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List of bowlers who have taken 300 or more wickets in Test cricket

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Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the highest number of wickets in Test cricket.[1]

Taking 300 or more wickets across a playing career is considered a significant achievement in Test cricket.[2][3][4] First accomplished in 1964 by Englishman Fred Trueman,[5] as of March 2024 the feat has been achieved by only 37 cricketers in the history of the game. Seven players from Australia and six players from India, five each from England and South Africa, four from New Zealand and the West Indies, and three each from Pakistan and Sri Lanka have crossed the 300-wicket mark in Tests. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland and Zimbabwe are yet to see a player reach the 300 mark.[6]

As of March 2024, former Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan has the highest aggregate with 800 wickets.[6] He also holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls (67) and ten-wicket hauls in a match (22); his 16 wickets for 220 runs against England in 1998 is the fifth-best bowling performance by a player in a match.[7][8][9] Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is the fastest to cross the 300-wicket mark (in 54 Tests),[10] while the late West Indian player Malcolm Marshall has the best bowling average (20.94) among those who have achieved the milestone.[11] Fellow West Indian Lance Gibbs is the most economical player with 1.98 runs per over, while South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has the best strike rate of 42.3 balls per wicket.[6] India's Anil Kumble has the second-best bowling figures in an innings (10 wickets for 74 runs against Pakistan in 1999); they are the second-best in the history of Test cricket after English off-spin bowler Jim Laker's 10 for 53 (against Australia in 1956).[12]

In 1990, Richard Hadlee became the first bowler to take 400 Test wickets,[13] whilst in 2001, Courtney Walsh was the first to reach 500 wicket mark.[14] Shane Warne was the first to take both 600 and 700 Test wickets, in 2005 and 2006 respectively.[15][16] Warne's haul of 96 wickets in 2005 is the highest total in a calendar year, ahead of the 90 wickets taken the following year by Muralidaran, although he played fewer innings.[17]

Key

[edit]
  • Mat. – Number of matches played
  • Inn. – Number of innings bowled
  • Balls – Balls bowled in career
  • Runs – Runs conceded in career
  • Wkts – Wickets taken in career
  • Ave. – Average runs per wicket
  • Econ. – Runs conceded per over
  • SR. – Number of balls bowled per wicket taken
  • BBI – Best bowling in an innings
  • BBM – Best bowling in a match
  • 5WI – Five or more wickets in an innings
  • 10WM – Ten or more wickets in a match
  • Period – Cricketing career of the player

