In the history of cricket, many records have been made and many records have also been broken. There are many fans of cricket worldwide, who fill stadiums to watch these matches. Every player in cricket is the best in his own right, that is why he has a lot of fans.
Till now, lakhs of matches have been played in the history of cricket, and many records have also been made. Today we are going to discuss the Highest wicket-taker in All Formats. We are going to tell you in detail about the world’s best wicket-taker and other players like him. So if you are a cricket lover then read this post till the end.
| Player | Duration | Wickets | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muralitharan (SL) | 1992-2011 | 13,474 | 9/51 |
| SK Warne (Aus) | 1992-2007 | 10,013 | 8/71 |
| JM Anderson (Eng) | 2002-2023 | 9,739 | 7/42 |
| Anil Kumble (Ind) | 1990-2008 | 9,564 | 10/74 |
| GD McGrath (Aus) | 1993-2007 | 9,473 | 8/24 |
| Wasim Akram (Pak) | 1994-2003 | 9,164 | 7/119 |
| SCJ Broad (Eng) | 2006-2023 | 8,473 | 8/15 |
| SM Pollock (SA) | 1995-2008 | 8,294 | 7/87 |
| Waqar Younis (Pak) | 1989-2003 | 7,893 | 7/36 |
| Chaminda Vaas (SL) | 1994-2009 | 7,614 | 8/19 |
| CA Walsh (WI) | 1984-2001 | 7,463 | 7/37 |
| TG Southee (NZ) | 2008-2023 | 7,283 | 7/33 |
| B Lee (Aus) | 1999-2012 | 7,183 | 5/22 |
| R Ashwin (Ind) | 2010-2023 | 7,162 | 7/59 |
| Harbhajan Singh (Ind) | 1998-2016 | 7,113 | 8/84 |
| DL Vettori (NZ) | 1997-2015 | 7,054 | 7/87 |
Key Elements
Most Test Wickets in Career: Top Cricket Player List
Muthiah Muralitharan is a right-arm spin bowler who holds the record of highest wicket-taker. Talking about his record, he took 800 wickets in 133 matches. And in all time he has taken 1345 wickets and that too in 495 matches. He holds the record for the most number of 5-wicket and 10-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
This performance of Muttiah proves that he is the all-time greatest bowler in the world. Because he has proved that in his performance. He also has the record of most wickets in ODI in his name in which he has taken 534 wickets.
In the match against India in 2010, he took a total of 8 wickets, after which the record of his first 800 wickets of all time was made. Due to his outstanding performance, he is also called the “God of Bowling”.
Muttiah Muralitharan has taken 1345 wickets in 445 matches
The first name that comes in the list of highest wicket-takers in all formats in cricket is that of Sri Lanka’s famous versatile player Muttiah Muralitharan. He has blown away the stumps of many batsmen with his amazing bowling. And has prevented many matches from being won.
In his entire career, he has taken approximately 1345 wickets in 445 matches. In cricket, like a batsman, the importance of a better bowler is very high, because these are the two parts of a match that can change the game from defeat to victory and from victory to defeat with their skill ina moment.
Muttiah Muralitharan has been a part of the Sri Lankan cricket team since 1992 and he was a part of this team till 2011. He was the only player who had no break in bowling, hence he is also considered the greatest bowler in cricket history.
He has many records in his name in bowling, like he has taken a total of 800 wickets in test matches, which is the highest in the record so far. The record of most wickets in ODI is also in the name of Muttiah Muralitharan.
Muralitharan is a well-trained player, who has made himself perfect in bowling. He was a right-arm off-spinner, who bowled each ball after understanding the batsman’s playing pattern.
There was accuracy, variation, and perfection in each of his bowls. He used to deliver his bowl in different ways on the pitch, due to which the batsman could not know his exact pattern and he got out. Muralitharan used to observe such a smart strategy in his bowling, due to which he is a great player today.
But with time, some other better bowlers have also come forward who are trying to break Muralitharan’s records. This record may also be broken in the future. Australian bowler Shane Warne also comes after Muralitharan as the Highest wicket-taker in All Formats.
