Most Wickets in International Cricket
Cricket has always been known as a game dominated via batters, but handiest actual cricket fans recognize that bowlers are the actual in shape-winners. Whether it is the vicious swing of Wasim Akram, the magical spin of Muttiah Muralitharan, or the relentless accuracy of Glenn McGrath—bowlers shape the destiny of cricket suits and frequently determine the path of entire tournaments.
When we speak approximately the most wickets in worldwide cricket, we honor the legends who continuously brought outstanding performances throughout many years. These bowlers mastered a couple of codecs—Test, ODI, and T20I—to grow to be icons of worldwide cricket. Taking wickets at the worldwide stage requires area, technical talent, intense fitness, and mental sturdiness.
In this distinct manual, we can explore:
- Full listing of top wicket-takers
- Records throughout all three formats
- Career insights
- Bowling styles and key achievements
- Format-clever tables
- Extended stats, FAQs, and ancient analysis
What Does ‘Most Wickets in International Cricket’ Mean?
Before diving into the numbers, allow’s apprehend the that means of this file.
A wicket in cricket is claimed when:
- A batsman is bowled
- A batsman is stuck
- LBW
- Run out (not often credited to the bowler)
- Stumped
- Hit wicket
For the “maximum wickets” report, handiest wickets officially credited to the bowler depend. These wickets are collected throughout all three codecs:
- Tests (longest format)
- ODIs (50-over format)
- T20Is (20-over format)
When blended, they constitute the bowler’s total impact in international cricket.
Top 10 Players With Most Wickets in International Cricket (All-Time)
Below is the up to date list of bowlers with the maximum quantity of wickets in all codecs mixed.
Table – Most Wickets in International Cricket (All Formats)
| Rank | Player | Country | Span | Matches | Innings | Total Wickets | Bowling Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 1992–2011 | 495 | 583 | 1347 | Right-arm off-spin |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 1992–2007 | 339 | 410 | 1001 | Right-arm leg-spin |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 2002–2025* | 400+ | 600+ | 987+ | Right-arm fast-medium |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 1990–2008 | 403 | 499 | 956 | Right-arm leg-spin |
| 5 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 1993–2007 | 376 | 493 | 949 | Right-arm fast-medium |
| 6 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 1984–2003 | 460 | 529 | 916 | Left-arm fast |
| 7 | Stuart Broad | England | 2006–2023 | 350 | 440 | 847 | Right-arm fast-medium |
| 8 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 1995–2008 | 423 | 513 | 829 | Right-arm fast-medium |
| 9 | Harbhajan Singh | India | 1998–2016 | 367 | 463 | 711 | Right-arm off-spin |
| 10 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 2004–2020 | 340 | 450 | 546 | Right-arm fast |
(*Anderson’s 2025 profession numbers can also vary as he might also nonetheless play.)
Detailed Analysis of the Top 5 Highest Wicket Takers
1. Muttiah Muralitharan – The Undisputed King of Wickets
Muttiah Muralitharan is the leading wicket-taker of all time with 1347 wickets in international cricket. His mysterious off-spin and the ability to turn the ball on any floor made him nearly unplayable.
Key Highlights of Muralitharan’s Career
- Most wickets in Test cricket: 800
- Most wickets in ODI cricket for Sri Lanka
- Only bowler to take a thousand+ international wickets
- Averaged 6 wickets in line with Test suit
- Took 5-wicket hauls a file seventy seven times
His contention with Shane Warne defined an generation of spin dominance.
2. Shane Warne – The Magician of Leg-Spin
Shane Warne turned into a innovative bowler who revived leg-spin in the modern-day recreation.
Career Highlights
- 2d most worldwide wickets: 1001
- Delivered the “Ball of the Century” in 1993
- Played key roles in Australia’s golden era
- Over seven hundred Test wickets
Warne’s variations—flipper, googly, slider—made him lethal on all surfaces.
3. James Anderson – Fast Bowling Legend
James Anderson is the highest wicket-taking rapid bowler in cricket records.
