Only spinners to take 500-plus Test wickets
Like seam bowlers, even spinners are a crucial part of any setup in any particular format. They tend to contain the flow of runs more than the pacers and also pick up wickets at the same time. Their role becomes even more important in the longest and oldest format of the game, the Test format. The first-ever Test match took place way back in the year 1877 and since then there have been many legendary bowlers who have crossed the milestone of 500 wickets. But there are only four spin bowlers who have achieved the feat and they feature in this article
Let’s take a look at only four spinners who have picked up more than 500 wickets in Test cricket:
1) Nathan Lyon (501)
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon is the fourth and latest entrant to this elite list. The right-arm off-break bowler reached the landmark against Pakistan in the recently concluded Perth Test. Having made his debut in the Whites against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2011, Lyon has played 123 matches and picked up 501 wickets. In 230 innings, his average and strike rate are 30.85 and 63.1 respectively. Lyon has taken five wickets in an innings 23 times and ten wickets in a game four times in his career. His best bowling figures are 8/50 and match figures 13/154.
2) Anil Kumble (619)
Former India spinner Anil Kumble made his maiden appearance in the ultimate format of the game against England in Manchester in 1990. Kumble played 132 Tests and snared 619 scalps at an average of 29.65 and a strike rate of 65.9. In 236 innings, the spinner grabbed five wickets in an innings 35 times and ten wickets in a game eight times. His best bowling figures of 10/74 came against arch-rivals Pakistan in Delhi in 1999 and his best match figures are 14/149. Notably, he is one of the three bowlers in the history of international cricket to pick all ten wickets in an innings.
3) Shane Warne (708)
Legendary Australian Late Shane Warne picked up the second-most wickets in the history of Test cricket. The leg-spinner made his Test debut against India in Sydney in 1992. Since then, the spinner did not look back and went on to become one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time. Warne played 145 matches in his decorated career and snared 708 scalps at an average of 25.41 and a strike rate of 57.4. In 273 innings, he took five wickets in an innings 37 times and ten wickets in a Test ten times with the best bowling figures of 8/71 and match figures 12/128.
4) Muttiah Muralitharan (800)
Former Sri Lankan spinner Muthiah Muralitharan rules the chart. The right-arm off-break bowler has taken the most wickets in the history of the format. He made his maiden appearance in the Test format against Australia in Colombo (RPS) in 1992. There was no looking back for the magician as he went on to play 133 games in which he picked up 800 scalps at an average of 22.72 and a strike rate of 55.0. In 230 innings, Muralitharan took five wickets in an innings 67 times and ten wickets in a game 22 times with the best figures of 9/51 and match figures 16/220.
