Over the years, batters have wreaked havoc over the bowlers, but Test cricket is one format where bowlers have a fair say. Taking 20 wickets of the opponent requires skills and dedication; however, a few bowlers have that sort of mastery.
We have seen bowlers like Muthiah Muralidaran, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath who have dominated their opponents and bagged many wickets.
Now, James Anderson, Nathan Lyon, and Ravi Ashwin are following in the footsteps of these greats.
In this article, take a look at the top 10 active players with the most wickets in Test cricket.
Most Wickets by Active Players in Test Cricket
| Player | Wickets | Innings | BBI | Avg | 5W Haul |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Lyon (AUS) | 530 | 242 | 8/50 | 30.28 | 24 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) | 516 | 189 | 7/59 | 23.75 | 36 |
| Tim Southee (NZ) | 380 | 190 | 7/64 | 29.61 | 15 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 358 | 170 | 6/50 | 27.74 | 14 |
| Ravindra Jadeja (IND) | 294 | 136 | 7/42 | 24.13 | 13 |
| Kagiso Rabada (SA) | 291 | 112 | 7/112 | 22.05 | 14 |
| Josh Hazlewood (AUS) | 273 | 132 | 6/67 | 24.82 | 12 |
| Kemar Roach (WI) | 270 | 147 | 6/48 | 27.74 | 11 |
| Pat Cummins (AUS) | 269 | 115 | 6/23 | 22.53 | 12 |
| Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) | 237 | 113 | 7/36 | 31.16 | 19 |
Key Insights
The experienced English pacer, James Anderson, is still going strong and nearing the 700 wickets mark. Once he scalps 700 wickets, he will become only the third bowler after Muthiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne to go past the milestone.
Nathan Lyon became the 8th bowler to grab 500 wickets in the Test format. The Australian spinning maestro achieved this feat in December 2023 during the first Test match against Pakistan as he trapped Faheem Ashraf LBW.
Another off spinner from India, Ravichandran Ashwin, is in the quest of breaching the 500-wicket landmark to join the elite list. Apart from that, Ashwin has the most five-wicket hauls in Tests among the active players.
Other active players like Mohammed Shami, Ben Stokes, and Taijul Islam are in the offing to rise up the ranks and trouble the batters.
