Most Test wickets | Highest Test wickets in career
Muttiah Muralitharan has picked most Test wickets in career. In 133 Test matches for Sri Lanka, Muralitharan picked 800 Test wickets at an average of 22.72. The off-spinner also holds the record for most five-wickets hauls in Test cricket. He picked 67 fifers in Test cricket. Shane Warne is ranked second on the list with 708 Test wickets for Australia.
Here’s a list of bowlers with Most Test wickets in career:
Most Test wickets
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 5 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M Muralitharan (ICC/SL) | 1992-2010 | 133 | 230 | 44039 | 18180 | 800 | 9/51 | 16/220 | 22.72 | 2.47 | 55.0 | 67 | 22 |
| SK Warne (AUS) | 1992-2007 | 145 | 273 | 40705 | 17995 | 708 | 8/71 | 12/128 | 25.41 | 2.65 | 57.4 | 37 | 10 |
| A Kumble (INDIA) | 1990-2008 | 132 | 236 | 40850 | 18355 | 619 | 10/74 | 14/149 | 29.65 | 2.69 | 65.9 | 35 | 8 |
| JM Anderson (ENG) | 2003-2020 | 151 | 282 | 32779 | 15670 | 584 | 7/42 | 11/71 | 26.83 | 2.86 | 56.1 | 28 | 3 |
| GD McGrath (AUS) | 1993-2007 | 124 | 243 | 29248 | 12186 | 563 | 8/24 | 10/27 | 21.64 | 2.49 | 51.9 | 29 | 3 |
| CA Walsh (WI) | 1984-2001 | 132 | 242 | 30019 | 12688 | 519 | 7/37 | 13/55 | 24.44 | 2.53 | 57.8 | 22 | 3 |
| SCJ Broad (ENG) | 2007-2020 | 138 | 254 | 28079 | 13827 | 485 | 8/15 | 11/121 | 28.50 | 2.95 | 57.8 | 17 | 2 |
| DW Steyn (SA) | 2004-2019 | 93 | 171 | 18608 | 10077 | 439 | 7/51 | 11/60 | 22.95 | 3.24 | 42.3 | 26 | 5 |
| N Kapil Dev (INDIA) | 1978-1994 | 131 | 227 | 27740 | 12867 | 434 | 9/83 | 11/146 | 29.64 | 2.78 | 63.9 | 23 | 2 |
| HMRKB Herath (SL) | 1999-2018 | 93 | 170 | 25993 | 12157 | 433 | 9/127 | 14/184 | 28.07 | 2.80 | 60.0 | 34 | 9 |
| Sir RJ Hadlee (NZ) | 1973-1990 | 86 | 150 | 21918 | 9611 | 431 | 9/52 | 15/123 | 22.29 | 2.63 | 50.8 | 36 | 9 |
| SM Pollock (SA) | 1995-2008 | 108 | 202 | 24353 | 9733 | 421 | 7/87 | 10/147 | 23.11 | 2.39 | 57.8 | 16 | 1 |
| Harbhajan Singh (INDIA) | 1998-2015 | 103 | 190 | 28580 | 13537 | 417 | 8/84 | 15/217 | 32.46 | 2.84 | 68.5 | 25 | 5 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 1985-2002 | 104 | 181 | 22627 | 9779 | 414 | 7/119 | 11/110 | 23.62 | 2.59 | 54.6 | 25 | 5 |
| CEL Ambrose (WI) | 1988-2000 | 98 | 179 | 22103 | 8501 | 405 | 8/45 | 11/84 | 20.99 | 2.30 | 54.5 | 22 | 3 |
| M Ntini (SA) | 1998-2009 | 101 | 190 | 20834 | 11242 | 390 | 7/37 | 13/132 | 28.82 | 3.23 | 53.4 | 18 | 4 |
