The Highest Wicket Taker in Test Cricket

The greatest Test cricket bowlers have left lasting memories and left an indelible mark on different eras of the game, inspiring fans and new players alike with their skills, consistency, and match awareness.

Muttiah Muralitharan became legendary for his leg-spin and skillful variations that baffled batters across conditions. His longevity and talent cemented his legacy as one of cricket’s greats.

Anil Kumble made famous his ability to use speed and bounce with great effect during his legendary ten-wicket haul against Pakistan.

Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn stands as one of the greatest fast bowlers in Test cricket history. A product of South Africa, his international standards have earned him an exalted place amongst cricket’s all-time great wicket-takers.

He is known for his aggressive and lethal style of bowling, reaching speeds of over 150 kilometers per hour and creating reverse swing. He has played for various IPL teams such as Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils; taking over 400 Test wickets.

Muttiah Muralitharan

Murali was an immense figure both physically and metaphorically; his feat of collecting 800 Test wickets defined the longest format. His remarkable bowling mastery combined spin, consistency and control to baffle generations of batsmen.

Murali was known for his distinctive offspinner with short run up, wrist movement, and much wrist action. Additionally, he introduced a unique doosra delivery which turned away from right-handed batsmen.

Although he found considerable success throughout the world, Australia proved particularly challenging due to the constant barracking from crowds there.

Shane Warne

Shane Warne was widely considered the greatest spin bowler of all time, boasting 708 wickets from 145 Test matches over his international career – eclipsing Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s record by 209.

Warne was an accomplished all-round cricketer, known for both batting and bowling ability in Test matches. His ability to take wickets with both fast and slow deliveries earned him the name ‘The Beast’.

One of the greatest bowlers ever, he was recognized in 2000 as one of Wisden’s five Greatest Cricketers of the Century.

James Anderson

James Anderson stands out as one of Test cricket’s premier wicket-takers with his longevity and skill. A key figure during England’s successes of the 1990s and 2000s, Anderson remains one of only two bowlers to take ten wickets in an innings.

His exceptional ability to manipulate English conditions by swinging the ball was feared by batters worldwide. With 704 wickets under his belt, he trails only spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Australia’s Shane Warne for total wickets; yet still trails Stuart Broad, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath, and Courtney Walsh who all hold more. Furthermore, his rugged good looks often made him popular choice for western roles both on film and TV.

Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble was an Indian cricketer who represented their national team from 1990 to 2008. Known as an exceptional leg before wicket bowler, Anil began ODI career at Austral-Asia Cup tournament held in Sharjah before making test debut the same year during India’s tour of England.

Kumble first rose to prominence as an ODI cricketer during the early 1990s and is best-known for his record breaking performance against Pakistan in New Delhi in 1999, when he took all ten wickets – breaking England’s Jim Laker’s earlier record set at four wickets in an innings – for just one innings at New Delhi.

Stuart Broad

England bowler Stuart Broad does not enjoy wide popularity among fans and peers, but his winning-at-all-costs style commands respect from all. Unfortunately for Australia and England alike, however, some fans have taken exception to it and directed their anger inwards; and have made unwise comments in response.

He is one of only three bowlers to take ten or more wickets in one Test match; Glenn McGrath and James Anderson come before him on this list. Known for his pace and precision, he stands as an iconic bowler in cricket history.

Broad isn’t afraid to use his body when necessary – as witnessed in his dismissal of New Zealand batsman Ajaz Irani from this year’s World Cup final. Broad threw the ball directly at Irani after he poked his bat into an aerial lifter and broke his wrist while trying to play on.

Glenn McGrath

McGrath overtook Courtney Walsh to become the highest wicket taker in test cricket with his dismissal of Marcus Trescothick at Lord’s in 2005, becoming an unparalleled master of all conditions with flawless line and length and metronomic accuracy. Batsmen could only dream about facing him.

He may not have been the fastest or cleverest cricketer of his era, but his incredible 563 wicket haul propelled him into greatness. His intimidating presence overpowered opponents to achieve impossible victories.

Glenn McGrath was raised on his family farm near Narromine, NSW and now resides in Noosa Hinterland with his wife Sara and daughters Madison and Holly. As President of The McGrath Foundation – an organisation supporting breast cancer research – and sports commentator, he remains active.

Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon has gone from pitch curator to one of the best spinners in world cricket. With an outstanding international record and becoming the eighth bowler to take 500 wickets in test cricket, Lyon is fast becoming an icon within spin bowling circles.

He was selected into the Australian Test squad in 2011, after impressing during domestic and ‘A’ cricket for South Australia. Immediately upon making his international debut, his classical off-spinner quickly made an impression, dismissing Kumar Sangakkara with the very first ball thrown his way.

Since then, he has become an indispensable component of Australia’s team, bowling his trademark spin bowling style with flight and bounce to trouble batters across the world.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin stands as one of cricket’s most underrated spinners. A consistent performer for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and on any surface. Later he had an exceptional county career in England – excelling with the Dukes ball similarly to Harbhajan Singh of Tamil Nadu.

He returned to India and played an instrumental role in winning both Border Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia and then went on to top the wicket charts against New Zealand in Pune – surpassing Nathan Lyon’s total and becoming the highest Test wicket taker ever.