Top 9 highest wicket-takers in Test cricket history

Test cricket is the longest format of the game of cricket, and it has been played for over a century now. The game has seen some of the greatest bowlers of all time, who have taken hundreds of wickets in their careers. In this article, we will look at the top 9 highest wicket-takers in Test cricket history, their achievements, and what made them legends of the game.

Muttiah Muralitharan - 800 wickets

Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan spin wizard, is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history. He played for Sri Lanka between 1992 and 2010, and in that period, he took a staggering 800 wickets in 133 matches. He was known for his unorthodox bowling action and his ability to spin the ball both ways. Muralitharan's most famous delivery was his doosra, which he could bowl with amazing accuracy.

Muralitharan had an incredible record against all the top cricket-playing nations, and he was especially effective against England and South Africa. He had 67 five-wicket hauls and 22 ten-wicket hauls in his Test career, and he was a key member of Sri Lanka's World Cup-winning team in 1996.

Shane Warne - 708 wickets

Shane Warne, the Australian leg-spinner, is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He played for Australia between 1992 and 2007, and in that period, he took 708 wickets in 145 matches. He was known for his immense skill and his ability to turn the ball sharply. Warne's most famous delivery was his 'ball of the century' against England in the 1993 Ashes series, which turned sharply to dismiss Mike Gatting.

Warne was a master of deception, and he could deceive even the most experienced batsmen with his flight and variations. He had 37 five-wicket hauls and 10 ten-wicket hauls in his Test career, and he was a key member of Australia's World Cup-winning team in 1999.

Anil Kumble - 619 wickets

Anil Kumble, the Indian leg-spinner, is the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history. He played for India between 1990 and 2008, and in that period, he took 619 wickets in 132 matches. He was known for his accuracy and his ability to bowl long spells without losing his line or length. Kumble's most famous delivery was his perfect 10 against Pakistan in 1999, where he took all ten wickets in a single innings.

Kumble was a fierce competitor, and he never gave up even in the toughest of situations. He had 35 five-wicket hauls and 8 ten-wicket hauls in his Test career, and he was a key member of India's World Cup and Champions Trophy-winning teams.

James Anderson - 623 wickets (ongoing)

James Anderson, the English pace bowler, is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history. He has been playing for England since 2003, and in that period, he has taken 623 wickets in 165 matches (as of April 2023). Anderson is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, and he is a master of reverse swing. Anderson's most famous delivery was his out-swinger to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar in 2011.

Anderson is a workhorse, and he can bowl long spells without losing his accuracy or pace. He has 31 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket

Glenn McGrath (563 wickets)

Glenn McGrath was one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He made his debut for Australia in 1993 and played his last Test match in 2007. McGrath was known for his accuracy and his ability to extract bounce from the pitch. He was a key member of the Australian team that dominated world cricket during the 1990s and 2000s.

Courtney Walsh (519 wickets)

Courtney Walsh is the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies in Test cricket, with 519 wickets to his name. He made his debut for the West Indies in 1984 and played his last Test match in 2001. Walsh was a tall fast bowler who relied on his accuracy and his ability to extract bounce from the pitch. He formed a formidable bowling partnership with Curtly Ambrose for the West Indies during the 1990s.

Stuart Broad (576 wickets)

Stuart Broad is currently the second-highest wicket-taker for England in Test cricket, with 576 wickets to his name. He made his debut for England in 2007 and has been a consistent performer for his team ever since. Broad is a fast bowler who can swing the ball both ways and also has a

Stuart Broad is a professional cricketer from England who is known for his fast bowling abilities. He made his Test debut for England in December 2007, against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Since then, he has become a regular member of the England Test team and has played in numerous matches.

Broad has had a successful Test career, taking over 576 wickets as of march 2023. He is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and generate bounce off the pitch. Broad has been a key member of the England bowling attack for over a decade and has formed successful partnerships with other fast bowlers like James Anderson.

Some of Broad's notable performances in Test cricket include his 8 wickets for 15 runs against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2015, which is the second-best bowling figures in Test history. He also played a vital role in England's victory in the 2010-11 Ashes series in Australia, where he took 23 wickets.

In addition to his Test career, Broad has also played One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for England. He was part of the England team that won the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Overall, Stuart Broad is considered one of England's greatest ever fast bowlers and his performances in Test cricket have earned him a place in cricketing history.

Nathan Lyon(482 wickets)

  Australian cricketer who is primarily a right-arm off-spinner. He made his Test debut for the Australian cricket team in 2011 and has since become a mainstay of the team's spin bowling attack.

As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023(march)He has 18 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket match haul to his name in Test cricket. 

Lyon is regarded as one of the best spin bowlers in the world, known for his accuracy, control, and ability to extract turn and bounce from the pitch. He has played a key role in Australia's success in Test cricket over the past decade, including their Ashes victories in 2013-14, 2017-18, and the retention of the urn in 2019.

Ravichandran ashwin(474 wickets)

Ashwin made his Test debut against West Indies in November 2011 in Delhi.

- As of my knowledge date of march 2023, he has played 92 Test matches for India and has taken 474 wickets at an average of 24.56. He has taken 30 five-wicket hauls and 7 ten-wicket hauls in his Test career.

- Ashwin is the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 Test wickets, achieving the feat in his 37th Test match. He is also the second-fastest in the world to reach the milestone.

- He has won several awards and accolades for his performances in Test cricket, including the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2016.

- Ashwin has played a key role in many of India's Test victories, particularly in home conditions where he has been particularly effective. He has been a vital cog in India's spin-bowling attack and has helped India win several Test matches both at home and abroad ashwin second highest wicket-taker in indian test cricket history.