| NM Lyon (AUS) | 2011-2020 | 96 | 184 | 24568 | 12320 | 390 | 8/50 | 13/154 | 31.58 | 3.00 | 62.9 | 18 | 3 |
| IT Botham (ENG) | 1977-1992 | 102 | 168 | 21815 | 10878 | 383 | 8/34 | 13/106 | 28.40 | 2.99 | 56.9 | 27 | 4 |
| MD Marshall (WI) | 1978-1991 | 81 | 151 | 17584 | 7876 | 376 | 7/22 | 11/89 | 20.94 | 2.68 | 46.7 | 22 | 4 |
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 1989-2003 | 87 | 154 | 16224 | 8788 | 373 | 7/76 | 13/135 | 23.56 | 3.25 | 43.4 | 22 | 5 |
| R Ashwin (INDIA) | 2011-2020 | 71 | 132 | 19586 | 9282 | 365 | 7/59 | 13/140 | 25.43 | 2.84 | 53.6 | 27 | 7 |
| Imran Khan (PAK) | 1971-1992 | 88 | 142 | 19458 | 8258 | 362 | 8/58 | 14/116 | 22.81 | 2.54 | 53.7 | 23 | 6 |
| DL Vettori (ICC/NZ) | 1997-2014 | 113 | 187 | 28814 | 12441 | 362 | 7/87 | 12/149 | 34.36 | 2.59 | 79.5 | 20 | 3 |
| DK Lillee (AUS) | 1971-1984 | 70 | 132 | 18467 | 8493 | 355 | 7/83 | 11/123 | 23.92 | 2.75 | 52.0 | 23 | 7 |
| WPUJC Vaas (SL) | 1994-2009 | 111 | 194 | 23438 | 10501 | 355 | 7/71 | 14/191 | 29.58 | 2.68 | 66.0 | 12 | 2 |
| AA Donald (SA) | 1992-2002 | 72 | 129 | 15519 | 7344 | 330 | 8/71 | 12/139 | 22.25 | 2.83 | 47.0 | 20 | 3 |
| RGD Willis (ENG) | 1971-1984 | 90 | 165 | 17357 | 8190 | 325 | 8/43 | 9/92 | 25.20 | 2.83 | 53.4 | 16 | 0 |
| MG Johnson (AUS) | 2007-2015 | 73 | 140 | 16001 | 8891 | 313 | 8/61 | 12/127 | 28.40 | 3.33 | 51.1 | 12 | 3 |
| Z Khan (INDIA) | 2000-2014 | 92 | 165 | 18785 | 10247 | 311 | 7/87 | 10/149 | 32.94 | 3.27 | 60.4 | 11 | 1 |
| B Lee (AUS) | 1999-2008 | 76 | 150 | 16531 | 9554 | 310 | 5/30 | 9/171 | 30.81 | 3.46 | 53.3 | 10 | 0 |
| M Morkel (SA) | 2006-2018 | 86 | 160 | 16498 | 8550 | 309 | 6/23 | 9/110 | 27.66 | 3.10 | 53.3 | 8 | 0 |
| LR Gibbs (WI) | 1958-1976 | 79 | 148 | 27115 | 8989 | 309 | 8/38 | 11/157 | 29.09 | 1.98 | 87.7 | 18 | 2 |
| FS Trueman (ENG) | 1952-1965 | 67 | 127 | 15178 | 6625 | 307 | 8/31 | 12/119 | 21.57 | 2.61 | 49.4 | 17 | 3 |
| DL Underwood (ENG) | 1966-1982 | 86 | 151 | 21862 | 7674 | 297 | 8/51 | 13/71 | 25.83 | 2.10 | 73.6 | 17 | 6 |
| I Sharma (INDIA) | 2007-2020 | 97 | 175 | 18150 | 9620 | 297 | 7/74 | 10/108 | 32.39 | 3.18 | 61.1 | 11 | 1 |
| JH Kallis (ICC/SA) | 1995-2013 | 166 | 272 | 20232 | 9535 | 292 | 6/54 | 9/92 | 32.65 | 2.82 | 69.2 | 5 | 0 |
| CJ McDermott (AUS) | 1984-1996 | 71 | 124 | 16586 | 8332 | 291 | 8/97 | 11/157 | 28.63 | 3.01 | 56.9 | 14 | 2 |
| TG Southee (NZ) | 2008-2020 | 73 | 136 | 16393 | 8237 | 284 | 7/64 | 10/108 | 29.00 | 3.01 | 57.7 | 10 | 1 |