He has taken 949 wickets so far. But right now he is not a part of any team, because he has taken retirement. Therefore, till now the record of the highest wicket-taker in All Formats is in the name of Muralitharan.
The players of the young generation do not have the energy that was seen in the earlier players, so perhaps it may take a lot of time for this record to be broken.
Shane Warne has taken 708 Wickets in 145 Matches
The next name comes after Muthiah Muralitharan. Shane Warne is known for his redefining leg spin bowling. This Australian bowler has taken the 2nd highest wickets in Test matches. He has made a world record of a total of 708 wickets in 145 matches.
His leg-break variations are considered to be the most unique because no batsman could understand his pattern quickly. He played his last match against England in 2007, after which he took retirement.
James Anderson has taken 690 Wickets in 183 Matches
After this, the third name is included in this list, that of James Anderson. He is an England player. He is known as the best swing bowler in the world. This is because this ball can swing in any direction on the pitch at any time.
His style of bowling was such that the batsman got confused and could not hit the ball as he wanted. Due to this unique pattern of James, he was also called “swing king”, because no one knows when and how the ball will swing from his hands.
Anderson has taken 690 wickets in 183 matches in his entire cricket career. Which is the record for third-highest wickets in test cricket. He is the only bowler who has taken 600 test wickets with two-pace bowling. It has been a part of test matches since 2003.
Anil Kumble has taken 619 Wickets in 132 Matches
India’s leading test wicket taker Anil Kumble is in fourth place. This is an excellent player who has taken 619 wickets in a total of 182 test matches in his cricket career of 18 years. Which is almost half of Muralitharan’s wicket record.
The specialty of his bowling was that he used to bowl very fast. When he used to bowl at a speed of 100km/hrs, the first fear would arise in the mind of the batsman that the ball might hit him. That’s why batsmen used to bat with a focus on their bowling. If the focus was disturbed then the wicket was decided.
Stuart Broad has taken 604 Wickets in 167 Matches
Coming last on our list is Stuart Broad, son of former cricketer Chris Broad. He started his cricket career in 2007. Till now he has played a total of 167 test matches in which he has taken 604 wickets. He is the second fast bowler to take 600 test wickets in SBS at one time.
He is the all-time Highest wicket-taker in All Formats. But apart from these, some new players have taken the highest wickets. Let’s take a look at them.
New cricket players
Ravichandran Ashwin is a well-known player on the Indian cricket team. He is a world-class off-spinner and is the number one best bowler in the ICC test rankings. He also comes in the list of highest wicket-takers in all formats.
Because he has taken 709 wickets so far. In the coming time, Ashwin can break the record of old wicket-takers in all formats and become the best bowler in the world. But this may take some more time.
After Ashwin, some other players have taken 600 wickets. Whose name –
- Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 606 wickets
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 603 wickets
- Mohammed Shami (India) – 601 wickets
Above we told you about the best performances of those players who have taken maximum wickets in all formats like Test, ODI, and T20Is. But if we talk only about the test match, then Sri Lankan player Muralitharan has taken the most wickets in it.
FAQs
In test cricket, who has taken the most wickets?
M. Muralitharan, a former Sri Lankan bowler, holds the record for the most wickets in test cricket, securing 800 in his career from 1992 to 2010.
Who crossed 500 wickets first in Test cricket?
Courtney Walsh became the first bowler to achieve 500 wickets in Test cricket history, with six more bowlers following suit.
Who has the most wickets among quick bowlers?
James Anderson is the fastest bowler to have the most wickets in test cricket, having taken 689 wickets in 182 matches as of July 23, 2023.
In Test cricket, who all claimed 10 wickets?
In Test cricket, England’s Jim Laker (1956), India’s Anil Kumble (1999), and New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel (2021) have all taken 10 wickets in an inning.
Who in Test cricket took the fastest 450 wickets?
Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and Ravichandran Ashwin are the fastest bowlers to reach 450 test wickets, with Muralitharan reaching the mark in 80 Tests and Ashwin in 89 Tests.
