Top 5 leading wicket-takers in Test cricket

Few things in the world of sport are as great as dedicating a day to watch Test cricket, and there aren’t many better sights than witnessing an exhilarating bowling attack in the red-ball format.

This article outlines the top five leading wicket-takers in Test cricket history.

5) Stuart Broad – 604 wickets

England legend Stuart Broad capped off his test career in July 2023 with 604 wickets, accumulating 5,616 overs from 167 matches.

He celebrated his 600th Test wicket as Travis Head hooked to deep backward square leg and was caught by Joe Root.

That moment etched the Nottinghamshire man into the elite 600-club, a five-man list that includes his now retired teammate, James Anderson, who finished 100 wickets ahead of him.

Broad’s 16-year stint in Test cricket, erratic appeals, and memorable wicket celebrations are just some of the things that make him one of the greats.

4) Anil Kumble – 619 wickets

Regarded as one of the best leg spinners in Test cricket history, Anil Kumble was a key cog in the Indian cricket machine during his 18-year spell with the national side.

Nicknamed ‘Jumbo the Great’, the Bangalore-born right-hander succeeded Rahul Dravid as team captain in 2007, the only leg-spin bowler to do so for India.

This decision came just three months before India’s third Test against Australia at the WACA in Perth, a match, like the previously mentioned Broad, that saw him achieve his 600th Test wicket after Andrew Symonds was caught by Dravid at first slip.

Following 132 matches and 6808 overs, Jumble called time on his international Test career in 2008 with his everlasting presence in Test cricket stamped on the game.

3) James Anderson – 704 wickets

Another member of the English bowling hall of fame, James Anderson has been one of the most recognisable Test swing bowlers of the last two decades thanks to his 704 wickets from a staggering 188 matches, the most games played of anyone in the top 10 Test wicket-takers.

During his 350 innings, ‘Jimmy’ became a feared opponent to stare down from the other end of the wicket and his bowling attack partnership with Stuart Broad led to England picking up vital wickets in games.

It was on his debut against Zimbabwe in 2003 that the English cricket faithful immediately fell in love with Anderson’s frosted tips and mountain of swing as the fast bowler went 5-73 in his opening innings, four of which were pearlers that clattered the pegs.

Since then, as they say, the rest is history and Anderson is certainly one of the greatest players to ever bowl in front of the Barmy Army.

2) Shane Warne – 708 wickets

As a man who broke the skill of spin bowling into the mainstream picture of sport, Shane Warne was a man who will be remembered as an all-time legend of cricket.

With 708 wickets to his name from 145 matches and 6784 overs bowled, ‘Warnie’ was not only a brilliant player on the field, but he was a fantastic pundit and commentator away from the grass as well. He’s also remembered for all of his work with the Shane Warne Foundation which assisted with seriously ill and underprivileged children.

His revolutionary leg spin created some memorable moments in the sport’s history; his ‘ball of the century’ to Mike Gatting in the first test of the Ashes versus England and his eight-wicket haul for just 71 runs against the same nation later that decade perfectly demonstrates this point.

His legacy in Australian sport and Test match cricket will never be forgotten thanks to his actions at the crease and his incredible work off it as well.

1) Muttiah Muralitharan – 800 wickets

However, despite the great efforts of the four already-mentioned players, Muttiah Muralitharan tops this list with his huge wicket total of 800 for Sri Lanka.

Averaging over six wickets per Test match, ‘Murali’ held the number one spot in the ICC player rankings for Test bowlers for 1,711 days, a period that spanned 214 Test matches.

The right-arm bowler was known for his unique ‘fling’ of the ball from his wrist, wrong-footing any batter that stepped onto his wicket, a devastating weapon that propelled Sri Lanka to Cricket World Cup glory in 1996.

Looking back at his illustrious career, the 10-wicket match of 2006 against England was a display of Muralitharan at his peak to send player after player back into the changing rooms at Edgbaston.

Muralitharan was a brilliant player to watch, and it will take a long time to see his 800-wicket record ousted at the top.