cricket
Anil Kumble | 619 Wickets in 132 Matches
Anil Kumble is India's leading test wicket taker and has been ranked at the 4th position in the loss of most test wickets. Anil Kumble played test cricket for over 18 years and took 619 wickets in 132 test matches. The fun fact about Anil's bowling was he never used to spin the ball much, but his ball speeds were mostly around 100km/hr.
Stuart Broad | 604 Wickets in 167 Matches
Stuart Broad, son of former English cricketer and now match referee Chris Broad made his debut for England's cricket team in 2007. by showing exceptional performance. A tall medium pacer, Broad has been excellent with the red ball for England over the years. Broad has played in 167 Test matches and has 604 wickets making him 5th in the list of highest test wickets. He is the second fast bowler to take 600 test wickets.
FAQs
Who is the no. 1 wicket taker in the test cricket?
Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan is the all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, with an impressive 800 wickets taken between 1992 and 2010.
How many players have taken 500 test wickets?
Nine bowlers have taken more than 500 wickets in Test cricket. Spinners Ravi Ashwin and Nathan Lyon are the only active players in this list.
Which fast bowler has the most wickets?
James Anderson holds the title of the 'fast bowler to have the most wickets in test cricket.' Anderson has taken 704 Test wickets in 188 matches.
Who all took 10 wickets in a Test match?
England's Jim Laker (in 1956), India's Anil Kumble (in 1999), and New Zealand's Ajaz Patel (in 2021) have taken 10 wickets in an inning in Test cricket.
Who took the fastest 500 wickets in Test cricket?
Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan is the fastest bowler to 500 test wickets, achieving the feat in 87 Tests. Ravi Ashwin is the second fastest bowler to 500 test wickets. He reached the mark in 98 test matches.
Who has taken 500 Test wickets for India?
Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin are the only two bowlers to take 500 wickets in Test cricket for India. Kumble has taken 619 wickets and Ashwin has taken 522 wickets.
