Last Updated on 1 year by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Most wickets by spinners in Test cricket | List of most wickets by spinners in Test cricket history
Nathan Lyon moved into the top 10 all-time Test wicket takers after his nine-wicket haul led Australia to a thumping 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Galle.
In the process, Lyon went past Sri Lankan great Rangana Herath (433 wickets) and Indian great Kapil Dev (434 wickets) to sit in outright tenth spot in the all-time list of wicket takers.
List of most wickets by spinners in Tests
Also, in going past Herath, Lyon became the fifth-most prolific spin bowler in Test history. This is quite the achievement for a bowler whom many believed didn’t have the variations to be successful at Test level. Now, only four other spinners are ahead of him in terms of wickets in Test history.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan: 800 wickets
Will this record ever be broken? Perhaps not. The great Muttiah Muralitharan, who caused nightmares for many batsmen, could teach a thing or two to Sri Lanka’s current spinners, who were shown up by their Australian counterparts in the first Test of the 2022 series at Galle.
Murali took his 800th wicket in his very final ball in Test cricket, against India.
2. Shane Warne: 708 wickets
The late, great Shane Warne bamboozled many a batsman on his way to 708 Test wickets. He became the first bowler to take 700 wickets when he dismissed Andrew Strauss on that memorable morning in the 2006 Boxing Day Test.
If any future legspin bowler leaves even half the impression the great Warne did, we will witness some cricketer.
ALSO READ: Thank you, Warney. Emotional tribute to the great Shane Warne
3. Anil Kumble: 619 wickets
Speaking of great legspinners, Anil Kumble was certainly one. One of the best examples of streetsmart cricketers, Kumble focused on accuracy and unrelenting consistency to prize out many of his 619 Test scalps.
4. Nathan Lyon: 496 wickets
Lyon, who was a groundsman at Adelaide Oval before his Test career, joins a top five comprising of some of cricket’s greatest names. Nicknamed the ‘GOAT’, Lyon’s contribution goes beyond his wickets. Time and again, he has played a key role in holding up an end in Australian conditions, where he has mastered the art of getting extra bounce.
Also, Lyon has enjoyed success in Asia, particularly since 2017. A terrific bowler.
5. Ravichandran Ashwin: 474 wickets
Another streetsmart cricketer. R Ashwin, one of the most skilled offspinners to ever play the game, is edging closer to 500 Test wickets at a superb average of just 23.93.
Also, he is an ardent thinker, which has allowed him to get an advantage over many batsmen – especially left-handers – throughout his career.
