Top 10 Most Test Wickets By Non-Asian Pacers In Asia

The pitch conditions in Asian countries favors spin over pace, when it comes to test cricket. For a pacer from outside Asia, it tends to be difficult to adjust to the pitch conditions and take wickets. Hence, it becomes a special performance when they manage to do that. We will now have a look at the highest test wickets taken by non-Asian pacers in Asia.

10. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc is a left arm pacer from Australia. His areas of strength usually include swing bowling and yorkers. His best performance in Asian conditions was in the Australia tour of Sri Lanka in 2016. Australia got whitewashed 0-3 in the series, but Starc had a terrific performance with the ball. He took 24 wickets across three matches, with three five-wicket hauls. Mitchell Starc has taken 50 test wickets in Asia.

9. Wes Hall

Wes Hall was a pace bowler from the West Indies. A major chunk of his wickets in Asian conditions came in India, especially from the West Indies tour of India in 1958-59. He took 30 wickets in the series. In the Kanpur test of the series, he took 11 wickets in the match, taking six and five wickets in the first and second innings, respectively. Wes Hall took 54 test wickets in Asia.

8. Jason Gillespie

Jason Gillespie was a pace bowler from Australia. He managed to take wickets consistently, whenever he toured any Asian country. He was an important part of the 2004-05 Border- Gavaskar Trophy, helping Australia win a series in India after long. He also took eight wickets in Bangladesh, but the series was more known for his miraculous double-hundred. Jason Gillespie took 54 test wickets in Asia.

7. Shaun Pollock

Shaun Pollock was a South African all-rounder. He toured to various Asian countries along with his team, over the course of his career. He played 17 tests in Asia. Shaun Pollock took 60 test wickets in Asia.

6. Richard Hadlee

Sir Richard Hadlee was a bowling all-rounder from New Zealand. In his heydays, he used to carry the New Zealand team on his back, and play the lone man fighting. He took five, five- wicket hauls in Asia, two each in Sri Lanka, India, and one in Pakistan. Richard Hadlee took 68 test wickets in Asia.

5. Malcolm Marshall

Malcolm Marshall was a pace bowler from West Indies, who played in the 1980s. After they lost the 1983 World Cup final against India, despite being considered favourites, they toured India later that year. They dominated India throughout the series, and Marshall played a big hand in it, taking 33 wickets across six games. Marshall was also proficient in other tours to Asian countries. Malcolm Marshall took 71 test wickets in Asia.

4. Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath was one of the most prolific pacers from Australia. He and Shane Warne were the two bowlers, who were the key reason for Australia having a supremely dominating bowling unit in test cricket. McGrath was a consistent wicket-taker across spanning across multiple series, in terms of bowling in Asian conditions. Glenn McGrath took 72 test wickets in Asia.

3. James Anderson

James Anderson is a pace bowler from England, who is well regarded for his insane swing bowling capabilities. He is one of the most dangerous new-ball bowlers, in the world. He has also exhibited a remarkable longevity in test cricket. Over the course of his career, he has also sharpened his bowling skills in Asian conditions. James Anderson has taken 74 test wickets in Asia.

2. Courtney Walsh

Courtney Walsh was a West Indies pacer, and he played in the 1980s and 1990s. In the history of test cricket, he was the first bowler to take 500 wickets. He took 43 test wickets in India across two series. He also took a significant number of wickets in Pakistan. Courtney Walsh took 77 test wickets in Asia.

1. Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn was a pacer from South Africa. Unlike most other pacers, he truly stamped his authority throughout the world, emerging as a match-winner across conditions. One of his best performances in Asian conditions, and even entire test career, would be his 7-51 in the 2010 Nagpur Test. South Africa achieved an innings victory in the game. He was a consistent wicket-taker across all the series played in Asia. Dale Steyn took 92 test wickets in Asia.