Bowlers With 100 Wickets In WTC: The World Test Championship (WTC) has invoked interest among fans. We are currently in the third cycle of the WTC. There have been many great sights about this championship. The idea that the two best teams will contest for the prize in a mega final after a 2-year cycle is quite novel. Teams were earlier regarded based on their ICC rankings but the WTC is a better validator of a team’s standing.
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In this article, we look at Bowlers With 100 Wickets In WTC in the WTC so far:
#8 James Anderson – 100
The veteran seamer has been below par in the first two Ashes Tests. James Anderson’s high standards seem to have finally caught up with age also playing a part. Nonetheless, the seamer has picked up 100 wickets in 29 WTC games at an average of 21.69. It will be interesting to see if he gets another chance in the Ashes to add to his quota.
#7 Kagiso Rabada – 104
The South African speedster is a generational talent. He continues to put up amazing numbers in the longest format of the game. Kagiso Rabada is a proven performer across conditions. He has already pocketed 104 wickets in 23 games at an average of 23.30. His strike rate of 41.22 is easily the best on this list.
#6 Tim Southee – 106
He is a tireless bowler who keeps running day in and day out for his country. Tim Southee is one of the most underrated bowlers of the current generation. His skill level is up there with the best in the business. The New Zealand pacer has picked 106 WTC wickets in 24 games at an average of 26.15. His 6 5-wicket hauls are third-best on this list.
#5 Mitchell Starc – 112
He showed his value in the second and third Ashes Tests after being dropped for the first Test. Mitchell Starc’s Test numbers don’t get appreciated enough for what he has done in ODI cricket. He has been a terrific performer in the longer format too. Starc has grabbed 112 wickets in 29 WTC games at an average of 26.09.
#4 Stuart Broad – 128
He continues to get better with every passing year. Stuart Broad keeps putting the age discussion on the back burner with one impressive performance after another. He has been England’s best bowler across the first 3 Tests in Ashes 2023. Broad has claimed 128 wickets in 31 WTC games at a solid average of 23.46. His strike rate of 46.65 is the third-best on this list.
#3 Ravichandran Ashwin – 137*
(* -> currently playing a Test match)
His omission from India’s playing XI in the 2023 WTC Final became a huge subject of debate. Ravichandran Ashwin has been India’s best bowler in the WTC. He has picked 137 wickets in 28 WTC Tests at an outstanding average of 19.73. Ashwin’s average is the best on the list. His strike rate of 46.33 is the second-best behind Rabada. Ashwin’s 7 5-wicket hauls are also the second-best on this list.
#2 Pat Cummins – 142
He is arguably the numero uno Test seamer of this generation. Pat Cummins is a tremendous athlete who keeps bowling with the same zest in all spells throughout the day. The Australian captain has picked the second most number of wickets in the WTC with 142 scalps to his name in 33 Tests. There is every possibility of him topping this chart at the end of the 5-match Ashes series.
#1 Nathan Lyon – 153
He is a big reason why Australia ended up winning the 2023 WTC. Nathan Lyon is a performer par excellence who has proven himself in all conditions. For someone who revels in the traditional art of spin bowling, Lyon is a master of his craft. He tops the wicket-taking charts in WTC with 153 wickets in 36 games. His 9 5-wicket hauls are two clear of the next-best Ashwin.
