Most Test Wickets Takers - Know the Top 10 Bowlers

Get definitive answers to your questions - all you ever wanted to know about the most test wicket takers!

Cricket is a game of runs and wickets, which determine the victory or defeat of the game. Test on the other hand is the oldest and most prestigious version of cricket which started in 1877. Test match is the only sport in the world that is played over 5 days so test match tests the endurance, strength, and fitness of a team or players. So scoring runs in a Test match is challenging as well and getting a single wicket is also difficult. 

Test match cricket is played in 90 overs daily over five days, where a bowler can bowl as many overs as he likes. Just as runs determine the victory or defeat of a test match, so do wickets. Getting a wicket in Test cricket is quite challenging but it brings with it a lifetime achievement. Like so many variations, fast, medium fast, and spin are the main types of bowling in Cricket, which you'll find while you'll know the most test wicket takers. However, if you would like to know more about the most test wicket-takers of all time, this blog will provide you with all the statistics. Let's get started;

Here is a list of the 10 highest test wicket-takers by name, country, bowling type, and position:

Position	Name	Bowler Type	Country
1	Muthiah Muralidaran	Spinner	Sri Lanka
2	Shane Warne	Spinner	Australia
3	James Anderson	Fast Bowler	England
4	Anil Kumble	Spinner	India
5	Stuart Broad	Fast Bowler	England
6	Glenn McGrath	Fast Bowler	Australia
7	Courtney Walsh	Fast Bowler	West Indies
8	Ravichandran Ashwin	Spinner	India
9	Dale Steyn	Fast Bowler	South Africa
10	Nathan Lyon	Spinner	Australia

Who is the most test wickets taker?

With 800 wickets in 133 matches, Muthiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka is the most test wickets taker of all time. This Sri Lankan off-spin bowler has played 133 test matches between 28 August 1989 and 22 July 2010, where he played his inaugural test match On 28 August 1992, at the age of twenty, against Australia. Along with numerous records, this master-class bowler has taken 10 wickets for a record total of 22 times and has also taken 5 wickets for a record total of 67 times in his career. Averaging over 6 wickets per match, Muralidaran is often considered one of the greatest off-spin bowlers of all time, and he was included in the ICC Hall of Famers in 2016.

Here are some significant records of Muthiah Muralidaran in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Muthiah Muralidaran	Sri Lanka	133	230	800	22	67	22.72	9/51

Who is the second-most test wickets taker?

With 708 wickets in 145 matches, Shane Warne of Australia is the Second-most test wickets taker of all time only after Muthiah Muralidaran's 800 wickets. This Australian leg-spinner played 145 test matches between 2 January 1992 and 2 January 2007, where he played his inaugural test match On 2 January 1992, at the age of 22, against India at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Australia. Along with numerous records, this master-class spinner has taken 10 wickets for a total of 10 times and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 37 times in his test career. Shane Warne is often considered one of the greatest leg-spin bowlers of all time, and he was included in the ICC Hall of Famers in 2013.

Here are some significant records of Shane Warne in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Shane Warne	Australia	145	273	708	10	37	25.41	8/71

Who is the third-most test wickets taker?

With 667 wickets in 175 matches, James Anderson of England is the Third-most test wickets taker of all time. This English fast bowler has played 175 test matches between 22 May 2003 and 8 September 2022, where he played his inaugural test match on 22 May 2003, at the age of 20, against Zimbabwe at Lords in England. Along with numerous records, this top fast bowler has taken 10 wickets for a total of thrice and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 32 times in his test career. James Anderson is often considered one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and is also known as the king of swing.

Here are some significant records of James Anderson in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
James Anderson	England	175	325	667	3	32	26.22	7/42

Who is the fourth-most test wickets taker?

With 619 wickets in 132 matches, Anil Kumble of India is the Fourth-most test wickets taker of all time. This Indian leg-spinner played 132 test matches between 9 August 1990 and 29 October 2008, where he played his inaugural test match on 9 August 1990, at the age of 20, against England. Along with numerous records, this master-class bowler has taken 10 wickets for a total of 8 times and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 35 times in his test career. Anil Kumble is the top wicket-taker for India and was also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2015. He is often considered one of the greatest leg-spin bowlers of all time.

Here are some significant records of Anil Kumble in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Anil Kumble	India	132	236	619	8	35	29.65	10/74

Who is the fifth-most test wickets taker?

