Test cricket is the longest form of cricket, played over five days with six hours of cricket played each day. It is considered the highest standard of international cricket, and is played between two teams of eleven players each. In Test cricket, each team takes turns to bat and bowl, with the aim of scoring runs and taking wickets to win the match. The team that scores the most runs and takes the most wickets wins the match. Test cricket is known for its gruelling nature and its focus on strategy and endurance, as well as the high level of skill required to succeed at the sport.
Test cricket is the oldest form of cricket, dating back to the first international cricket match between Australia and England in 1877. The first Test match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, and was won by Australia. Test cricket was originally known as “timeless cricket,” because the matches were played until one team won, regardless of how long it took. However, this format was later changed and Test matches are now played over a maximum of five days.
Test cricket has a rich history and has evolved over the years. It was originally played only between Australia, England, and South Africa, but has since expanded to include other countries. There are currently twelve countries that play Test cricket: Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan.
Most Wickets in Test History
| SR NO | PLAYER | TEAMS | MATCHES | WICKETS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 133 | 800 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 145 | 708 |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 177 | 675 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 132 | 619 |
| 5 | Stuart Broad | England | 159 | 566 |
| 6 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 124 | 563 |
| 7 | Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 132 | 519 |
| 8 | Nathan Lyon | Australia | 113 | 454 |
| 9 | Ravi Ashwin | India | 87 | 443 |
| 10 | Dale Steyn | South Africa | 93 | 439 |
Here are the top 10 Most Successful Wicket-Takers in Test cricket history:
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 800 wickets
- Shane Warne (Australia) – 708 wickets
- James Anderson (England) – 675 wickets
- Anil Kumble (India) – 619 wickets
- Stuart Broad (England) – 566 wickets
- Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 563 wickets
- Courtney Walsh (West Indies) – 519 wickets
- Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 454 wickets
- Ravi Ashwin (India) – 443 wickets
- Dale Steyn (South Africa) – 439 wickets
Top 10 Bowler with Most Wickets in Test Cricket History
10. Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn is a former South African cricketer who is considered one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Test cricket. He took a total of 439 wickets in his Test career, which is the tenth-most by any player in Test cricket history. Steyn was a right-arm fast bowler and was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and take wickets consistently.
Steyn made his Test debut for South Africa in 2004 and played for the team until 2019. He took 5 or more wickets in an innings on 26 occasions and took 10 wickets in a match on 8 occasions. He was also named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2013. Steyn is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Test cricket and has made a significant contribution to the success of the South African Test team.
9. Ravi Ashwin
Ravi Ashwin is an Indian cricketer who is a right-arm off-break bowler and a key member of the Indian Test team. As of January 2023, he has taken a total of 443 wickets in his Test career.
Ashwin made his Test debut for India in 2011 and has been a regular member of the team ever since. He has taken 5 or more wickets in an innings on 25 occasions and has taken 10 wickets in a match on 8 occasions. He has also been named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2016. Ashwin is known for his accuracy and his ability to bowl long spells, and is widely regarded as one of the best spin bowlers in the world.
8. Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon is an Australian cricketer who is a right-arm off-break bowler and a key member of the Australian Test team. As of January 2023, he has taken a total of 454 wickets in his Test career.
Lyon made his Test debut for Australia in 2011 and has been a regular member of the team ever since. He has taken 5 or more wickets in an innings on 19 occasions and has taken 10 wickets in a match on 3 occasions. He has also been named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2017. Lyon is known for his accuracy and his ability to bowl long spells, and is widely regarded as one of the best spin bowlers in the world.
7. Courtney Walsh
Courtney Walsh is a former cricketer from the West Indies. He took a total of 519 wickets in his Test career, which is the seventh-most by any player in Test cricket history. Walsh was a right-arm fast bowler and was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and take wickets consistently.