| TA Boult (NZ) | 2011-2020 | 67 | 127 | 14874 | 7384 | 267 | 6/30 | 10/80 | 27.65 | 2.97 | 55.7 | 8 | 1 |
| BS Bedi (INDIA) | 1966-1979 | 67 | 118 | 21364 | 7637 | 266 | 7/98 | 10/194 | 28.71 | 2.14 | 80.3 | 14 | 1 |
| Danish Kaneria (PAK) | 2000-2010 | 61 | 112 | 17697 | 9082 | 261 | 7/77 | 12/94 | 34.79 | 3.07 | 67.8 | 15 | 2 |
| J Garner (WI) | 1977-1987 | 58 | 111 | 13169 | 5433 | 259 | 6/56 | 9/108 | 20.97 | 2.47 | 50.8 | 7 | 0 |
| JN Gillespie (AUS) | 1996-2006 | 71 | 137 | 14234 | 6770 | 259 | 7/37 | 9/80 | 26.13 | 2.85 | 54.9 | 8 | 0 |
| GP Swann (ENG) | 2008-2013 | 60 | 109 | 15349 | 7642 | 255 | 6/65 | 10/132 | 29.96 | 2.98 | 60.1 | 17 | 3 |
| JB Statham (ENG) | 1951-1965 | 70 | 129 | 16056 | 6261 | 252 | 7/39 | 11/97 | 24.84 | 2.33 | 63.7 | 9 | 1 |
| MA Holding (WI) | 1975-1987 | 60 | 113 | 12680 | 5898 | 249 | 8/92 | 14/149 | 23.68 | 2.79 | 50.9 | 13 | 2 |
| R Benaud (AUS) | 1952-1964 | 63 | 116 | 19108 | 6704 | 248 | 7/72 | 11/105 | 27.03 | 2.10 | 77.0 | 16 | 1 |
| MJ Hoggard (ENG) | 2000-2008 | 67 | 122 | 13909 | 7564 | 248 | 7/61 | 12/205 | 30.50 | 3.26 | 56.0 | 7 | 1 |
| GD McKenzie (AUS) | 1961-1971 | 60 | 113 | 17681 | 7328 | 246 | 8/71 | 10/91 | 29.78 | 2.48 | 71.8 | 16 | 3 |
| MA Starc (AUS) | 2011-2020 | 57 | 109 | 11753 | 6583 | 244 | 6/50 | 11/94 | 26.97 | 3.36 | 48.1 | 13 | 2 |
| BS Chandrasekhar (INDIA) | 1964-1979 | 58 | 97 | 15963 | 7199 | 242 | 8/79 | 12/104 | 29.74 | 2.70 | 65.9 | 16 | 2 |
| AV Bedser (ENG) | 1946-1955 | 51 | 92 | 15918 | 5876 | 236 | 7/44 | 14/99 | 24.89 | 2.21 | 67.4 | 15 | 5 |
| J Srinath (INDIA) | 1991-2002 | 67 | 121 | 15104 | 7196 | 236 | 8/86 | 13/132 | 30.49 | 2.85 | 64.0 | 10 | 1 |
| Abdul Qadir (PAK) | 1977-1990 | 67 | 111 | 17126 | 7742 | 236 | 9/56 | 13/101 | 32.80 | 2.71 | 72.5 | 15 | 5 |
| GS Sobers (WI) | 1954-1974 | 93 | 159 | 21599 | 7999 | 235 | 6/73 | 8/80 | 34.03 | 2.22 | 91.9 | 6 | 0 |
| AR Caddick (ENG) | 1993-2003 | 62 | 105 | 13558 | 6999 | 234 | 7/46 | 10/215 | 29.91 | 3.09 | 57.9 | 13 | 1 |
| CS Martin (NZ) | 2000-2013 | 71 | 126 | 14026 | 7878 | 233 | 6/26 | 11/180 | 33.81 | 3.37 | 60.1 | 10 | 1 |
| D Gough (ENG) | 1994-2003 | 58 | 95 | 11821 | 6503 | 229 | 6/42 | 9/92 | 28.39 | 3.30 | 51.6 | 9 | 0 |
| RR Lindwall (AUS) | 1946-1960 | 61 | 113 | 13650 | 5251 | 228 | 7/38 | 9/70 | 23.03 | 2.30 | 59.8 | 12 | 0 |
| SJ Harmison (ENG/ICC) | 2002-2009 | 63 | 115 | 13375 | 7192 | 226 | 7/12 | 11/76 | 31.82 | 3.22 | 59.1 | 8 | 1 |
| A Flintoff (ENG/ICC) | 1998-2009 | 79 | 137 | 14951 | 7410 | 226 | 5/58 | 8/156 | 32.78 | 2.97 | 66.1 | 3 | 0 |
