Test cricket has seen some magical bowlers perform in all sorts of conditions, but there are a few who are better than the rest.
As it stands, these are the top ten Test wicket takers in men’s cricket, and some of them are unlikely to ever be caught.
On the current list, two are still playing, five are seamers and five are spin bowlers.
England’s James Anderson is the latest player to retire after an astounding career.
In total, these ten individuals have taken over 6,000 wickets and even the best batters of our time haven’t been able to cope.
Top ten Test wicket takers of all time
10. Dale Steyn [South Africa] 2004-2019 – 93 Tests, 171 innings – 439 wickets
Steyn is South Africa‘s most successful Test bowler and regularly delivered balls at over 90mph, making him almost impossible to play against when on form.
His best figures read 7/51, and his average per wicket is 22.95, which is one of the best on this list.
Unfortunately, Steyn retired from Test cricket a couple of years before packing in all forms due to a shoulder injury, but he will always be his country’s best fast bowler.
9. Courtney Walsh [West Indies] 1984-2001 – 132 Tests, 242 innings – 519 wickets
Walsh was born in Jamaica and was one half of the deadliest bowling attack ever alongside Curtly Ambrose.
The fast bowler was aggressive and helped the West Indies dominate batters for years; however, with the bat himself, he was hopeless.
But that doesn’t matter when you can bowl like Walsh, who became the first bowler in Test history to pass 500 wickets in 2001.
8. Nathan Lyon [Australia] 2011-present – 129 Tests, 242 innings – 530 wickets
Lyon, affectionally known as Gary to his teammates, is Australia’s second-greatest spin bowler.
Only the mighty Shane Warne has taken more Test scalps than Lyon, who continues to be a crucial part of Australia‘s team.
His best figures read 8/50, while he’s claimed 24 five-wicket hauls, which is more than Walsh, so he’s doing something right.
7. Ravichandran Ashwin [India] 2011-present – 105 Tests, 199 innings – 536 wickets
Incredibly, Ashwin isn’t the top Indian spinner on this list, but he’s still a modern-day legend.
He just recently celebrated his 100th Test in the series against England and also passed the 500-wicket mark in those matches.
Ashwin is simply a master in home conditions and has found ways to get the top batters of this generation out time and time again.
6. Glenn McGrath [Australia] 1993-2007 – 124 Tests, 243 innings – 563 wickets
McGrath made a career out of being one of the most consistent bowlers we’ve ever seen, who could hit the same line and length with nearly every delivery.
He played for a couple of the best Aussie teams in Test history and could play in all conditions.
McGrath will likely remain Australia’s best-ever seam bowler, with it unclear how anyone could catch his record.
5. Stuart Broad [England] 2007-2023 – 167 Tests, 309 innings – 604 wickets
Broad, along with James Anderson, formed one half of England‘s opening bowling attack for years.
The tall bowler was a master in English conditions and could produce match-winning spells out of nowhere.
His best figures of 8/15 in the 2015 Ashes at Trent Bridge are better than the majority of the other ridiculously good bowlers on this list, showing just how special that spell was.
4. Anil Kumble [India] 1990-2008 – 132 Tests, 236 innings – 619 wickets
Kumble is the second Indian spinner on this list, but he’s unlikely to be caught by Ashwin anytime soon, given he got well over 600 Test wickets.
He was a sublime spinner, who destroyed the best attacks in the world regularly.
In February 1999, he also claimed all ten wickets in an innings of a Test match against Pakistan, which is a feat no one else on this list ever achieved.
3. James [Jimmy] Anderson [England] 2003-2024- 188 Tests, 350 innings – 704 wickets
You don’t need to say much more about Anderson other than he’s the best seam bowler of all time.
No one else can match his longevity or knack of taking wickets in all conditions.
The England star represented his country for 21 years and signed off with four wickets in his final Test.
No seamer comes close to his wicket tally, and it’s unlikely anyone will get remotely close.
2. Shane Warne [Australia] 1992-2007 – 145 Tests, 273 innings – 708 wickets
Warne was different to other cricketers and enjoyed a pretty crazy personal life, while he was liked everywhere he went.
The Aussie was part of some of the greatest sides we’ve ever seen and was a special bowler.
His ‘Ball of the Century’ to Mike Gatting in 1993 was just one sensational moment across an incredible career.
Sadly, he passed away in 2022 at the age of just 52.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan [Sri Lanka] 1992-2010 – 133 Tests, 230 innings – 800 wickets
It’s hard to see how anyone will ever catch Muralitharan at the top of the Test wicket list because he’s so far ahead of the rest.
Across his career, he claimed 67 five-wicket hauls and averaged just 22.72 runs per wicket taken.
Muralitharan could swing any Test with his magical ability to take wickets, and he’s rightly at the top.
