Highest Wicket Taker in International Cricket (All-Format Record)
Cricket is a game of bat and ball, but wickets are what truly win matches.
A great bowler can change the entire game in just one over. They break partnerships, create pressure, and bring their team back from difficult situations.
Over the years, some legendary bowlers have taken hundreds, even thousands of wickets across all formats of international cricket.
This article covers the highest wicket taker in international cricket, with complete stats, rankings, and interesting facts.
Highest Wicket Taker in International Cricket
All the detailed data and statistics in this article are compiled from Team Names Generator, which provides accurate and updated cricket records trusted by millions of cricket fans worldwide.
Top 10 Highest Wicket Taker in International Cricket
When we talk about the top 10 highest wicket taker in international cricket, we mean bowlers who have taken the most wickets across all three formats: Test, ODI, and T20I.
Here’s the complete list:
| Rank | Player | Country | Total Wickets | Test | ODI | T20I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 1347 | 800 | 534 | 13 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 1001 | 708 | 293 | – |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 991 | 704 | 269 | 18 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 956 | 619 | 337 | – |
| 5 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 949 | 563 | 381 | 5 |
| 6 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 916 | 414 | 502 | – |
| 7 | Stuart Broad | England | 847 | 604 | 178 | 65 |
| 8 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 829 | 421 | 393 | 15 |
| 9 | Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 789 | 373 | 416 | – |
| 10 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 776 | 391 | 221 | 164 |
Top 10 Most Wickets in International Cricket (All-Format Record)
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 1347 Wickets
Murali is the undisputed king of wickets. He was an off-spinner who bamboozled batsmen with his unique bowling action and sharp turn. He took 800 Test wickets, which is still a world record. His doosra (a ball that spins the other way) was almost unplayable.
2. Shane Warne (Australia) – 1001 Wickets
Warne was a magician with the ball. His leg-spin brought life back to spin bowling in the 1990s. He was famous for the “Ball of the Century” that bowled England’s Mike Gatting in 1993. Warne took 708 Test wickets and remains one of cricket’s greatest showmen.
3. James Anderson (England) – 991 Wickets
Anderson is the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket history. He mastered swing bowling, especially in English conditions. Even at 41, he continued taking wickets for England. His consistency over 20+ years is unmatched.
4. Anil Kumble (India) – 956 Wickets
Kumble was known as the “Jumbo” of Indian cricket. A leg-spinner with a fast, flat trajectory, he took 10 wickets in a single Test innings against Pakistan in 1999. He carried India’s bowling attack for nearly two decades.
5. Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 949 Wickets
McGrath was a fast bowler who hit the same spot again and again. His accuracy and bounce troubled every batsman. He was key to Australia’s dominance in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
6. Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 916 Wickets
Known as the “Sultan of Swing,” Wasim could swing the ball both ways at high speed. His left-arm pace made him lethal in both Tests and ODIs. His 502 ODI wickets stood as a record for years.
7. Stuart Broad (England) – 847 Wickets
Broad was Anderson’s perfect partner. He took 604 Test wickets and was famous for taking 8 wickets for 15 runs against Australia in 2015. His aggression and height gave him an edge.
8. Shaun Pollock (South Africa) – 829 Wickets
Pollock was a medium-fast bowler who relied on seam and accuracy. He was also a handy batsman. His all-round ability made him one of South Africa’s best cricketers.
9. Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 789 Wickets
Waqar was famous for his deadly yorkers and reverse swing. Along with Wasim Akram, he formed one of the most feared bowling pairs in cricket history.
10. Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 776 Wickets
Southee is a modern-day swing bowler who has been New Zealand’s spearhead for years. He is also one of the top wicket-takers in T20I cricket.
Highest Wicket Taker in All Formats
Taking wickets across all three formats is extremely difficult. Each format requires different skills.
Tests are long and need patience. ODIs need a balance between attack and defense. T20Is are short and explosive.
Here are the top 3 legends who succeeded in all formats:
| Player | Total Wickets | Formats Played | Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 1347 | Tests, ODI, T20I | 1992–2011 |
| Shane Warne | 1001 | Tests, ODI | 1992–2007 |
| James Anderson | 991 | Tests, ODI, T20I | 2003–2024 |
Key Points:
- Muralitharan took 800 wickets in Tests — the most ever.
- Warne followed with 708 Test wickets.
- Anderson is still among the top even as a fast bowler.
Muralitharan’s record of 1347 wickets looks almost impossible to break. He dominated on spinning pitches and was a nightmare for batsmen worldwide.
Highest Wicket-Taker in Test Cricket
Test cricket is the purest form of the game. Taking wickets in Tests requires skill, patience, and stamina.
Here’s the ranking of the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket:
| Rank | Player | Country | Test Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 800 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 708 |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 704 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 619 |
| 5 | Stuart Broad | England | 604 |
Explanation:
- Muralitharan’s dominance: He played 133 Tests and took 800 wickets with his spinning magic. He had 67 five-wicket hauls and 22 ten-wicket hauls in a match.
- Warne’s magic: Shane Warne’s leg-spin was unplayable on Australian pitches. He helped Australia win countless series.
- Anderson’s longevity: As a fast bowler, reaching 700+ wickets is rare. Anderson played over 188 Tests and used swing and seam brilliantly.
Test cricket rewards consistency, and these three bowlers showed it for almost two decades each.
Most Wickets in ODI Cricket
ODI cricket is faster than Tests but slower than T20s. Bowlers have 10 overs each to make an impact.
