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Bowlers with 500 or more wickets in Tests
Ravichandran Ashwin became one of the fewest bowlers to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game. The Indian spinner reached the milestone in his 98th Test match. The right-arm off-spinner bowled a full-length delivery to Zack Crawley. The England opener tried to sweep the ball. In the process, he edged one onto the fine leg region, where Rajat Patidar made no mistakes to get hold of the ball.
It was a great moment for the Indian spinner who became the second Indian bowler to claim 500 or more wickets in Tests. There were no big celebrations from the 37-year-old who became one of the fastest bowlers to reach the milestone. Likewise, many other bowlers have reached the milestone in the past. It is indeed a great achievement, as only a handful of them have been able to get to the milestone.
Here are the bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game.
Also check: Three batters in current times who have scored hundreds for fun in international cricket
9. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
Ravichandran Ashwin became the ninth bowler in the history of the game to claim 500 or more wickets in Tests. The Indian spinner took 98 matches to get to the milestone. He became just the second Indian bowler to claim 500 wickets in the format. He has claimed them at a very good bowling average of 23.88 so far. He will be looking forward to claiming more wickets for the rest of the year.
8. Nathan Lyon (Australia)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
Nathan Lyon recently achieved the milestone. The right-arm off-spinner became the third Australian bowler to claim 500 or more wickets in the format. In 127 matches, Lyon has claimed 517 wickets in his career so far. Given the fact that Australia plays a lot of Tests in future, he can soon claim 600 or more wickets in his career. At the moment, Lyon averages 30.73 in the longest format of the game.
7. Courtney Walsh (West Indies)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
Courtney Walsh is the only West Indian bowler to be on the list. The former WI pacer was the first-ever bowler to claim 500 or more wickets in Tests. The right-arm pacer was brilliant with the ball whenever he bowled. He claimed 519 wickets in his career in 132 matches at a bowling average of 24.45. The longevity of the pacer was of a different level for his time, which was appreciated by the fans and experts.
6. Glenn McGrath (Australia)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
Glenn McGrath was the second pacer to claim 500 or more wickets in Tests. McGrath was synonymous with accuracy and often operated without giving any room for the batters. The right-arm pacer played 124 matches and claimed 563 wickets at a terrific bowling average of 21.64. McGrath was a bowler for all sorts of conditions and claimed wickets for fun on some of the flattest pitches in the world.
5. Stuart Broad (England)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
Stuart Broad retired from the format after the Ashes 2023 against Australia. In his very last match, Broad was at his best and ended up claiming his 600th wicket in the format. In the process, Broad became only the fifth bowler and the 2nd English bowler to claim 600 or more wickets in Tests. In 167 matches, Broad ended up with 604 wickets to his name at a bowling average of 27.68.
4. Anil Kumble (India)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
Anil Kumble has the greatest number of wickets for India in the longest format of the game. The leg-spinner was one of his kind, who did not rely much on spin to claim wickets. His change-ups and usage of height alone troubled the batters. In 132 matches for India, Kumble claimed 619 wickets at a bowling average of 29.65. Despite not getting much help from the other end, Kumble claimed 619 wickets.
3. James Anderson (England)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
James Anderson has the greatest number of wickets for a pacer in Tests. The second-best pacer in this regard is miles behind him. At the age of 41, Anderson is looking good and hungry for more. The English pacer has 696 wickets to his name at the moment and is a few wickets away from becoming the only pacer to claim 700 Test wickets. Jimmy has played 185 matches in the format with a bowling average of 26.40.
2. Shane Warne (Australia)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
Shane Warne was the leading wicket-taker in Tests at one point. The orthodox leg spinner is termed to be the ‘King of spin’ for his ability to spin the ball miles. He is the second-highest wicket-taker in the longest format of the game for now. In 145 matches, Warne claimed a whopping 708 wickets at a good bowling average of 25.42. He claimed most of them against the top sides in the world.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
The bowlers who have managed to claim 500 or more wickets in the longest format of the game (Source: X)
Muttiah Muralitharan is way too far ahead of everyone in terms of the number of Test wickets. The former Sri Lankan spinner is the only bowler to claim 800 or more wickets in Tests. He claimed his last wicket in the format in the very last ball of his career. In 133 Test matches, Muralitharan claimed 800 wickets at a great bowling average of 22.72. He is arguably the greatest bowler of All time.