Top 10 Non-Retired Bowlers With Most Wickets In Test Cricket

20 wickets can win you a match in Test cricket and bowlers are most essential part in the longest format. It is also a test of nerves, skills and adaptability for the bowlers as Test cricket is a format where batsmen like to take their time to settle in and hit the lose balls to the boundaries. However, the cricket history has seen bowlers who have been right on the money from the word go, and done their sides a world of good.

Let us have a look at top ten active bowlers with most scalps in the longest format:

10. Yasir Shah – 235 Wickets

9. Mitchell Starc – 255 Wickets

Mitchell Starc in one of the most fierce fast bowlers of all-time. He has an aggressive run-up and was challenging for the batsmen of any stature. However, he had a career marred with injuries, which kept him from adding plenty of wickets to his tally. Starc has picked up 255 wickets at an average of 27.57 in the longest format.

8. Trent Boult – 281 Wickets

New ball bowler Trent Boult has enjoyed immense success for New Zealand in his career. He made his debut in the longest format in 2011 and established himself as the finest Kiwi bowlers of all-time. Boult has picked up 281 wickets at an average of 28.02.

7. Ishant Sharma – 300 Wickets

Senior India fast bowler Ishant Sharma has matured over the years with his experience. He has, however, earned his fair share of success bowling in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia). Ishant has picked up 300 wickets in the longest format at an average of 32.32.

6. Tim Southee – 302 Wickets

Premier New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee has been a key for his national team over the years. The veteran, now proceeding towards the fag end of his career, is still as important for the side as he used to be in his hey days. Southee has picked up 302 wickets for New Zealand at an average of 28.70.

5. Ravichandran Ashwin – 386 Wickets

Premier India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the finest off-spinner for the side with plenty of variations up his sleeve has so far represented India 75 matches in whites, has picked up 386 wickets at an average of 25.47. He also has registered 28 five-fors in the longest format of the game for his nation.

4. Nathan Lyon – 399 Wickets

Nathan Lyon earned the nickname ‘GOAT’ after becoming the most successful off-spinner for Australia. He has had a fine run against India in the sub-continent and is one of the finest tweakers that the Australian cricket has produced. Lyon has picked up 399 wickets at an average of 32.12 and surely has a few more to add to his tally in the coming years.

3. Harbhajan Singh – 417 Wickets

Harbhajan Singh, once the centre to India’s success at home and in overseas conditions, is currently out of favour from the national team. But when he played, even some the most dominating Australian team feared him. He was the centre to India’s success in 2001 World Cup and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was his bunny.

Since his debut in 1998, Harbhajan has picked up 417 Test wickets, at an average of 32.46.

2. Stuart Broad – 517 Wickets

Stuart Broad shares the new ball with his partner Anderson and has seen nearly as much success in Test cricket. There are talking about Broad calling time on his decorated career after the Ashes . His retirement might leave a long vacuum in the English pace attack.

Since his debut in 2007, Broad has picked up 517 wickets for England, at an average of 27.56.

1. James Anderson – 611 Wickets

England’s leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson has also picked up the most wickets by any fast bowler in the longest format. Anderson, 38, might not have many years left in his career but he still remains a wicket-taker in the twilight zone of his career.

Anderson, since his debut in 2003, has picked up 611 wickets in the Test cricket at an average of 26.49.

(All Stats Updated Till 9th February, 2021)