10 Bowlers With The Most First Class Wickets In International Cricket

Due to the arrival of Tests, ODIs, and T20Is in international cricket, First Class cricket might be not so popular now. However, a few decades ago, when there was no ODI or T20I cricket played, First-Class cricket was a popular format in international cricket. Even now, FC cricket is a crucial format to adjudge a player???s selection to the national team for Test matches.

First-Class cricket is any official international or domestic match that is for three or more days and consists of two innings. All Test matches in international cricket also come under the FC category.

At the domestic level, England’s County Championship, Australia’s Sheffield Shield, Pakistan’s Quaid-e-AzamTrophy, Sri Lanka’s Premier Trophy are few examples of First-class cricket tournaments. In India, Ranju Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Irani Cup come under FC cricket.

First-class cricket has a long history as it was officially recognized in 1895 and has been played even before that time. For more than a century, numerous FC matches have been played, with many batsmen pilling up a mountain of runs and many bowlers scalping thousands of wickets. In this listicle, we take a look at 10 bowlers with the most First-Class wickets in international cricket.

10 Bowlers With The Most First Class Wickets In International Cricket

10. WG Grace (England)- 2809

Late England cricketer WG Grace takes the 10th spot in this list with 2809 wickets in 870 First-Class matches. Grace had an average of 18.14 and an economy rate of 2.45 in his FC career.

His FC career spanned from 1865 to 1908. He picked five-wicket hauls 240 times and ten-wicket hauls 64 times in his FC career. His best bowling figure in an innings was 10/49. Grace’s played international cricket for Australia from 1880 to 1899.

9. Fred Titmus (England)- 2830

Former English cricketer Fred Titmus is the 9th highest wicket-taker in First-Class cricket with 2830 wickets in 792 matches. His career spanned from 1949 to 1982. The right-arm off-spinner had an average f 22.37 and an economy of 2.19 during his FC career.

Titmus picked five-wicket hauls 168 times and ten-wicket hauls 26 times. His best bowling figure in FC cricket was 9/52. His international career for England spanned from 1955 to 1975.

8. Tony Lock (England)- 2844

Former England cricketer Tony Lock takes the 8th spot in this list with 2844 First Class wickets. The late English cricketer played 654 FC matches during his career from 1946 to 1971. The left-arm spinner bowled at an average of 19.23 and an economy rate of 2.18 during his FC career.

He picked 196 five-wicket hauls and 50 ten-wicket hauls in his FC career. His best bowling figure was 10/54. Tony Lock played 49 Tests for England in international cricket from 1952 to 1968.

7. Derek Shackleton (England)- 2857

Former England cricketer Derek Shackleton gets the 7th spot in this list with 2857 wickets in 647 First-Class matches. The right-arm seamer bowled at an average of 18.65 and owned an economy of 2.01. He accounts for 194 five-wicket hauls for 38 ten-wicket hauls in his FC career.

His best bowling figure was 9/30. Shackleton played FC matches for England from 1948 to 1969. In his international career, he played 7 Tests for England from 1950 to 1963.

6. Alex Kennedy (England)- 2874

Alex Kennedy, another former England cricketer, is the 6th highest wicket-taker in First-Class cricket. The late English cricketer picked 2874 wickets in 677 matches in his FC career. The right-arm bowler had an average of 21.23 and an economy of 2.42.

The medium-pacer picked five-wicket hauls 225 times and ten-wicket hauls 45 times during his career from 1907 to 1936. His best bowling figure was 10/37. In his international career, Kennedy played 5 Tests matches for England.

5. Tom Goddard (England)- 2979

Another former England cricketer Tom Goddard takes 5th place in this list with 2979 wickets in 593 matches. The late English cricketer had an average of 19.84 and an economy rate of 2.49 while bowling during his First-Class career.

The right-arm off-spinner also picked 251 five-wicket hauls and 86 ten-wicket hauls in his career. His best bowling figure was 10/133. He played 8 Tests in his international career for England from 1930 to 1939.

4. Jack Hearne (England)- 3061

Former England player Jack Hearne takes the 4th spot in this list with 3061 wickets in 639 matches in First-Class cricket. The right-arm medium pacer had an average of 17.75 and an economy of 2.25 during his FC career. He picked five-wicket hauls 255 times and ten-wicket hauls 66 times.

Hearne’s best bowling figure in FC cricket was 9/32. In his international career, Hearne played 12 Tests for England from 1892 to 1899.

3. Charlie Parker (England)- 3278

Another late England cricketer Charlie Parker holds the 3rd spot in this list with 3278 wickets in First-Class cricket. The late English cricketer bowled at an average of 19.46 and economy of 2.43 during his FC career.

The left-arm spinner also picked 277 five-wicket hauls and 91 ten-wicket hauls with the best bowling figures of 10/79. Parker only played 1 Test match for England.

2. Tich Freeman (England)- 3776

Late England cricketer Tich Freeman is the 2nd highest wicket-taker in First-Class cricket. During his FC career from 1914 to 1936, the leg-spinner scalped 3776 wickets in 592 matches. The England spinner had an average of 18.42 and an economy rate of 2.69 during his FC career.

Freeman picked 386 five-wicket hauls and 140 ten-wicket hauls. His best bowling figure was 10/53. His international career for England spanner from 1924 to 1924 during which he played 12 Test matches.

1. Wilfred Rhodes (England) – 4204

Late English cricketer Wilfred Rhodes is the highest wicket-taker in First-Class cricket with 4202 wickets in 1110 matches. The left-arm spinner had an average of 16.72 and an economy of 2.27 during his FC career.

He picked 287 five-wicket hauls and 68 ten-wicket hauls during his FC career between 1898 to 1930. The former England cricketer played 58 Tests in his international career between 1899 to 1930.