Test cricket is the best form of cricket. The joy of watching bowlers set up batsmen with pure skill is a visceral delight. Even though it’s the batsmen who walk away with the laurels most of the time, it’s the bowlers who win the matches. They run in all day to help their team win games of cricket. Top 5 active bowlers with most wickets in Test Cricket. From the era of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to the era of Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, bowlers have always had their say.
StumpsandBails looks at the top 5 active bowlers with most Test wickets:
#5 Nathan Lyon-399
It was widely expected that Nathan Lyon will cruise past the 400 wicket milestone when India toured Australia down under. But the Indians expertly kept Lyon at bay and he was agonizingly stranded at 399 wickets. This doesn’t take away anything from the modern great. Lyon has been a lynchpin for the Aussies in the past decade. He averages 32.1 and his strike rate of 64.4 is quite decent considering the conditions he bowls in predominantly.
#4 Ravichandran Ashwin-409
Ravichandran Ashwin stunningly overtook Nathan Lyon in the race to 400 Test wickets. He had a stunning series against Australia and England. Ashwin was even awarded the ‘Man of the Series against England. He has been one of the biggest reasons why India has been such a force in Test cricket in the last decade. Ashwin was always criticised for his performance overseas. But he has silenced his critics with game-changing performances overseas in the last couple of series. Ashwin averages a stunning 24.7 and his strike rate of 52.6 is insane. It is easily the best on this list.
#3 Harbhajan Singh-417
Harbhajan Singh was India’s major strike bowler in the early 2000s. He formed a fantastic partnership with Anil Kumble to help India win games. It may take many people by surprise to see Singh’s name on this list. But since he hasn’t announced his retirement, he features in this list. He has 417 Test wickets to his name so far at an average of 32.5 and a strike rate of 68.5.
#2 Stuart Broad-517
The gap between the 2nd and the 3rd ranked number in this list is quite significant. Broad leads Singh by an exact 100 wickets. The lanky England seamer is often unpalatable on helpful conditions. He can singlehandedly run through oppositions on his day. Broad’s career highlight came in the 2015 ashes when he picked up 8-15 to demolish Australia for 60. He has picked 517 wickets at an average of 27.7 and a strike rate of 56.7.
#1 James Anderson-614
James Anderson can be compared to fine wine. He keeps getting better with age. Anderson has picked 614 wickets in 160 games at an average of 26.5 and a strike rate of 55.9. He has the most Test wickets as a fast bowler in cricket history. Anderson and Broad have formed a devastating pair. His skill is incomparable and his tenacity has kept him going for more than 15 years now. The legend is just 6 short of overtaking Anil Kumble’s (619) record. The 700 mark will be his next target.
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