List of bowlers who have taken 300 or more wickets in Test cricket - wikipedia List of bowlers who have taken 300 or more wickets in Test cricket Muttiah Muralitharan has captured the highest number of wickets in Test cricket. Taking 300 or more wickets across a playing career is considered a significant achievement in Test cricket. The feat, first accomplished by Englishman Fred Trueman in 1964, has only been achieved by thirty players in the history of the game as of May 2016. Five Australian players have taken more than 300 wickets, along with five Englishmen, four South Africans, four members of the West Indies cricket team, four Indians, three Pakistanis, two New Zealanders and three Sri Lankan players ; Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are yet to see a Test player reach the 300 mark. As of August 2015, the retired Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan has the highest aggregate with 800 wickets. He has also taken the most five - wicket hauls in an innings and ten - wicket hauls in a match, 67 and 22 times respectively, and has the fifth best bowling performance in a match, 16 wickets for 220 runs against England in 1998. Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee is the fastest to accomplish the feat, taking 56 Tests to do so while West Indian Malcolm Marshall has the best bowling average among those to achieve the milestone, taking 376 wickets at an average of 20.94 runs. West Indian Lance Gibbs is the most economical with 1.99 runs per over while South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has the best strike rate of 41.4 balls per wicket. Among those players to have taken 300 wickets, Indian Anil Kumble has the best bowling figures for an innings, 10 wickets for 74 runs against Pakistan in 1999, which is the second best in the history of Test cricket after English player Jim Laker 's 10 for 53 against Australia in 1956. Contents 1 Key 2 Bowlers with 300 or more Test wickets 3 See also 4 References 5 External links Key Mat -- Number of matches played Inn -- Number of innings bowled Balls -- Balls bowled in career Runs -- Runs conceded in career Wkt -- Wickets taken in career 498 Ave -- Average runs per wicket Econ -- Runs conceded per over SR -- Number of balls bowled per wicket taken BBI -- Best bowling in innings BBM -- Best bowling in match 5wI -- Five or more wickets in an innings 10wI -- Ten or more wickets in a match Period -- Cricketing career of the player Bowlers with 300 or more Test wickets The list is initially arranged in order of number of wickets taken. To sort this table by any statistic, click on the applicable header box beside ( not on ) the column title. Players with † indicates test bowlers still playing as of 1st January 2017. Bowlers who have taken 300 or more wickets in Test cricket No. Bowler Team Mat. Inn. Balls Runs Wkt Ave. Econ. SR. BBI BBM 5wl 10wl Period Ref ( s ) Muralitharan, Muttiah Muttiah Muralitharan Sri Lanka 133 ! 133 230 ! 230 44039 ! 44,039 18180 ! 18,180 800 ! 800 2272 ! 22.72 0247 ! 2.47 0550 ! 55.0 09149 ! 9 / 51 16080 ! 16 / 220 067 ! 67 022 ! 22 1992 -- 2010 Warne, Shane Shane Warne Australia 145 ! 145 273 ! 273 40705 ! 40,705 17995 ! 17,995 708 ! 708 2541 ! 25.41 0265 ! 2.65 0574 ! 57.4 08129 ! 8 / 71 12172 ! 12 / 128 037 ! 37 010 ! 10 1992 -- 2007 Kumble, Anil Anil Kumble India 132 ! 132 236 ! 236 40850 ! 40,850 18355 ! 18,355 619 ! 619 2965 ! 29.65 0269 ! 2.69 0659 ! 65.9 10126 ! 