Ireland cricket team has emerged as one of the best teams to play international cricket. Before they acquired their test status in 2017, Ireland defeated some test-playing nations in the limited-overs format. They beat Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, West Indies, and England before getting the test status, with their wins against England, Pakistan, and West Indies coming in the 50-over World Cup. They even beat South Africa after that in 2021 for the first time in international cricket. We look at the top ten Ireland cricket players with the most wickets in international cricket.
1. Kevin o’ Brien
Kevin o’ Brien is a veteran all-rounder who played for the Ireland cricket team. The right-handed all-rounder started his international cricket career in 2006 and has gone on to play 266 matches. He has 172 international wickets, which puts him on the top of the highest wicket-takers for Ireland. Kevin’s best bowling performance in his international cricket career is 4/13.
2. George Dockrell
George Dockrell sits at the second position in the highest wicket-takers list for the Ireland cricket team. The left-arm spin bowler made his international debut in 2010 and has played 186 international matches. Dockrell has picked up 171 wickets in international cricket, and his best bowling figures are 4/20.
3. Boyd Rankin
Boyd Rankin began his international cricket career for Ireland in 2007. He has gone on to play 118 international matches for them and has picked up 157 wickets. Rankin’s best bowling figures in international cricket are 4/15. He is also one of the Irish cricketers who played for England in international cricket.
4. Tim Murtagh
Tim Murtagh bowls right-arm medium pace and played 75 international cricket matches for Ireland. He made his international cricket debut in 2012 and has picked up 100 wickets in his international career. Murtagh’s best bowling performance in international cricket is 5/13, with two five-wicket hauls in his career. Murtagh announced retirement on his international career in 2019.
5. Alex Cusack
Alex Cusack is a former right-arm medium-fast bowler who bats in the middle-lower order. He first represented Ireland in international cricket in 2006 and played his final game in 2015. Cusack was a part of 96 international matches for Ireland and picked up 98 wickets with the best bowling performance of 5/20, his only five-wicket haul in international cricket.
6. Trent Johnston
Trent Johnson is a former skipper of the Ireland cricket team. The right-arm medium-fast bowler made his international cricket debut in 2006 and represented Ireland in 97 matches. Johnston took 98 wickets with the best bowling performance of 5/14. He played his last international game in 2013. Johnson
7. Craig Young
Craig Young is a right-arm medium-fast bowler who debuted for the Ireland cricket team in 2014 in international cricket. The Irish pacer has represented his country in 75 matches in international cricket and has taken 90 wickets. Young’s best bowling figures in international cricket are 5/46.
8. Andy McBrine
The right-arm off-break bowler has worn the Ireland cricket team jersey in 87 international matches. McBrine made his international debut for Ireland in 2014 and has gone on to take 90 wickets over all the formats. His best bowling performance in international cricket is 5/29.
9. Mark Adair
Mark Adair is a medium-fast bowling all-rounder from Ireland who made his international cricket debut in 2019. He has been a part of 56 international matches and has taken 80 wickets in international cricket. Adair’s best bowling figures in international cricket are 4/19.
10. Barry McCarthy
Barry McCarthy bowls right-arm medium-fast bowling and has represented the Ireland cricket team in 55 international cricket matches. McCarthy, who made his international cricket debut in 2016, has scalped 79 wickets with his best bowling performance as 5/46.