| VD Philander (SA) | 2011-2020 | 64 | 119 | 11391 | 5000 | 224 | 6/21 | 10/102 | 22.32 | 2.63 | 50.8 | 13 | 2 |
| PM Siddle (AUS) | 2008-2019 | 67 | 126 | 13907 | 6777 | 221 | 6/54 | 9/104 | 30.66 | 2.92 | 62.9 | 8 | 0 |
| CL Cairns (NZ) | 1989-2004 | 62 | 104 | 11698 | 6410 | 218 | 7/27 | 10/100 | 29.40 | 3.28 | 53.6 | 13 | 1 |
| CV Grimmett (AUS) | 1925-1936 | 37 | 67 | 14513 | 5231 | 216 | 7/40 | 14/199 | 24.21 | 2.16 | 67.1 | 21 | 7 |
| HH Streak (ZIM) | 1993-2005 | 65 | 102 | 13559 | 6079 | 216 | 6/73 | 9/72 | 28.14 | 2.69 | 62.7 | 7 | 0 |
| RA Jadeja (INDIA) | 2012-2020 | 49 | 94 | 12912 | 5246 | 213 | 7/48 | 10/154 | 24.62 | 2.43 | 60.6 | 9 | 1 |
| Yasir Shah (PAK) | 2014-2020 | 39 | 73 | 12211 | 6502 | 213 | 8/41 | 14/184 | 30.52 | 3.19 | 57.3 | 16 | 3 |
| MG Hughes (AUS) | 1985-1994 | 53 | 97 | 12285 | 6017 | 212 | 8/87 | 13/217 | 28.38 | 2.93 | 57.9 | 7 | 1 |
| Shakib Al Hasan (BDESH) | 2007-2019 | 56 | 95 | 13020 | 6537 | 210 | 7/36 | 10/124 | 31.12 | 3.01 | 62.0 | 18 | 2 |
| SCG MacGill (AUS) | 1998-2008 | 44 | 85 | 11237 | 6038 | 208 | 8/108 | 12/107 | 29.02 | 3.22 | 54.0 | 12 | 2 |
| Saqlain Mushtaq (PAK) | 1995-2004 | 49 | 86 | 14070 | 6206 | 208 | 8/164 | 10/155 | 29.83 | 2.64 | 67.6 | 13 | 3 |
| N Wagner (NZ) | 2012-2020 | 48 | 90 | 10743 | 5480 | 206 | 7/39 | 9/73 | 26.60 | 3.06 | 52.1 | 9 | 0 |
| AME Roberts (WI) | 1974-1983 | 47 | 90 | 11135 | 5174 | 202 | 7/54 | 12/121 | 25.61 | 2.78 | 55.1 | 11 | 2 |
| JA Snow (ENG) | 1965-1976 | 49 | 93 | 12021 | 5387 | 202 | 7/40 | 10/142 | 26.66 | 2.68 | 59.5 | 8 | 1 |
| JR Thomson (AUS) | 1972-1985 | 51 | 90 | 10535 | 5601 | 200 | 6/46 | 9/105 | 28.00 | 3.18 | 52.6 | 8 | 0 |
(Stat Courtesy: ESPNCricinfo)
Also Read Most Runs in a Calendar Year | Highest Score in an ODI
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) / Most Asked Questions
Q: Who has the most Test wickets?
Ans: Muttiah Muralitharan has taken most Test wickets in career. Muralitharan has picked 800 Test wickets in career.
Q: Who has taken most Test wickets for England?
Ans: James Anderson has taken most Test wickets for England. He has taken 584 Test wickets for England.
Q: Who has taken most Test wickets for India?
Ans: Anil Kumble has taken most Test wickets for India in career. He has picked 619 wickets for India.
Q: Who took most Test wickets in 2018?
Ans: Kagiso Rabada picked most Test wickets in 2018. Rabada picked 52 Test wickets in 2018.