Career Highlights
- First fast bowler to reach seven-hundred Test wickets
- Master of swing with toughness unrivaled
- Still active in 2025
4. Anil Kumble – India’s Greatest Match Winner
Anil Kumble depended on accuracy and soar in preference to spin.
Key Achievements
- Only bowler after Jim Laker to take 10 wickets in a Test inning
- 956 global wickets
- Big-healthy performer in Asian conditions
5. Glenn McGrath – The Master of Line and Length
Glenn McGrath become recognized for consistency and subject.
Key Stats
- 949 worldwide wickets
- Most wickets by way of a fast bowler in Cricket World Cups
- Bowling common continually underneath 22
Most Wickets Format-Wise
To recognize how those bowlers ruled, allow’s discover every format one at a time.
Most Wickets in Test Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 800 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 708 |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 700+ |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 619 |
| 5 | Stuart Broad | England | 604 |
Most Wickets in ODI Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | ODI Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 534 |
| 2 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 502 |
| 3 | Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 416 |
| 4 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 400 |
| 5 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 395 |
Most Wickets in T20I Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 140+ |
| 2 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 130+ |
| 3 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 140+ |
| 4 | Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 120+ |
| 5 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 107 |
Country-Wise Analysis of Wicket Takers
Different cricket countries produced mythical bowlers who ruled world cricket.
Australia
Australia gave world cricket:
- Shane Warne
- Glenn McGrath
- Brett Lee
- Dennis Lillee
- Mitchell Starc (active)
India
India’s bowling legends include:
- Anil Kumble
- Harbhajan Singh
- Kapil Dev
- Zaheer Khan
- Ravichandran Ashwin (active)
Sri Lanka
Known for producing:
- Muttiah Muralitharan
- Lasith Malinga
- Chaminda Vaas
- Rangana Herath
Pakistan
Famous for swing & tempo:
- Wasim Akram
- Waqar Younis
- Shoaib Akhtar
- Saqlain Mushtaq
Spin vs Pace – Who Took More Wickets?
Historically, spinners have taken extra wickets globally because of:
- Longer spells
- More possibilities in Test cricket
- Wickets-friendly situations in Asia
Muralitharan, Warne, and Kumble – all spinners – dominate the top scores.
Pacers like McGrath, Wasim Akram, and Anderson also secured legendary status.
Most Five-Wicket Hauls in International Cricket
| Player | Country | 5-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 77 |
| Shane Warne | Australia | 48 |
| Richard Hadlee | New Zealand | 41 |
| Anil Kumble | India | 35 |
Most Ten-Wicket Match Hauls in Tests
| Player | Ten-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 22 |
| Shane Warne | 10 |
| Anil Kumble | 8 |
Impact of Records on Modern Cricket
The evolution of cricket formats—specially T20—has impacted bowling considerably.
Key Trends:
- Bowlers now focus extra on versions
- Swing bowlers have become rare
- Wrist spinners are gaining recognition
- Death-over specialists like Starc and Bumrah dominate T20s
Still, Test cricket stays the format wherein bowlers leave their biggest mark.
Future Bowlers Likely to Enter All-Time Top List
Several cutting-edge players may spoil lengthy-status bowling records:
- Jasprit Bumrah (India)
- Pat Cummins (Australia)
- Trent Boult (New Zealand)
- R. Ashwin (India – already close to 500 Test wickets)
FAQs on Most Wickets in International Cricket
Q1: Who has the maximum wickets in international cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan with 1347 wickets.
Q2: Who is the best wicket-taking speedy bowler?
James Anderson (England).
Q3: Who has the most wickets in World Cup records?
Glenn McGrath with 71 wickets.
Q4: Which Indian bowler has the most worldwide wickets?
Anil Kumble with 956.
Q5: Which lively bowler can input the pinnacle three?
James Anderson
Conclusion – Why This Record Matters
The report for the most wickets in worldwide cricket symbolizes toughness, consistency, and excellence. Unlike batting—where one true innings boosts averages—bowling needs constant attempt. These bowlers carried their groups for years, turning in breakthroughs in essential moments.
Players like Muralitharan, Warne, McGrath, Anderson, and Kumble will for all time stay icons of the game.
