Modern cricket has three formats Test, One Day International (ODI) and T20. We have already address about top 10 highest wicket-takers in ODI matches in our last post. And now it’s time to know about those bowlers who have taken most wickets in Test matches. We are shortlisting here top 10 highest wicket-takers in test cricket, after data analysis of International test records.
These bowlers are arrayed on the basis of their wickets in test format of cricket only. We believe that you are eager to read about those most wicket taking bowlers in test matches. These bowlers always appear as a big challenge for the opposite team. So here you are going to introducing with the top 10 highest wicket-taking bowlers in test matches.
Top 10 Highest Wicket Takers in Test Cricket
10. Richard Hadlee (Most Test wickets in career 431)
Full Name: Richard John Hadlee
Born: 3 July 1951
Birthplace: St Albans, Christchurch, New Zealand
Bowling Style: Right-Hand fast
Batting Style: Right-Hand bat
Playing Role: All-Rounder
Richard John is a past New Zealand cricketer, considered as one of the best and greatest fast bowlers and all-rounders in cricketing history. He was the master of swing as well as was the original Sultan of Swing. He played 86 test crickets and took 431 wickets. His bowling average in test matches is 22.29. He is also the deserving player in the list of top 10 highest wicket takers in test matches.
9. Stuart Broad (Most Test wickets in career 433)
Full Name: Stuart Christopher John Broad
Born: 24 June 1986
Birthplace: Nottingham, England
Batting Style: Left-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm fast medium
Playing Role: Bowler
Stuart Broad is an English International Cricketer used to play for England in test format of cricket. Broad is former England captain of ODI and T20 format. He is 2nd most wicket takers in test matches of among all England’s blowers. Besides that, he is 9th highest test wicket taking bowler in the world with 433 test wickets. That’s why Stuart Broad is also considered as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history.
8. Rangana Herath (Most Test wickets in career 433)
Full Name: Herath Mudiyanselage Rangana Keerthi Bandara Herath
Born: March 19, 1978
Birthplace: Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
Batting Style: Left-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox
Playing Role: Bowler
Rangana Herath is a former International Cricketer has played for Sri Lanka in all three formats. He is considered one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time. He is also recognized as a most successful left-arm spin bowler in the cricket history. With 2.80 bowling economy rate, he has taken 433 test wickets in 93 matches only. This makes Rangan Herath among the top 10 highest wicket-takers in test matches of all time.
7. Kapil Dev (Most Test wickets in career 434)
Full Name: Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj
Born: 6 January 1959
Birthplace: Chandigarh, Haryana, India
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right-Hand Medium Fast
Playing Role: All Rounder
Kapil Dev is an earlier Indian cricketer. He captained the Indian cricket team which won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. He is one of the greatest all-rounders and most successful Indian cricketers of all time. Kapil was a right-hand pace bowler famous for his graceful action and strong outswinger. He was India’s main strike bowler for most of his career. Kapil Dev retired in year 1994, holding the world record for the most number of wickets taken in Test matches. He played 131 test crickets and took 434 wickets. His bowling average in test matches is 29.64.
6. Courtney Walsh (Most Test wickets in career 519)
Full Name: Courtney Andrew Walsh
Born: 30 October 1962
Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right-Hand Fast
Playing Role: Bowler
Courtney Walsh is a former international cricketer. He was a right-hand fast bowler. Courtney is best acknowledged for a remarkable opening bowling partnership along with fellow West Indian Curtly Ambrose for many years. He played 132 Tests for the West Indies and took 519 wickets. He held the record of most Test wickets from the year 2000 after he broke the record of Indian cricketer Kapil Dev. This record was later broken in the year 2004 by Australian international cricketer Shane Warne. Courtney Walsh was the first bowler to take 500 wickets in Test cricket. His bowling average in test matches is 24.44.
5. Glenn McGrath (Most Test wickets in career 563)
Full Name: Glenn Donald McGrath
Born: February 9, 1970
Birthplace: Dubbo, New South Wales
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right-Arm Fast Medium
Playing Role: Bowler
Glenn McGrath is also an earlier Australian international cricketer, recognized among the most successful Australian cricketers of all time. He is also a commentator for Channel Nine’s cricket coverage. He was one of the dangerous fast bowlers at his time.
Glenn McGrath holds the world record for the 2nd highest number of Test wickets by a fast bowler. He has placed on the 5th number in this list, with the top 4 test wicket takers Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, and J.Anderson. He played 124 test matches and took 563 wickets. Besides that, his bowling average in test matches is 21.64. On 23 December 2006, he announced his retirement from tests.
4. James Anderson (Most Test wickets in career 565)
Full Name: James Michael Anderson
Born: July 30, 1982
Birthplace: Burnley, Lancashire, England
Batting Style: Left-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm fast medium
Playing Role: Bowler
James Anderson is an English International Cricketer who used to play from England side. JM Anderson is recognized as one of the greatest fast bowlers of his generation. With 565 test wickets, he is leading wicket-taker amongst fast bowlers of all time. He is the only England bowler who has crossed 500 test wickets in the career. Anderson has played 145 test matches to take 565 wickets. So, as per current data, James Anderson is 4th most wicket takers in test matches.
3. Anil Kumble (Most Test wickets in career 619)
Full Name: Anil Radhakrishna Kumble
Born: October 17, 1970
Birthplace: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Batting Style: Right-Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right-Hand leg Spinner
Playing Role: Bowler
Anil Kumble is a past international cricketer and past captain of the Indian cricket team. He was a right-hand leg spin bowler who has played 132 test matches and took 619 wickets and remains the 3rd highest wicket taking bowler only behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne as of 2019. Besides that, he holds the record of bowling 40850 balls in entire Test career, which is highest for an Indian as well as second highest overall.
His bowling average in test matches is 29.65. That’s why he listed in the list of top 10 highest wicket takers in test cricket.
2. Shayne Warne (Most Test wickets in career 708)
Full name: Shane Keith Warne
Born: 13 September 1969
Birthplace: Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia
Bowlig style: Right-Hand Leg Spinner
Batting style: Right-Hand bat
Playing role: Leg-spin bowler
Shane Keith Warne is an Australian previous international cricketer. He is considered as one of the best leg spin bowlers and greatest cricketers in the world in the history of the cricket.
Shane Warne has played 145 test matches and took 708 wickets. He scored over 3000 runs in the test, and he holds the record for most Test runs without a century. His bowling average in test matches is 25.41.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Most Test wickets in career 800)
Full name: Muttiah Muralitharan
Born: April 17, 1972
Birthplace: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Bowling style: Right-Hand off Spinner
Batting style: Right-Hand bat
Playing role: Bowler
Muttiah Muralitharan is a previous Sri Lankan cricketer who was rated as the best Test match bowler always by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2002. He is the first wrist-spinning off-spinner in the history of Cricket. Thus he is still recognized among the most popular cricketers in the world of all time. He retired from Test match in 2010.
Muttiah Muralitharan played 133 test matches, scored 1,256 runs and took 800 wickets. He holds the world record for the highest wickets in test cricket. His bowling average in test matches is 22.72. That’s why he placed on the first position in the list of top 10 highest wicket takers in test matches.