Highest Wicket-Takers in Test Cricket for Each Country
Test cricket has produced some of the greatest bowlers the sport has ever seen, and the numbers tell a story of dominance across eras and conditions. Every major cricketing nation has at least one legendary name at the top of its wicket-takers list, with a few still active and climbing.
Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralidaran leads world cricket with a staggering 800 Test wickets, a record that continues to stand untouched. Australia’s Shane Warne follows with 708 wickets, while England’s James Anderson sits close behind with 704, the highest by any fast bowler.
Test cricket has produced some of the greatest bowlers in history and every major cricketing nation has had at least one standout performer.
Here is a look at the highest wicket-taker from each country, ordered by their total Test wickets.
Sri Lanka – 800 Test wickets | Muttiah Muralidaran
Muttiah Muralidaran is arguably the most successful bowler in Test history with 800 wickets in 133 matches. He picked up his final Test wicket on July 22, 2010, dismissing Pragyan Ojha in Galle. That wicket completed his 800-wicket milestone. Murali retired immediately after the match, which Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets. His Test career spanned 1992–2010 and he remains the only bowler to take 800 Test wickets till date. Seeing how Test cricket is evolving, it doesn’t seem like this record will be broken anytime soon.
Australia – 708 Test wickets | Shane Warne
Shane Warne finished his career with 708 Test wickets for Australia, the second-highest tally in history. His final Test appearance came during the 2006–07 Ashes in Sydney, where he dismissed Andrew Flintoff as his last Test wicket on January 5, 2007. Warne retired after that series, which Australia won 5-0. His career lasted from 1992–2007, redefining leg-spin bowling for generations. Arguably, he is Australia’s biggest match-winner in red-ball cricket.
England – 704 Test wickets | James Anderson
James Anderson is England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 704 wickets in 187 Tests. He claimed his final Test wicket, West Indies batter Joshua Da Silva, at Lord’s on July 12, 2024, in what became his farewell Test. Anderson made his debut in 2003 and retired in 2024 as the most prolific fast bowler in Test cricket history. However, Anderson still hasn’t hung up his boots as he continues to feature in Country matches in 2025. With the rise of T20 cricket, it is difficult to fathom if a fast bowler will ever reach this mark again.
India – 619 Test wickets | Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble finished his career with 619 Test wickets, the most by an Indian. His last Test match came in November 2008 in Delhi against Australia. His final Test wicket was Mitchell Johnson, whom he dismissed, caught and bowled despite having an injury. Kumble announced his retirement mid-series after suffering a finger & shoulder injury. His Test career spanned from 1990–2008, including the iconic 10/74 vs Pakistan in 1999.
West Indies – 519 Test wickets | Courtney Walsh
Courtney Walsh claimed 519 wickets in 132 Tests, becoming the first bowler to cross the 500-wicket mark in Test cricket. His last Test wicket was South African legend Allan Donald, taken during his final Test at Kingston in 2001 against South Africa. Walsh retired that year after a career spanning 1984–2001.
South Africa – 439 Test wickets | Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn finished with 439 wickets in 93 Tests, the highest by a South African. His final Test wicket was Niroshan Dickwella, taken during the first Test in Durban in July 2019. Steyn went wicketless in the second Test despite bowling 18 overs. After a recurring shoulder injury, Steyn retired from Test cricket in August 2019. He remains one of the most feared pace bowlers of the modern era, with a strike rate of 42.3, the best among bowlers with 200+ wickets. He was the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul against every Test-playing nation. Steyn also remained No. 1 bowler in the ICC test rankings for 2343 days, which is close to 263 weeks.
New Zealand – 431 Test wickets | Richard Hadlee
Sir Richard Hadlee ended his career with 431 Test wickets, the most by a New Zealander till date. His final Test wicket came against England’s Devon Malcolm at Birmingham in July 1990. He had dismissed Malcolm in both the innings and took 8 wickets in his last Test. Hadlee retired after that series at the age of 39, closing a stellar career from 1973–1990 and becoming the first bowler to reach 400 Test wickets. He is also acknowledged as one of the four great allrounders of the 1980s, along with Ian Botham, Imran Khan and Kapil Dev.
Pakistan – 414 wickets | Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram was one of the fiercest fast bowlers of his generation. He finished his career with 414 Test wickets in 104 matches. His last Test wicket was Nick Knight, taken in Manchester during Pakistan’s 2001 tour of England. Akram retired from Test cricket in 2002 after the Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka where he went wicketless and did not bowl in the second innings, ending a career that began in 1985. He remains Pakistan’s greatest left-arm pacer and is still regarded as a pioneer of reverse swing.
Bangladesh – 250 wickets | Taijul Islam* (Active)
Taijul Islam is Bangladesh’s leading Test wicket-taker with 250 wickets and counting. His most recent Test wicket came against Bangladesh vs Ireland at Mirpur in November 2025 where he dismissed Andy McBrine. He overtook Shakib Al Hasan’s tally of 246 wickets in the same match. At 33 years old, Taijul continues to lead Bangladesh’s spin attack and is expected to add significantly to his tally given he’s still got a number of years left to play.
Zimbabwe – 216 wickets | Heath Streak
Heath Streak ended his career with 216 Test wickets, the most by a Zimbabwean bowler. His final Test wicket came in September 2005 against India in Harare where he took 6/73 with Irfan Pathan being his last Test wicket. Streak’s international career came to a close in 2008. And that marked the end of an era where he was Zimbabwe’s premier fast bowler. It would be fair to say Zimbabwe cricket hasn’t been the same since 2005.
Afghanistan – 45 wickets | Rashid Khan* (Active)
Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker in Tests with 45 wickets. His most recent Test appearance came against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in January 2025, where he took 11 wickets across both innings in the match. At just 27 years old, Rashid remains central to Afghanistan’s red-ball ambitions as they grow in the Test arena. Afghanistan don’t play as many Test matches for players to show their hunger in the longest format.
Ireland – 33 wickets | Andy McBrine* (Active)
Andy McBrine leads Ireland’s Test wicket charts with 33 wickets in 11 matches. He took his latest Test wicket against Bangladesh at Mirpur in November 2025. He took 7 wickets across both innings At 32 years old, McBrine continues to be Ireland’s most reliable red-ball spinner with the hope that the side plays more Test cricket. Similar to Afghanistan, Ireland would be eager to show their growth trajectory in red-ball cricket.
Taijul Islam (33), Rashid Khan (27) and Andy McBrine (32) are the only active players on this list and each still has the chance to add significantly to their Test wickets tally.