With 566 wickets in 159 matches, Stuart Broad of England is the fifth-most test wickets taker of all time. This English fast bowler has played 159 test matches between 9 December 2007 and 8 September 2022, where he played his inaugural test match on 9 December 2007, at the age of 21, against Sri Lanka. Along with numerous records, this top fast bowler has taken 10 wickets for a total of thrice and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 19 times in his test career. In the test, Stuart Broad is often considered one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and is also known as the best swing bowler.

Here are some significant records of Stuart Broad in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Stuart Broad	England	159	293	566	3	19	27.77	8/15

Who is the sixth-most test wickets taker?

With 563 wickets in 124 matches, Glenn McGrath of Australia is the sixth-most test wickets taker of all time. This Australian fast bowler played 124 test matches between 12 November 1993 and 2 January 2007, where he played his inaugural test match on 12 November 2007, at the age of 23, against New Zealand. Along with numerous records, this top fast bowler has taken 10 wickets for a total of thrice and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 29 times in his test career. Glenn McGrath is often considered one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time for his accuracy, line, and length, and he was included in the ICC Hall of Fame in 2012.

Here are some significant records of Glenn McGrath in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Glenn McGrath	Australia	124	243	563	3	29	21.64	8/24

Who is the seventh-most test wickets taker?

With 519 wickets in 132 matches, Courtney Walsh of West Indies is the seventh-most test wickets taker of all time. This West Indian fast bowler played 132 test matches between 9 November 1984 and 23 April 2001, where he played his inaugural test match on 9 November 1984, at the age of 22, against Australia. Along with numerous records, this top fast bowler has taken 10 wickets for a total of thrice and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 22 times in his test career. Courtney Walsh is often considered one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time for his accuracy, line, and length, and he was included in the ICC Hall of Fame in 2010. He is also the most test wickets taker for West Indies. 

Here are some significant records of Courtney Walsh in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Courtney Walsh	West Indies	135	242	519	3	22	24.44	7/37

Who is the eighth-most test wickets taker?

With 442 wickets in 86 matches, Ravichandran Ashwin of India is the eighth-most test wickets taker of all time. This Indian Off-spin bowler has played 86 test matches between 6 November 2011 and 12 March 2022, where he played his inaugural test match on 6 November 2011, at the age of 25, against the West Indies. Along with numerous records, this master-class bowler has taken 10 wickets for a total of 7 times and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 30 times in his test career.  Ashwin is the second-top test wicket-taker for India and is often considered one of the greatest off-spin bowlers of all time.

Here are some significant records of Ravichandran Ashwin in the test Career: 

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Ravichandran Ashwin	India	86	162	442	7	30	24.13	7/59

Who is the ninth-most test wickets taker?

With 439 wickets in 93 matches, Dale Steyn of South Africa is the Ninth-most test wickets taker of all time. This South African fast bowler has played 93 test matches between 17 December 2004 and 21 February 2019, where he played his inaugural test match On 17 December 2004, at the age of 21, against England. Along with numerous records, this master-class bowler has taken 10 wickets for a total of 5 times and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 26 times in his test career. Dale Steyn is the top test wicket-taker for South Africa and is often considered one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.

Here are some significant records of Dale Steyn in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Dale Steyn	South Africa	93	171	439	5	26	22.95	7/51

Who is the tenth-most test wickets taker?

With 438 wickets in 110 matches, Nathan Lyon of Australia is the Tenth-most test wickets taker of all time. This Australian off-spinner has played 110 test matches between 31 August 2011 and 8 July 2022, where he played his inaugural test match On 31 August 2011, at the age of 24, against Sri Lanka. Along with numerous records, this off-spin bowler has taken 10 wickets for a total of 3 times and has also taken 5 wickets for a total of 20 times in his test career. Nathan Lyon is the 3rd-top test wicket-taker for Australia and is often considered one of the greatest off-spin bowlers of all time.

Here are some significant records of Nathan Lyon in the test Career:

Name	Country	Match	Innings	Total Wicket	10 Wicket	5 Wickets	Ave	BBF
Nathan Lyon	Australia	110	207	438	3	20	32.07	8/50

The Bottom Line

By reading this post you've already known who are the most test wicket-takers of all time, and their tremendous records in their test careers. However, if this post has missed out on any important stats or records of these top ten test bowlers, please comment below or write to us at sportsowls@gamil.com. Sportsowls also welcomes you to connect to its social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @sportsowls, #sportsowls

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Mostafa Masud

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