Discover the top 10 bowlers with the most international wickets. Explore their exceptional careers and their impact on the cricket world in this concise guide.
Today, several nations play cricket as a sport, and it’s also the national game of many Caribbean nations and Australia. Although fans normally prefer to watch aggressive batting, as cricket is a bat and ball game, the player who throws the ball is equally as essential as the one who strikes with the bat.
However, wickets win matches. The main aim of the bowling side is to take wickets. There are many types of bowling in cricket, like spin, swing and pace. Some bowlers throw the ball with a lightning-fast speed, while others trick the batsman by spinning the bowl.
Players have achieved remarkable success with each type of bowling, and some have even amassed over 1,000 wickets in their careers.
Following is the list of highest wicket-takers in cricket in all formats combined (ODI, Test and T20I).
1). Muttiah Muralitharan
Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is leading the tally with an outstanding number of 1347 wickets. This will be extremely difficult to cross for any bowler in the world. Muttiah Muralitharan played 495 international matches for Sri Lanka (133 tests, 350 ODIs, 12 T20Is). Muralitharan is leading wicket-taker in test and ODI cricket with 800 and 534 wickets, respectively. He has also picked 13 wickets in T20I cricket.
2). Shane Warne
Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne is Australia’s leading wicket-taker in international cricket. Shane Warne was the first ever bowler to breach the 700-mark in test cricket. Shane Warne played 339 international matches for Australia (145 tests, 194 ODIs) and picked up 1001 wickets in his international cricketing career. Warne picked up 708 test wickets and 293 ODI wickets in his career. Sadly, Warne passed away aged 52 in March 2022.
3). James Anderson
England’s leading pace bowler James Anderson is still going strong for his side even after going past 40. James Anderson is England’s leading wicket-taker in test and ODI cricket. Anderson has so far picked up 982 wickets in international cricket in 397 matches for England (184 tests, 194 ODIs, and 19 T20Is). He has picked 695 wickets in test cricket and 269 in ODIs. Anderson played only 19 T20I matches for England and managed to pick 18 scalps in those games for his nation.
4). Anil Kumble
Fondly known as ‘Jumbo,’ Anil Kumble is India’s leading wicket-taker in test and ODI cricket. During his playing career from 1990 to 2008, Anil Kumble picked up 956 wickets in international cricket. Anil Kumble is India’s leading wicket-taker in test cricket with 619 wickets. He is also leading the list of wicket-takers for India in ODI cricket with 337 wickets in 271 matches. Kumble played 132 matches in test cricket.
5). Glenn McGrath
Former Australian pace bowler Glenn McGrath also had a successful cricket career for his national side and picked up 949 international wickets. McGrath played 376 international matches (124 tests, 250 ODIs and two T20Is) for Australia and picked up 949 wickets. Right-arm pacer McGrath took 563 wickets in tests, 381 wickets in ODIs and only five wickets in T20I cricket
6). Wasim Akram
Legendary Pakistan opening bowler Wasim Akram was the highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket for a long time. He retired from ODIs in March 2003 with 502 wickets to his name. The record was broken by Muttiah Muralitharan six lears later in 2009. Sultan of Swing picked up 916 wickets in his international cricket career. Akram played 460 international matches for Pakistan. Akram played 104 test matches and 356 ODI games for his national side. He took 414 wickets in test cricket and he finished with 502 wickets in ODIs.
7). Stuart Broad
English pace bowler Stuart Broad retired from international cricket in 2023. Broad’s last international match was in the Ashes against Australia in 2023. He retired as one of the leading wicket-takers in international cricket. Stuart Broad picked up 847 international cricket in 344 games (167 tests, 121 ODIs and 56 T20Is). Broad’s most number of wickets came in test cricket. He picked up 604 wickets in tests, 178 in ODIs and 65 in T20I in his career.
8). Shaun Pollock
Former South African skipper Shaun Pollock had one of the most impressive cricketing careers. Right-arm medium-pacer Pollock was known for moving the ball both ways and discomfort top-class batters with his bowling throughout his career. He played 423 International matches (108 tests, 303 ODIs and 12 T20Is) for South Africa and picked up 829 international wickets. Pollock picked up 421 wickets in tests, 393 in ODIs and 15 in T20Is.
9).Waqar Younis
Legendary Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis made a deadly duo with Wasim Akram. Right arm pacer Waqar Younis made his international debut for Pakistan in 1989 against India. He went on to play 87 tests and 262 ODIs (349 international matches) for Pakistan before retiring in mid 2003. Waqar Younis scalped 789 International wickets in his career with 373 coming in test cricket and 416 in ODI cricket.
10). Chaminda Vaas
Former Sri Lankan bowler Chaminda Vaas played 111 tests, 322 ODIs and six T20I games (439 international matches) for his country. Vaas picked up 761 wickets in international cricket. Vaas picked up 355 wickets in tests, 400 wickets in ODIs and six wickets in T20I cricket. He represented Sri Lanka for 15 years. Chaminda Vaas was also part of the 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lankan team.
Also read- Top 10 Fastest Bowlers in the world