10 / 74 14151 ! 14 / 149 035 ! 35 008 ! 8 1990 -- 2008 McGrath, Glenn Glenn McGrath Australia 124 ! 124 243 ! 243 29248 ! 29,248 12186 ! 12,186 563 ! 563 2164 ! 21.64 0249 ! 2.49 0519 ! 51.9 08176 ! 8 / 24 10273 ! 10 / 27 029 ! 29 003 ! 3 1993 -- 2007 5 Walsh, Courtney Courtney Walsh West Indies 132 ! 132 242 ! 242 30019 ! 30,019 12688 ! 12,688 519 ! 519 2444 ! 24.44 0253 ! 2.53 0577 ! 57.8 07163 ! 7 / 37 13245 ! 13 / 55 022 ! 22 003 ! 3 1984 -- 2001 6 Anderson, James James Anderson England 129 ! 129 242 ! 242 28259 ! 28,259 13860 ! 13,860 506 ! 506 2739 ! 27.39 0294 ! 2.94 0558 ! 55.8 07162 ! 7 / 42 11229 ! 11 / 71 024 ! 24 003 ! 3 2003 -- present 7 Dev, Kapil Kapil Dev India 131 ! 131 227 ! 227 27740 ! 27,740 12867 ! 12,867 434 ! 434 2964 ! 29.64 0278 ! 2.78 0639 ! 63.9 09117 ! 9 / 83 11154 ! 11 / 146 023 ! 23 002 ! 2 1978 -- 1994 8 Hadlee, Richard Richard Hadlee New Zealand 086 ! 86 150 ! 150 21918 ! 21,918 09611 ! 9,611 431 ! 431 2229 ! 22.29 0263 ! 2.63 0508 ! 50.8 09146 ! 9 / 52 15177 ! 15 / 123 036 ! 36 009 ! 9 1973 -- 1990 9 Pollock, Shaun Shaun Pollock South Africa 108 ! 108 202 ! 202 24353 ! 24,353 09733 ! 9,733 421 ! 421 2311 ! 23.11 0239 ! 2.39 0578 ! 57.8 07113 ! 7 / 87 10153 ! 10 / 147 016 ! 16 001 ! 1 1995 -- 2008 10 Steyn, Dale Dale Steyn South Africa 085 ! 85 156 ! 156 17286 ! 17,286 09303 ! 9,303 417 ! 417 2230 ! 22.30 0322 ! 3.22 0414 ! 41.4 07149 ! 7 / 51 11240 ! 11 / 60 026 ! 26 005 ! 5 2004 -- present 11 Singh, Harbhajan Harbhajan Singh India 103 ! 103 190 ! 190 28580 ! 28,580 13537 ! 13,537 417 ! 417 3246 ! 32.46 0284 ! 2.84 0685 ! 68.5 08116 ! 8 / 84 15083 ! 15 / 217 025 ! 25 005 ! 5 1998 -- present 12 Akram, Wasim Wasim Akram Pakistan 104 ! 104 181 ! 181 22627 ! 22,627 09779 ! 9,779 414 ! 414 2362 ! 23.62 0259 ! 2.59 0546 ! 54.6 07071 ! 7 / 119 11190 ! 11 / 110 025 ! 25 005 ! 5 1985 -- 2002 13 Ambrose, Curtly Curtly Ambrose West Indies 098 ! 98 179 ! 179 22103 ! 22,103 08501 ! 8,501 405 ! 405 2099 ! 20.99 0230 ! 2.30 0545 ! 54.5 08155 ! 8 / 45 11216 ! 11 / 84 022 ! 22 003 ! 3 1980 -- 2000 14 Ntini, Makhaya Makhaya Ntini South Africa 101 ! 101 190 ! 190 20834 ! 20,834 11242 ! 11,242 390 ! 390 2882 ! 28.82 0323 ! 3.23 0534 ! 53.4 07163 ! 7 / 37 13168 ! 13 / 132 018 ! 18 004 ! 4 1998 -- 2009 15 Herath, Rangana Rangana Herath Sri Lanka 083 ! 83 151 ! 151 23465 ! 23,465 10992 ! 10,992 389 ! 389 2825 ! 28.25 0281 ! 2.81 0603 ! 60.3 09127 ! 9 / 127 14184 ! 14 / 184 031 ! 31 008 ! 8 1999 -- present 16 Broad, Stuart Stuart Broad England 109 ! 109 200 ! 200 22363 ! 22,363 11181 ! 11,181 388 ! 388 2881 ! 28.81 0299 ! 2.99 0576 ! 57.6 08185 ! 8 / 15 11179 ! 11 / 121 015 ! 15 002 ! 2 2007 -- present 17 Botham, Ian Ian Botham England 102 ! 102 168 ! 160 21815 ! 21,815 10878 ! 10,878 383 ! 383 2840 ! 28.40 0299 ! 2.99 0569 ! 56.9 08166 ! 8 / 34 13194 ! 13 / 106 027 ! 27 004 ! 4 1977 -- 1992 18 Marshall, Malcolm Malcolm Marshall West Indies 081 ! 81 151 ! 151 17584 ! 17,584 07876 ! 7,876 376 ! 376 2094 ! 20.94 0268 ! 2.68 0467 ! 46.7 07178 ! 7 / 22 11211 ! 11 / 89 022 ! 22 004 ! 4 1978 -- 1991 19 Younis, Waqar Waqar Younis Pakistan 087 ! 87 154 ! 154 16224 ! 16,224 08788 ! 8,788 373 ! 373 2356 ! 23.56 0325 ! 3.25 0434 ! 43.4 07124 ! 7 / 76 13165 ! 13 / 135 022 ! 22 005 ! 5 1989 -- 2003 20 Khan, Imran Imran Khan Pakistan 088 ! 88 142 ! 142 19458 ! 19,458 08258 ! 8,258 362 ! 362 2281 ! 22.81 0254 ! 2.54 0537 ! 53.7 08142 ! 8 / 58 14184 ! 14 / 116 023 ! 23 006 ! 6 1971 -- 1992 21 Vettori, Daniel Daniel Vettori New Zealand 113 ! 