Top 10: Most Wickets In All Formats

The world of cricket is full of records and achievements that are remarkable and inspiring. Among them, the title of the cricketer with the most wickets in all formats—Test, ODI, and T20—is particularly prestigious.

This post discusses the top ten wicket-takers in all three formats of International cricket.

Most Wickets in International Cricket

The List Of Players With the Most Wickets in International Cricket

Some of the cricketers with the most wickets in Test, ODI, and T20 formats are Muthiah Muralidaran, Dale Steyn, and Anil Kumble. Muralidaran holds the record for most wickets in Test cricket with the highest aggregate of 800 wickets, while Steyn of South Africa is the record holder in ODI cricket with 439 wickets.

The most successful Indian fast bowler in terms of test wickets is Kapil Dev, who has taken 434 wickets.

Muttiah Muralitharan(SL): 1347 Wickets

In 1992, Muttiah Muralitharan played his first test for the Sri Lanka team against Australia. Among all bowlers in the world, he possessed a remarkable bowling technique. Muralitharan has 18 years of test cricket experience.

At Galle, where he played his final game against India, the right arm spin bowler took eight wickets. Muralitharan has taken the most number of wickets in test cricket history, one of the most loved formats. In 133 test matches, he took 800 test wickets, including 67 fifers.

He has 67 wickets, more than any other bowler in test cricket.  Almost all batsmen in the world had difficulty overcoming him.

Shane Warne(AUS): 1001 Wickets

The world has never seen a leg spinner as good as Shane Warne. Shane Warne, dubbed “The King of Spin,” comes second for taking the most wickets in international cricket.

Warne became the second bowler in International cricket history to collect 1000 wickets total after claiming 1001 wickets in 339 games. Warne has ten ten-fers and 38 fifers.

He was the one who had the power to spin the ball anywhere in the field. In 1992, Shane Warne faced off against India in his debut test match. In his first game, he only recorded one wicket. But nobody knew that this player could finish his career with more than 700 wickets.

Also Read: Most Runs in 2021 in all formats combined

James Anderson(ENG): 962 Wickets

England’s James Anderson is third in wicket-taking in international cricket, with 962 wickets in 390 games.

In 2003 against Zimbabwe, James Anderson made his test cricket debut. He is renowned for his ball-swinging skills. He is known as the “Swing King,” as he can swing the ball 135 kilometers per hour in both directions while making the batsmen squirm.

Despite being 40 years old, the fast bowler can still play cricket because of his incredible athleticism. With almost 670 wickets in tests, the Lancashire icon leads the pacer wicket-takers.

Anil Kumble(IND): 956 Wickets

Legendary Indian fast bowler Anil Kumble is listed in fourth position. In 1990, Kumble faced England in his first Test match. He has 18 years of experience playing test cricket for India.

Kumble used to confuse the batsmen with twists while playing at the fastest pace. Nobody ever knew if Kumble spun the ball or kept it straight, making him one of the greatest ballers of all time.

The Indian spinner Kumble has taken 619 wickets in 132 test matches, making him the fourth-greatest wicket-taker in his test career and the top wicket-taker for India. He has 35 five-wicket hauls in the game’s longest format. His final match came in 2008 against Australia.

Glenn McGrath(AUS): 949 Wickets

Mcgrath leads the Australian fast bowlers with the most wickets. The former cricketing icon from Australia played 14 years of test format cricket.

In 1993, Glenn faced up against New Zealand in his first test. The line, length, and swing of Mcgrath are well appreciated. He has taken wickets everywhere he has played. In 124 test matches, McGrath took 563 wickets, surpassing the five wicket threshold 29 times.

Of the top 10 biggest wicket-takers, he has the highest bowling average (21.6).

Wasim Akram (PAK): 916 Wickets

Wasim Akram, a former captain of Pakistan and 1992 World Cup champion, is an excellent bowler. Akram took 916 international wickets during a nearly two-decade professional life, making him one of the game’s all-time best fast bowlers.

When Miandad first noticed Akram during a session in Lahore when he was 18, he was a relatively unknown player.

Akram was offered the opportunity to bowl to Miandad, the then-captain of Pakistan, in the Gaddafi Stadium.   Akram’s ability to swing the ball and pace caught Miandad’s notice. He was granted his international debut on Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand (NZ) in 1985, which marked the beginning of his cricket career.

Shaun Pollock (SA): 829 Wickets

Shaun Pollock is one of the most talented fast bowlers that South Africa has ever produced. He took up to 829 wickets for the Proteas while playing 108 Tests, 303 ODIs, and 12 T20 Internationals.

In the lower order, he was more than just a helpful batter; he ended up amassing more than 7000 runs. When Pollock made his ODI debut in 1996, his all-around abilities were on display.

Stuart Broad (Eng): 809 Wickets

Stuart Broad, the son of retired English cricketer and current match referee Chris Broad, made his international cricket debut for England in 2007. The English paceman faced Sri Lanka in his first test match.

Broad, a strong medium pacer, has consistently performed well for England with the red ball. The Nottingham-born cricketer now ranks fifth for most wicket takers with 566, including 18 fifers, from 159 matches in which he has played for England.

Waqar Younis (PAK): 789 Wickets

The former captain of Pakistan is regarded as one of the best fast bowlers and has the record of the most wicket takers. He took 789 international wickets throughout his stellar cricket career and was best renowned for his excellent yorkers.

Waqar Younis was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1992, and in 2013, he was welcomed into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Younis also won the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second-highest civilian honor.

Chaminda Vaas (SL): 761 Wickets

Vaas, a famous bowler for Sri Lanka, concluded his career with 761 wickets in International competitions. He is one of just four bowlers to have 400 ODI wickets. And even today, more than 20 years after the accomplishment, he has the top ODI bowling statistics.

Vaas played 111 Tests and 332 ODIs for Sri Lanka during a 15-year career, taking 761 wickets overall. Vaas currently hold the most excellent bowling numbers in ODIs against Zimbabwe.

Conclusion

Cricket has been a significant sport in many countries for centuries. Every cricket fan looks for new records set in International cricket.

With the rise of international cricket, the records for most wickets in all formats have been broken multiple times. These players are considered among the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket.