Highest wicket taker in Test

Most Test Wickets – The fans love the thrill of watching sixes being hit all across the park. However, for most of the ardent lovers of the game, Test Cricket is still the truest format. It tests a cricketer’s skill, stamina and temperament. The ones who have the most Test wickets hold great significance.

In this article, we look at top 5 highest wicket taker in Test Cricket

1. M Muralitharan

Matches	Wickets	Average
133	800	22.72

Legendary Sri Lankan spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan has the most wickets in Test cricket. He has represented Sri Lanka between 1992 and 2010 in Tests. In 133 matches, he has picked 800 Test wickets at an average of 22.72. In his illustrious Test cricket career, Muralitharan took 67 five-wicket hauls and 22 ten-wicket hauls.

2. Shane Warne

Matches	Wickets	Average
145	708	25.41

Former Australia spinner, Shane Warne is second in the list with 708 wickets in 145 Tests. He has represented Australia between 1992 and 2007 in Test cricket. Averaging 25.41, Shane Warne 2has picked the second most number of wickets in Test Cricket. He has taken 37 five-wicket hauls and 10 ten-wicket hauls. Shane Warne took his retirement from Test Cricket on 2nd January 2007 against England.

3. Anil Kumble

Matches	Wickets	Average
132	619	29.65

Unarguably, the greatest spinner India has ever produced, Anil Kumble has picked the third most number of wickets in Test Cricket. He has played 132 matches in his Test cricket career. He has 619 wickets to his name at an average of 29.65.

Anil Kumble has picked 35 five-wicket hauls and 8 ten-wicket hauls in his Test cricket career. Anil Kumble played for India for as many as 19 years. He called time on his Test cricket career on 29th October 2008 against Australia.

In his illustrious Test cricket career, he played 132 games, picking 619 wickets at an average of 29.6.

4. James Anderson

Matches	Wickets	Average
162	617	26.67

English fast bowler, James Anderson is the only active cricketer in the list of top five wicket-takers in Test cricket. Anderson currently has 617 wickets in 162 Tests, averaging 26.67. In his Test career, he has managed to pick 3 ten-wicket hauls and 30 five-wicket hauls so far. In August 2020 against Pakistan in the third Test, James Anderson became the first fast bowler to pick 600 Test wickets. Given the kind of fitness he has been maintaining, it won’t come as a surprise if he manages to cross the 700-wicket mark.

5. Glenn McGrath

Matches	Wickets	Average
124	563	21.64

Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath is the second fast bowler in the elite list after Anderson. Glenn McGrath is hailed as one of the best fast bowlers in the history of Cricket. He would swing the balls on both sides and was a nightmare for the batsmen, especially in Test Cricket.

Glenn McGrath played 124 games in Test Cricket and picked 563 wickets at an average of 21.64. He took 29 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls in his Test cricket career. Glenn McGrath announced his retirement from Test Cricket on 2nd January 2007 against England.

Related Highest Strike Rate in Test

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