Bowlers with 300 or more Test wickets

[edit]
  • Statistics are correct to 12 July 2024.
  • The list is initially sorted by the most wickets taken by a bowler. To sort this table by any statistic, click on the arrows next to the column title.
Denotes players who have been Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
† Denotes players who are still active
Bowlers who have taken 300 or more wickets in Test cricket[6]
No. Bowler Type Team Mat. Inn. Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Econ. SR BBI BBM 5WI 10WM Period Ref(s)
1 Muttiah Muralitharan Right-arm off break  Sri Lanka 133 230 44,039 18,180 800 22.72 2.47 55.0 9/51 16/220 67 22 1992–2010 [1][18]
2 Shane Warne Right-arm leg break  Australia 145 273 40,705 17,995 708 25.41 2.65 57.4 8/71 12/128 37 10 1992–2007 [19][20]
3 James Anderson Right-arm fast-medium  England 188 350 40,037 18,627 704 26.45 2.79 56.9 7/42 11/71 32 3 2003–2024 [21]
4 Anil Kumble Right-arm leg break  India 132 236 40,850 18,355 619 29.65 2.69 65.9 10/74 14/149 35 8 1990–2008 [22][23]
5 Stuart Broad Right-arm fast-medium  England 167 309 33,698 16,719 604 27.68 2.97 55.7 8/15 11/121 20 3 2007–2023 [24][25]
6 Glenn McGrath Right arm fast-medium  Australia 124 243 29,248 12,186 563 21.64 2.49 51.9 8/24 10/27 29 3 1993–2007 [26][27]
7 Nathan Lyon † Right-arm off break  Australia 129 242 32,761 16,052 530 30.28 2.93 61.8 8/50 13/154 24 5 2011– [28]
8 Courtney Walsh Right-arm fast  West Indies 132 242 30,019 12,688 519 24.44 2.53 57.8 7/37 13/55 22 3 1984–2001 [29][30]
9 Ravichandran Ashwin † Right-arm off break  India 100 189 26,166 12,255 516 23.75 2.81 50.7 7/59 13/140 36 8 2011– [31]
10 Dale Steyn Right-arm fast  South Africa 93 171 18,608 10,077 439 22.95 3.24 42.3 7/51 11/60 26 5 2004–2019 [32][33]
11 Kapil Dev Right arm fast-medium  India 131 227 27,740 12,867 434 29.64 2.78 63.9 9/83 11/146 23 2 1978–1994 [34]
12 Rangana Herath Left-arm off break  Sri Lanka 93 170 25,993 12,157 433 28.07 2.80 60.0 9/127 14/184 34 9 1999–2018 [35][36]
13 Richard Hadlee Right-arm fast  New Zealand 86 150 21,918 9,611 431 22.29 2.63 50.8 9/52 15/123 36 9 1973–1990 [37]
14 Shaun Pollock Right arm fast-medium  South Africa 108 202 24,353 9,733 421 23.11 2.39 57.8 7/87 10/147 16 1 1995–2008 [38]
15 Harbhajan Singh Right-arm off break  India 103 190 28,580 13,537 417 32.46 2.84 68.5 8/84 15/217 25 5 1998–2015 [39]
16 Wasim Akram Left-arm fast  Pakistan 104 181 22,627 9,779 414 23.62 2.59 54.6 7/119 11/110 25 5 1985–2002 [40][41]
17 Curtly Ambrose Right-arm fast  West Indies 98 179 22,103 8,501 405 20.99 2.30 54.5 8/45 11/84 22 3 1988–2000 [42]
18 Makhaya Ntini Right-arm fast  South Africa 101 190 20,834 11,242 390 28.82 3.23 53.4 7/37 13/132 18 4 1998–2009 [43]
19 Ian Botham Right-arm fast-medium  England 102 168 21,815 10,878 383 28.40 2.99 56.9 8/34 13/106 27 4 1977–1992 [44]
20 Tim Southee † Right-arm fast-medium  New Zealand 100 190 22,614 11,255 380 29.61 2.98 59.5 7/64 10/108 15 1 2008– [45]
21 Malcolm Marshall Right-arm fast  West Indies 81 151 17,584 7,876 376 20.94 2.68 46.7 7/22 11/89 22 4 1978–1991 [46]
22 Waqar Younis Right-arm fast  Pakistan 87 154 16,224 8,788 373 23.56 3.25 43.4 7/76 13/135 22 5 1989–2003 [47][48]
23 Imran Khan Right-arm fast  Pakistan 88 142 19,458 8,258 362 22.81 2.54 53.7 8/58 14/116 23 6 1971–1992 [49]
Daniel Vettori Left-arm off break  New Zealand 113 187 28,814 12,441 362 34.36 2.59 79.5 7/87 12/149 20 3 1997–2015 [2][50][51]
25 Mitchell Starc † Left-arm fast  Australia 89 170 17,417 9,932 358 27.74 3.42 48.6 6/50 11/94 14 2 2010– [52]
26 Dennis Lillee Right-arm fast  Australia 70 132 18,467 8,493 355 23.92 2.75 52.0 7/83 11/123 23 7 1971–1984 [53]
Chaminda Vaas Left-arm fast medium  Sri Lanka 111 194 23,438 10,501 355 29.58 2.68 66.0 7/71 14/191 12 2 1994–2009 [54]
28 Allan Donald Right-arm fast  South Africa 72 129 15,519 7,344 330 22.25 2.83 47.0 8/71 12/139 20 3 1992–2002 [55]
29 Bob Willis Right-arm fast  England 90 165 17,357 8,190 325 25.20 2.83 53.4 8/43 9/92 16 0 1971–1984 [56]
30 Trent Boult Left-arm fast-medium  New Zealand 78 149 17,417 8,717 317 27.49 3.00 54.9 6/30 10/80 10 1 2011–
31 Mitchell Johnson Left-arm fast  Australia 73 140 16,001 8,891 313 28.40 3.33 51.1 8/61 12/127 12 3 2007–2015 [57]
32 Zaheer Khan Left-arm fast-medium  India 92 165 18,785 10,247 311 32.94 3.27 60.4 7/87 10/149 11 1 2000–2014 [58]
Ishant Sharma † Right-arm fast-medium  India 105 188 19,160 10,078 311 32.40 3.15 61.6 7/74 10/108 11 1 2007– [59]
34 Brett Lee Right-arm fast  Australia 76 150 16,531 9,554 310 30.81 3.46 53.3 5/30 9/171 10 0 1999–2008 [60]
35 Lance Gibbs Right arm off break  West Indies 79 148 27,115 8,989 309 29.09 1.98 87.7 8/38 11/157 18 2 1958–1976 [61]
Morné Morkel Right-arm fast  South Africa 86 160 16,498 8,550 309 27.66 3.10 53.3 6/23 9/110 8 0 2006–2018 [62]
37 Fred Trueman Right-arm fast  England 67 127 15,178 6,625 307 21.57 2.61 49.4 8/31 12/119 17 3 1952–1965 [5]
Last Updated: 12 July 2024

By team

[edit]
Team Players with 300+ wickets
 Australia 7
 India 6
 England 5
 South Africa
 West Indies 4
 New Zealand 4
 Sri Lanka 3
 Pakistan 3
Total 37

