Test cricket is the oldest and most prestigious format of the game. Any cricket fan enjoys watching the white jerseys, the red ball, and the ever-changing pitches. But playing Test cricket is just as challenging for the players. Just as the name suggests, the players are put to the Test. This Test is in terms of their attitude toward the game, mindset, talent, temperament, sportsmanship, and so on.
The fluctuating pitch conditions and bowler's fitness level could be important factors in his struggle to achieve favorable result. The following are ten of the most successful bowlers of Test cricket who overcame these barriers and became the greatest of all the time:
10. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)
Rangana Herath is a former Sri Lankan Test captain. He is ranked 10th, with 433 wickets under his belt! Herath is known to be the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket and a renowned spin bowler, with an impressive economy rate of 2.80. Moreover, his highest spell in a match was 14-184 against Pakistan during the 2014 Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka. He retired from Test cricket in 2018.
9. Kapil Dev (India)
Kapil Dev is the legendary former Indian captain and one of the best all-rounders of all time. He is ranked 9th with 434 Test wickets in 131 matches. Furthermore, he has a remarkable economy rate of 2.78! In the third Test match of the West Indies tour of India in1983, he recorded his career-best performance of 11-146 against the West Indies. The legendary former captain announced his retirement in 1994.
8. Dale Steyn (South Africa)
With 439 wickets, the South African fast bowler is the eighth-best wicket-taker in Test cricket. Although his economy rate was a little higher than the others on the list, it had no bearing on his wicket-taking abilities. Steyn was a right-arm pacer and one of the fastest bowlers. Also, it's not like every bowler can consistently deliver at +150 kmph as he did!
7. Courtney Walsh (West Indies)
Courtney Walsh was one of the toughest bowlers in cricket history. Moreover, he has 519 wickets in 132 matches with an excellent economy of 2.53. He is the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. The former Jamaican bowler holds the record for being the first cricketer to take 500 wickets! His career-best was 13-55 against New Zealand in 1995, and he retired in 2001.
6. Stuart Broad (England)
Stuart Broad is the sixth-highest wicket-taking bowler on the list. He has 524 wickets and a 2.93 economy rate. He made his Test debut in 2007 and has since played 149 matches. Furthermore, his career-best figure is of 8-15 in an innings against Australia in the iconic 2015 Ashes series. This also made him top the list of Men's Test spells of the decade. The English fast bowler is also the youngest player on the list!
5. Glenn McGrath (Australia)
The former Australian right-arm fast bowler takes the fifth spot with 563 wickets in his bag! In his Test career, McGarth played a total of 124 matches. Moreover, he has an impeccable economy rate of 2.49. Additionally, his best bowling performance is 10-27 against West Indies in 2000. He also has a total of twenty-nine ‘five wickets in an innings. He declared his retirement from Test cricket in 2007.
4. Anil Kumble (India)
One of the greatest leg spinners in Test cricket, Kumble takes up the 4th spot for the highest wicket-taker. The former captain and (the current) Indian coach has a total of 619 wickets in 132 Test matches. He is the highest wicket taker among all the Indian players in Test cricket! Furthermore, he had been on the third spot for a long time but was surpassed by England’s James Anderson recently.
3. James Anderson (England)
Anderson is the most successful English bowler in Test cricket. He stands in third place with 632 wickets and an economy rate of 2.82. In the ongoing India tour of England 2021, he surpassed Kumble for the third spot. He did it by dismissing Indian opener, K L Rahul. Anderson, along with Stuart Broad, is the only player on the list who is still playing Test cricket.
2. Shane Warne (Australia)
The former Australian cricketer bags the second spot with 708 wickets! He was the most excellent leg spinner of all time. Moreover, his ability to make the ball spin so much was a nightmare even for some of the best batsmen. Warne had played a total of 145 matches with an economic rate of 2.65. Additionally, his best figure is 12-128 against South Africa in 1994. He got retired from Test cricket in 2007.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
Taking over the first spot is Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker with a total of 800 wickets! The former Sri Lankan off-spinner became the first and the only cricketer to reach the milestone of 800 wickets. Additionally, he has played 133 games and had an outstanding economy rate of 2.47. He was also the first Sri Lankan cricketer to be welcomed into the ICC’s Hall of Fame. Not just in Test cricket, the legendary spinner is the highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals too!