Here’s the list of the most wickets in ODI cricket:
| Rank | Player | Country | ODI Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 534 |
| 2 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 502 |
| 3 | Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 416 |
| 4 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 400 |
| 5 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 395 |
Key Points:
- Muralitharan also leads ODIs with 534 wickets.
- Wasim and Waqar were Pakistan’s most deadly pace pair in the 1990s.
- Chaminda Vaas remains Sri Lanka’s best left-arm bowler.
Spinners like Murali and Afridi thrived in ODIs because the ball doesn’t swing much after the first 10 overs. Their variations and control helped them dominate.
Most Wickets in T20 Cricket
T20 cricket is the shortest format. Matches last only 3 hours, so taking wickets is tough.
Still, some bowlers have been outstanding:
| Rank | Player | Country | T20I Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 164 |
| 2 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 149+ |
| 3 | Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 120+ |
| 4 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 130+ |
| 5 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 107 |
Explanation:
- Shakib Al Hasan is one of the highest wicket-takers in T20Is and also a top all-rounder.
- Lasith Malinga was the first to take 100 wickets in T20I cricket. His deadly yorkers at the death were legendary.
- T20 wickets are harder to get because batsmen play more aggressively and matches are shorter.
Highest Wicket Taker in International Cricket All Time
When we say “all-time,” we mean combining all wickets from every format across every era.
Muttiah Muralitharan is the all-time leader with 1347 wickets.
No other bowler has even crossed 1100 wickets. That’s how dominant Murali was.
Modern bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Mitchell Starc are still far behind. But with time, Ashwin and others could climb the list.
Here’s a quick comparison between old legends and modern bowlers:
| Bowler | Wickets | Era |
|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 1347 | 1992–2011 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 700+ | 2011–Present |
| Nathan Lyon | 530+ | 2011–Present |
| Mitchell Starc | 600+ | 2012–Present |
Modern bowlers have a long way to go, but they’re making steady progress.
Highest Wicket Taker in International Cricket for India
India has produced some incredible bowlers, especially spinners.
Here’s the list of the highest wicket takers in international cricket for India:
| Rank | Indian Player | Wickets | Formats | Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anil Kumble | 956 | Tests, ODIs | 1990–2008 |
| 2 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 700+ | Tests, ODIs, T20Is | 2011–Present |
| 3 | Harbhajan Singh | 707 | Tests, ODIs, T20Is | 1998–2016 |
| 4 | Zaheer Khan | 610 | Tests, ODIs, T20Is | 2000–2014 |
| 5 | Javagal Srinath | 551 | Tests, ODIs | 1991–2003 |
Explanation:
- Kumble’s impact: He took 619 Test wickets and 337 ODI wickets. His 10-wicket haul against Pakistan is unforgettable.
- Ashwin’s rise: Ashwin is still playing and could become India’s highest wicket-taker in all formats soon.
- India’s spin strength: India’s success has been built largely on strong spin bowling. Kumble, Ashwin, and Harbhajan carried the team for years.
Top 10 Highest Wicket Taker in ODI
Let’s focus only on ODI cricket now. Here’s the full top 10 highest wicket takers in ODI:
| Rank | Player | Country | ODI Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 534 |
| 2 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 502 |
| 3 | Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 416 |
| 4 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 400 |
| 5 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 395 |
| 6 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 393 |
| 7 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 381 |
| 8 | Brett Lee | Australia | 380 |
| 9 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 338 |
| 10 | Anil Kumble | India | 337 |
Key Points:
- The dominance of subcontinent bowlers in ODIs is clear.
- Spinners like Muralitharan and Kumble succeeded because ODI pitches are often slow and spin-friendly.
- Pakistan’s Wasim-Waqar duo was lethal with reverse swing.
Bowlers from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India dominate this list, showing how important spin and swing are in limited-overs cricket.
Key Insights – Cricket’s All-Time Wicket Kings
Here are some quick, interesting facts:
- Muralitharan tops all formats with 1347 wickets.
- Only three bowlers have 1000+ wickets: Muralitharan, Warne, and Anderson.
- James Anderson is the only active player close to 1000.
- Muralitharan also holds the most 5-wicket hauls (77) and 10-wicket hauls (22) in Tests.
- Shane Warne’s spin legacy changed Australian cricket forever.
- Fast bowlers like Anderson and McGrath breaking into the top 10 is rare and impressive.
Recent Bowlers Close to the Top 10
Several modern bowlers are climbing the rankings fast:
- Ravichandran Ashwin (India): With over 700 wickets, Ashwin is closing in on the top 10. He’s one of the best off-spinners today.
- Nathan Lyon (Australia): Lyon has taken 530+ wickets and is Australia’s top spinner since Warne.
- Trent Boult (New Zealand): A left-arm swing bowler with 600+ wickets across formats. He’s been New Zealand’s strike bowler for years.
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): A young fast bowler with 500+ wickets already. If he stays fit, he could enter the top 20 soon.
These bowlers are the future legends. If they continue for another 5–10 years, they might break into the all-time top 10.
Conclusion:
Bowling legends define cricket as much as batsmen do. Without great bowlers, no team can win consistently.
Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of 1347 wickets may never be broken. His skill, consistency, and longevity were extraordinary.
Indian bowlers like Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin have carried the nation’s spin legacy proudly.
Shane Warne, James Anderson, Wasim Akram — these names will be remembered forever.
Whether it’s Test, ODI, or T20I, wickets decide matches. And these bowlers have shown us how it’s done.
Thank you for reading! All the data and detailed stats in this article are collected from Team Names Generator, your trusted source for cricket analysis.
