Most Test wickets: After the retirement of James Anderson, an era of Test cricket has ended. James Anderson played 188 matches and took 704 wickets during his 21-year Test career. He is at third place in terms of taking most Test wickets. Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne are among the top-2 bowlers who have taken the most wickets in Test cricket. Muralitharan was an off-spinner for Sri Lanka, who took 800 wickets in 133 matches, and Shane Warne was a leg-spinner for Australia, who took 708 wickets in 145 matches.
In this way, the top-2 positions taking the most wickets are occupied by the spinners. England’s fast bowler James Anderson is such a bowler who has registered the presence of a fast bowler amidst the dominance of spinners at the top. After Anderson, who is in third place, comes India’s Anil Kumble. Leg spinner Anil Kumble has taken 619 wickets in 132 Test matches and is placed at fourth position.
After this, the names of two fast bowlers come at fifth and sixth position. Stuart Broad of England is in fifth place with 604 wickets in 167 matches. If we talk only about the top-5, then spinners dominate, whose number is three here.
Australian legend Glenn McGrath is at sixth position with 563 wickets in 124 Test matches. After this comes Australia’s current off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who has taken 530 wickets in 129 matches. Former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh is at 8th position with 519 wickets in 132 Test matches.
At number 9 is India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has taken 516 wickets in 100 test matches. Ashwin and Lyon are active players and their number of wickets is expected to increase.
At number 10 is former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn, who has taken 439 wickets in 93 Test matches. In the list from sixth to 10th, fast bowlers outweigh the spinners. There are three pacers and two spinners here. In such a situation, if we look at the entire top-10 list, the number of spinners and fast bowlers in it is equal to 5-5.