In the recently concluded first Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Perth, the legendary off-spinner Nathan Lyon completed the milestone of picking 500 wickets in Test cricket. He created history by becoming only the second spinner from Australia after Shane Warne to achieve this remarkable feat.
Here, in this article, we will look at bowlers who have taken more than 500 wickets in Test cricket.
Most wickets in Test Cricket:
- Muralitharan - 800 (230 inns)
- Shane Warne - 708 (273 inns)
- James Anderson - 690 (341 inns)
- Anil Kumble - 619 (236 inns)
- Stuart Broad - 604 (309 inns)
- Glenn McGrath - 563 (243 inns)
- Courtney Walsh - 519 (242 inns)
- Nathan Lyon - 501 (230 inns)
If we look at the above list, eight bowlers have taken more than 500 wickets in Tests.
Ravichandran Ashwin has taken 489 wickets in Test cricket from 178 innings (94 matches) and could join the list soon after the two-match Test series against South Africa.
Most wickets by a spin bowler in Test Cricket:
- Muralitharan - 800 (230 inns)
- Shane Warne - 708 (273 inns)
- Anil Kumble - 619 (236 inns)
- Nathan Lyon - 501 (230 inns)
- Ravichandran Ashwin - 489 (178 inns)
Nathan Lyon has taken 531 wickets in International cricket, of which 501 wickets were in Tests alone.
Most wickets for Australia in Test Cricket:
- Shane Warne - 708 (273 inns)
- Glenn McGrath - 563 (243 inns)
- Nathan Lyon - 501 (230 inns)
- Dennis Lillee - 355 (132 inns)
- Mitchell Starc - 338 (158 inns)
- Mitchell Johnson - 313 (140 inns)
- Brett Lee - 310 (150 inns)
Nathan Lyon is only the third bowler to have more than 500 wickets in Test cricket for Australia after Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.