Walsh made his Test debut for the West Indies in 1984 and played for the team until 2001. He took 5 or more wickets in an innings on 22 occasions and took 10 wickets in a match on 5 occasions. Walsh is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Test cricket and has made a significant contribution to the success of the West Indies Test team.
6. Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath is a former Australian cricketer who is considered one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Test cricket. He took a total of 563 wickets in his Test career, which is the sixth-most by any player in Test cricket history. McGrath was a right-arm fast bowler and was known for his accuracy, his ability to swing the ball both ways, and his ability to take wickets consistently.
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McGrath made his Test debut for Australia in 1993 and played for the team until 2007. He took 5 or more wickets in an innings on 29 occasions and took 10 wickets in a match on 10 occasions. He was also named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 1997.
5. Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad is an English cricketer who is a right-arm fast bowler and a key member of the England Test team. As of January 2023, he has taken a total of 566 wickets in his Test career, which puts him among the top 10 most successful wicket-takers in Test cricket history.
Broad made his Test debut for England in 2007 and has been a regular member of the team ever since. He has taken 5 or more wickets in an innings on 22 occasions and has taken 10 wickets in a match on 6 occasions. He has also been named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2010. Broad is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and for his competitive spirit, and is widely regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in the world.
4. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble is a former Indian cricketer who is considered one of the greatest bowlers in the history of Test cricket. He took a total of 619 wickets in his Test career, which is the third-most by any player in Test cricket history. Kumble was a right-arm leg-spinner and was known for his ability to spin the ball sharply and take wickets consistently.
Kumble made his Test debut for India in 1990 and played for the team until 2008. He took 5 or more wickets in an innings on 35 occasions and took 10 wickets in a match on 10 occasions. He was also named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 1993. Kumble was known for his accuracy and his ability to bowl long spells, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.
3. James Anderson
James Anderson is an English cricketer who is currently the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket history, with a total of 675 wickets. Anderson is a right-arm fast bowler and is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and take wickets consistently. He made his Test debut for England in 2003 and has been a mainstay of the England Test team ever since.
Anderson has taken 5 or more wickets in an innings on 30 occasions and has taken 10 wickets in a match on 6 occasions. He has also been named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack on two occasions, in 2010 and 2015. Anderson is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Test cricket and has made a significant contribution to the success of the England Test team.
2. Shane Warne
Shane Warne is a former Australian cricketer who is considered one of the greatest bowlers in the history of Test cricket. He took a total of 708 wickets in his Test career, which is the second-most by any player in Test cricket history. Warne was a right-arm leg-spinner and was known for his ability to spin the ball sharply and take wickets consistently.
Warne made his Test debut for Australia in 1992 and played for the team until 2007. He took 5 or more wickets in an innings on 37 occasions and took 10 wickets in a match on 10 occasions. He was also named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2004. Warne was known for his competitive spirit and his ability to perform under pressure, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan is a former cricketer from Sri Lanka who is considered one of the greatest bowlers in the history of Test cricket. He took a total of 800 wickets in his Test career, which is the most by any player in Test cricket history. Muralitharan was a right-arm off-break bowler and was known for his ability to spin the ball sharply and take wickets consistently.
Muralitharan made his Test debut for Sri Lanka in 1992 and played for the team until 2010. He took 5 or more wickets in an innings on 67 occasions and took 10 wickets in a match on 22 occasions. He was also named one of the five cricketers of the year by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2002.
Conclusion
The most successful wicket-takers in Test cricket history are Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, Shane Warne of Australia, and James Anderson of England, who have taken 800, 708, and 675 wickets, respectively. These bowlers are considered some of the greatest in Test cricket history and have made a significant contribution to the success of their respective teams. Other top wicket-takers in Test cricket include Anil Kumble of India, Glenn McGrath of Australia, Stuart Broad of England and Courtney Walsh of the West Indies These bowlers are also widely regarded as some of the greatest in Test cricket history and have made a significant contribution to the success of their teams.