113 187 ! 187 28814 ! 28,814 12441 ! 12,441 362 ! 362 3436 ! 34.36 0259 ! 2.59 0795 ! 79.5 07113 ! 7 / 87 12151 ! 12 / 149 020 ! 20 003 ! 3 1997 -- 2015 22 Lillee, Dennis Dennis Lillee Australia 070 ! 70 132 ! 132 18467 ! 18,467 08493 ! 8,493 355 ! 355 2392 ! 23.92 0275 ! 2.75 0520 ! 52.0 07117 ! 7 / 83 11177 ! 11 / 123 023 ! 23 007 ! 7 1971 -- 1984 23 Vaas, Chaminda Chaminda Vaas Sri Lanka 111 ! 111 194 ! 194 23438 ! 23,438 10501 ! 10,501 355 ! 355 2958 ! 29.58 0268 ! 2.68 0660 ! 66.0 07129 ! 7 / 71 14109 ! 14 / 191 012 ! 12 002 ! 2 1994 -- 2009 24 Donald, Allan Allan Donald South Africa 072 ! 72 129 ! 129 15519 ! 15,519 07344 ! 7,344 330 ! 330 2225 ! 22.25 0283 ! 2.83 0470 ! 47.0 08129 ! 8 / 71 12161 ! 12 / 139 020 ! 20 003 ! 3 1992 -- 2002 25 Willis, Bob Bob Willis England 090 ! 90 165 ! 165 17357 ! 17,357 08190 ! 8,190 325 ! 325 2520 ! 25.20 0282 ! 2.83 0535 ! 53.4 08157 ! 8 / 43 09208 ! 9 / 92 017 ! 16 000 ! 0 1971 -- 1984 26 Johnson, Mitchell Mitchell Johnson Australia 073 ! 73 150 ! 150 16001 ! 16,001 08891 ! 8,891 313 ! 313 2840 ! 28.40 0333 ! 3.33 0511 ! 51.1 08139 ! 8 / 61 12173 ! 12 / 127 012 ! 12 003 ! 3 2007 -- 2015 27 Khan, Zaheer Zaheer Khan India 092 ! 92 165 ! 165 18785 ! 18,785 10247 ! 10,247 311 ! 311 3294 ! 32.94 0327 ! 3.27 060.4 ! 60.4 07113 ! 7 / 87 10151 ! 10 / 149 011 ! 11 001 ! 1 2000 -- 2014 28 Lee, Brett Brett Lee Australia 076 ! 76 150 ! 150 16531 ! 16,531 09554 ! 9,554 310 ! 310 3081 ! 30.81 0346 ! 3.46 0533 ! 53.3 05170 ! 5 / 30 09129 ! 9 / 171 010 ! 10 000 ! 0 1999 -- 2008 29 Gibbs, Lance Lance Gibbs West Indies 079 ! 79 148 ! 148 27115 ! 27,115 08989 ! 8,989 309 ! 309 2909 ! 29.09 0198 ! 1.98 0877 ! 87.7 08162 ! 8 / 38 11143 ! 11 / 157 018 ! 18 002 ! 2 1958 -- 1976 30 Trueman, Fred Fred Trueman England 067 ! 67 127 ! 127 15178 ! 15,178 06625 ! 6,625 307 ! 307 2157 ! 21.57 0261 ! 2.61 0494 ! 49.4 08169 ! 8 / 31 12181 ! 12 / 119 017 ! 17 003 ! 3 1952 -- 1965 See also List of Test cricket records List of bowlers who have taken 300 or more wickets in ODI cricket References ^ Jump up to : `` Player Profile : Muttiah Muralitharan ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013. ^ Jump up to : Alter, Jamie ( 26 August 2009 ). `` Vettori joins 300 - wicket club ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013. To claim 300 Test wickets is an achievement for any bowler... Jump up ^ `` Steyn captures 300th Test wicket ''. Agence France - Presse ( AFP ). Geo TV. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2013... `` It 's an unbelievable achievement, '' ( Smith, Graeme )... Jump up ^ Botham, Ian ( 18 May 2013 ). `` Ian Botham on Jimmy Anderson : Congrats on taking your 300th Test wicket -- now come and catch me ! ''. Daily Mirror. London. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016... Congratulations to Jimmy Anderson on yet another magnificent achievement... ^ Jump up to : `` Player Profile : Fred Trueman ''. ESPNcricinfo. 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Jump up ^ `` Records / Test matches / Bowling records / Best figures in an innings ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013. Jump up ^ `` Muttiah Muralitharan reaches 800 Test wickets landmark ''. BBC News. 22 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Player Profile : Shane Warne ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` 2006 -- 07 -- Warne 's 700th wicket ''. BBC News. