Most wickets at a single Test venue
A bowler has to be on his feet when it comes to playing Test cricket and a fast bowler, in general, must constantly focus on fitness and other key aspects in order to excel at this format as they are required to bowl an infinite number of overs with some breaks in between.
Having ticked all boxes as far as all the scenarios for being a successful Test bowler is concerned, there have been many who have gone on achieving a huge amount of success in the longest format and a handful of them have made a particular venue their fortress on the basis of consistent performances. Without further ado, here’s a look at three of them.
3. James Anderson at Lord’s (116)
Veteran English pacer James Anderson is the only fast bowler to have taken over 600 wickets in any format of international cricket and is still going strong as he is set to turn 40 next year. Meanwhile, he has turned the ‘Mecca’ of cricket Lord’s into his very own fortress consistently bagging wickets ever since his debut back in 2003. In the last 19years, Jimmy Anderson has registered 116 scalps to his name from the 26 matches at Lords, at an economy rate of 2.71 with his best figures being 7/42.
2. Muttiah Muralitharan at Kandy (117)
Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan is the leading wicket-taker in the Test format with 800 scalps to his name. Murali has been really dominant at his hometown Kandy. Between 1993 to 2007, Muralitharan played 16 games at the venue and picked up 117 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 2.21 with his best figures being a career-best 9/51 against Zimbabwe in 2002.
- Muttiah Muralitharan at SSC Colombo (166)
It should not be surprising to know that Muttiah Muralitharan holds the ‘Numero Uno’ spot in this category, having been a dominant force in the 90s and throughout 2000s bamboozling the best in the business. Muralitharan enjoyed bowling at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo even more than his home ground Kandy, as in the 24 matches at this venue from 1992 to 2009, the legendary spinner picked up 166 wickets at an outstanding average of 20.69. with his best figures being 8/87.