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Player Profile: Muttiah Muralitharan". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b Alter, Jamie (26 August 2009). "Vettori joins 300-wicket club". ESPNCricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2018. To claim 300 Test wickets is an achievement for any bowler ...
  3. ^ "Steyn captures 300th Test wicket". Geo TV. Agence France-Presse (AFP). 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2018. 'It's an unbelievable achievement,' said South African captain Graeme Smith ...
  4. ^ Botham, Ian (18 May 2013). "Ian Botham on Jimmy Anhderson: Congrats on taking your 300th Test wicket – now come and catch me!". Daily Mirror. London. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2018. Congratulations to Jimmy Anderson on yet another magnificent achievement ...
  5. ^ a b "Player Profile: Fred Trueman". ESPNCricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d "Records / Test matches / Bowling records / Most wickets in career". ESPN cricinfo. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Records / Test matches / Bowling records / Best figures in a match". ESPNCricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Records / Test matches / Bowling records / Most five-wickets-in-an-innings in a career". ESPNCricinfo. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Records / Test matches / Bowling records / Most ten-wickets-in-a-match in a career". ESPNCricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  10. ^ Vishwanathan, Siddharth (27 November 2017). "Ravichandran Ashwin emulates Dennis Lillee, becomes fastest to 300 wickets". Hindustan Times. Delhi: HT Media. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Record / Test matches / Bowling record / Fastest to 300 wickets". ESPNCricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Records / Test matches / Bowling records / Best figures in an innings". ESPNCricinfo. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  13. ^ Blake, Martin (6 February 1990). "Hadlee Defies Convention to Record the Perfect 400". The Age. No. 42024. Melbourne. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Hancock, Matthew (21 March 2001). "500: Courting Greatness". Sydney Morning Herald. No. 51030. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Brenkley, Stephen (14 August 2005). "Warne the Busiest As Well As the Best". Sportsweek. The Independent on Sunday. No. 808. London. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Fraser, Angus (27 December 2006). "Warne's Triumphant Milestone". The Independent. No. 6301. London. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Cricket Records for Test Matches – Most wickets in a calendar year". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Muttiah Muralitharan reaches 800 Test wickets landmark". BBC Sport. 22 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Player Profile: Shane Warne". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  20. ^ "2006–07 – Warne's 700th wicket". BBC Sport. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Player Profile: James Anderson". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Player Profile: Anil Kumble". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  23. ^ Vaidyanathan, Siddhartha (17 January 2008). "Kumble joins 900-wicket club". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  24. ^ "Player Profile: Stuart Broad". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  25. ^ Charlesworth, David (29 July 2023). "Stuart Broad: A desire for improvement kept the paceman at the top of his game". The Independent. London. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Player Profile: Glenn McGrath". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  27. ^ English, Peter (23 December 2006). "Machine-like McGrath reaches 500". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  28. ^ "Player Profile: Nathan Lyon". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Player Profile: Courtney Walsh". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  30. ^ CricInfo (19 March 2001). "Walsh becomes the first man to 500 Test wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  31. ^ "Player Profile: Ravichandran Ashwin". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  32. ^ Ramakrishnan, Madhusudhan (3 January 2013). "Exceptional in Test wins". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  33. ^ "Player Profile: Dale Steyn". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  34. ^ "Player Profile: Kapil Dev". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  35. ^ Krishnaswamy, Karthik (17 October 2015). "Magical Herath spins Sri Lanka to innings win". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  36. ^ "Rangana Herath Profile". Cricbuzz. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Player Profile: Richard Hadlee". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  38. ^ "Player Profile: Shaun Pollock". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  39. ^ "Player Profile: Harbhajan Singh". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  40. ^ Gupta, Rajneesh (17 June 2000). "Wasim Akrsourham completes 400 wickets in Test cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  41. ^ "Player Profile: Wasim Akram". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  42. ^ "Player Profile: Curtly Ambrose". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 31 January 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  43. ^ "Player Profile: Makhaya Ntini". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  44. ^ "Player Profile: Ian Botham". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  45. ^ "Player Profile: Tim Southee". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  46. ^ "Player Profile: Malcolm Marshall". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  47. ^ Gupta, Rajneesh (17 June 2000). "Waqar Younis completes 300 wickets in Test cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  48. ^ "Player Profile: Waqar Younis". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  49. ^ "Player Profile: Imran Khan". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  50. ^ "New Zealand's Daniel Vettori retires from international cricket". BBC Sport. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  51. ^ "Player Profile: Daniel Vettori". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  52. ^ "Player Profile: Mitchell Starc". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  53. ^ "Player Profile: Dennis Lillee". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  54. ^ "Player Profile: Chaminda Vaas". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  55. ^ "Player Profile: Allan Donald". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  56. ^ "Player Profile: Bob Willis". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  57. ^ "Player Profile: Mitchell Johnson". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  58. ^ "Player Profile: Zaheer Khan". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  59. ^ Sportstar, Team (8 February 2021). "IND vs ENG: Ishant Sharma picks up 300 Test wickets". Sportstar. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  60. ^ "Player Profile: Brett Lee". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  61. ^ "Player Profile: Lance Gibbs". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  62. ^ "Player Profile: Morne Morkel". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.

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