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Player Profile : Anil Kumble ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ Vaidyanathan, Siddhartha ( 17 January 2008 ). `` Kumble joins 600 - wicket club ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Player Profile : Glenn McGrath ''. 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Jump up ^ Gupta, Rajneesh ( 17 June 2000 ). `` Waqar Younis completes 300 wickets in Test cricket ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Player Profile : Waqar Younis ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Player Profile : Imran Khan ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2015 - 03 - 31. Retrieved 2015 - 03 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Player Profile : Daniel Vettori ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Player Profile : Dennis Lillee ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Player Profile : Chaminda Vaas ''. ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013. 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Bowlers who have taken 300 or more wickets in Test cricket Australia Shane Warne ( 708 ) Glenn McGrath ( 563 ) Dennis Lillee ( 355 ) Mitchell Johnson ( 313 ) Brett Lee ( 310 ) England James Anderson ( 506 ) Stuart Broad ( 388 ) Ian Botham ( 383 ) Bob Willis ( 325 ) Fred Trueman ( 307 ) India Anil Kumble ( 619 ) Kapil Dev ( 434 ) Harbhajan Singh ( 417 ) Zaheer Khan ( 311 ) New Zealand Richard Hadlee ( 431 ) Daniel Vettori ( 362 ) Pakistan Wasim Akram ( 414 ) Waqar Younis ( 373 ) Imran Khan ( 362 ) South Africa Shaun Pollock ( 421 ) Dale Steyn ( 417 ) Makhaya Ntini ( 390 ) Allan Donald ( 330 ) Sri Lanka Muttiah Muralitharan ( 800 ) Rangana Herath ( 389 ) Chaminda Vaas ( 355 ) West Indies Courtney Walsh ( 519 ) Curtly Ambrose ( 405 ) Malcolm Marshall ( 376 ) Lance Gibbs ( 309 ) Current players are listed in italics. Cricket records Test records By team Australia Bangladesh England India New Zealand Pakistan Sri Lanka South Africa West Indies Zimbabwe Batting Most career runs Triple centuries Centuries in both innings Centuries on debut Bowling Most career wickets Five - wicket hauls on debut Double five - wicket hauls on debut Hat - tricks ODI records By team Australia Bangladesh England India New Zealand Pakistan Sri Lanka South Africa West Indies Zimbabwe Batting Most career runs Highest individual scores Double centuries Centuries on debut Bowling Most career wickets Hat - tricks Five - wicket haul on debut T20I records By team Australia Bangladesh England India Nepal New Zealand Pakistan Sri Lanka South Africa West Indies Zimbabwe Batting Centuries Bowling Five - wicket hauls Miscellaneous records 100 wickets in a season Wicket with first ball World Cup records First - class records Batsmen with 100 FC centuries FC quadruple centuries Ranji Trophy List - A records Centuries by ground Five - wicket hauls by ground Twenty20 records Under - 19 records Women 's cricket Test records ODI records T20I records Test centuries ODI centuries T20I centuries Hat - tricks Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_bowlers_who_have_taken_300_or_more_wickets_in_Test_cricket&oldid=800091098 '' Categories : Test cricket records Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia বাংলা Edit links This page was last edited on 11 September 2017, at 13 : 21. 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Question: who took the most wickets in test cricket
Answer: Muttiah Muralitharan