5 Bowlers With Most Wickets In Test Cricket In 2023

The year 2023 saw a lot of Test cricket and Australia particularly dominated the Test circuit in 2023. Apart from losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, there was nothing negative about Australia in Red-ball cricket. They won the World Test Championship Finals against India and also retained the Ashes in England by ending the series in a draw of 2-2.

Red-ball cricket saw a huge boom in 2023 as nations around the globe came out in the whites to showcase their prowess in red-ball cricket. The 2023 Test season was pretty giving for the bowlers and Australia dominated the charts here also as three of the top five wicket-takers in Tests in 2023 are Aussies.

5 Bowlers With Most Wickets In Test Cricket In 2023

1. Nathan Lyon:

The latest addition to the 500-wicket club, Nathan Lyon had a terrific Red-ball campaign in 2023. He took 47 wickets in just 10 games at an average of 24.56. Nathan Lyon took two five-wicket hauls in 2023 and both of them came during the Border-Gavaskar trophy earlier in February-March 2023. He took a best figure of 8/64 against India at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. Recently, he became the third Australian to cross the 500 test wickets mark.

2. Pat Cummins:

The Australian skipper had a perfect 2023 as a captain and as a player. Pat Cummins took 42 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 27.50 and ended the year on a high with a double five-wicket haul against Pakistan in the Melbourne Test. He took three five-wicket hauls in 2023 with two of them coming against Pakistan in Melbourne. Pat Cummins led Australia to their maiden World Test Championship Title in June 2023.

3. Ravichandran Ashwin:

The only Indian in this list, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made it to the top three after stellar performances against Australia and West Indies. He took 41 wickets in just seven matches at a stunning average of 17.02. He took a five-wicket haul four times in 2023 with two of them coming against Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and two coming in the same match against West Indies at Windsor Park. Ashwin took figures of 7/71 and 5/60 against West Indies.

4. Stuart Broad:

Stuart Broad got a beautiful farewell to his Red-ball cricket career as he got to the top five wicket-takers list. Stuart Broad got a wicket on the last delivery he bowled in his Test career which was a perfect ending to a stellar career of a great fast bowler. He took 38 wickets in eight matches at an average of 26.29 with one five-wicket haul to his name in 2023. Stuart Broad took his last five-wicket haul against Ireland at Lord’s. Notably, he also hit the last ball he faced in Test cricket for a six.

5. Mitchell Starc:

The third Australian on this list, Mitchell Starc may not have had a terrific year but his performances were good enough to get him in the top five list. He took 38 wickets in nine matches at an average of 29.63. Starc could only manage to take one five-wicket haul which came against England at Headingley during the Ashes series. This is Mitchell Starc’s only five-wicket haul in the last three years with the previous one coming in 2019 against New Zealand in Perth.