Unlike the white-ball format, Test cricket is something which gives an equal opportunity to a bowler to take wickets. That is why we see so many bowlers take 500-600 wickets in Tests. Three bowlers have also taken ten wickets in a single innings. But what is the record for the most wickets in a Test match?
Taking two five-wicket hauls in a Test is considered to be a very great performance, but then there are bowlers who have taken 7 or 8 wicket hauls in two innings. All those incredible stats will be covered here in this article. The best bowling figure in a game is 19/90.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Vs | Venue | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Laker (ENG) | 68.0 | 90 | 19 | Australia | Manchester | 26 Jul 1956 |
| Sydney Barnes (ENG) | 65.3 | 159 | 17 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 26 Dec 1913 |
| Narender Hirwani (IND) | 33.5 | 136 | 16 | West Indies | Chennai | 11 Jan 1988 |
| Bob Massie (AUS) | 60.1 | 137 | 16 | England | Lord’s | 22 Jun 1972 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | 113.5 | 220 | 16 | England | The Oval | 27 Aug 1998 |
| Johnny Briggs (ENG) | 33.3 | 28 | 15 | South Africa | Cape Town | 25 Mar 1889 |
| George Lohmann (ENG) | 25.3 | 45 | 15 | South Africa | Gqeberha | 13 Feb 1896 |
| Colin Blythe (ENG) | 38.3 | 99 | 15 | South Africa | Leeds | 29 Jul 1907 |
| Richard Hadlee (NZ) | 52.3 | 123 | 15 | Australia | Brisbane | 08 Nov 1985 |
| W Rhodes (ENG) | 30.2 | 124 | 15 | Australia | Melbourne | 01 Jan 1904 |
| Harbhajan Singh (IND) | 80.1 | 217 | 15 | Australia | Chennai | 18 Mar 2001 |
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List of Most Wickets in a Test Match
10. Harbhajan Singh (15/217) vs Australia in 2001
The record for second-most wickets in a Test match for India is registered by Harbhajan Singh. He did it against Australia in Chennai in March 2001. India won that game by just 2 wickets. Harbhajan took 7/133 and 8/84 in the game, and India registered a memorable win. Bhajji won the Man of the Match award and also hit the winning runs in that game. Australia made 391 and 264, and India scored 501 and 155/8 to win.
9. Richard Hadlee (15/123) vs Australia in 1985
Richard Hadlee was one of the best pacers to play this game, and his best bowling figure in Test is also most wickets in a Test match by a Kiwi bowler. He did it against Australia in Brisbane in November 1985. Hadlee showed an all-round performance to help New Zealand win by an He took 9/52 and 6/71 in two innings and also scored 54 runs with the bat. and 41 runs. He took 9/52 and 6/71 in two innings and also scored 54 runs with the bat.
8. Colin Blythe (15/99) vs South Africa in 1907
Former English spinner Colin Blythe is the joint-fourth fastest to take 100 Test wickets. He played 19 Tests before the Second World War and took 100 wickets. His best bowling figure of 15/99 came against South Africa in Leeds in July 1907. He took 8/59 and 7/40 in the game, and England beat South Africa by 53 runs.
7. George Lohmann (15/45) vs South Africa in 1896
England’s George Lohmann holds the record for the fastest to 100 Test wickets. He did it in just 16 Tests in his career. His best bowling figure of 15/45 came against South Africa in Gqeberha in February 1896. England thrashed South Africa by a massive 288 runs as they got all out for just 93 and 30 runs. Lohmann took 7/38 and 8/7 in the game.
6. Johnny Briggs (15/28) vs South Africa in 1889
It is very rare when a team gets all out for under 50 in both innings. One such occasion was registered when England took on South Africa in Cape Town in March 1889. England made 292 and dismissed South Africa for 47 and 43, and England won by an innings and 202 runs. Spinner Johnny Briggs took 7/17 and 8/11 in two innings.
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5. Muthiah Muralidaran (16/220) vs England in 1998
Muthiah Muralidaran is one of the greatest bowlers of all time; he took more than 800 wickets in the longest format. The Sri Lankan legend registered his best bowling figure against England at The Oval in August 1998. England made 445 and 181 and Sri Lanka scored 591 and 37/0 to win by ten wickets. Murali took 7/155 and 9/65 in the game and also scored 30 runs with the bat. It is the most wickets in a test match by a Sri Lankan bowler.
4. Bob Massie (16/137) vs England in 1972
Former Australian pacer Bob Massie played only six Tests in his career between 1972 and 1973 and took 32 wickets in his career. He took 16/137 on his debut against England, which is the second-best debut figure for a bowler in a test. It was an Ashes Test against Australia at Lord’s in June 1972. Bob 8/84 and 8/53 in the game, and Australia won the game by 8 wickets.
3. Narendra Hirwani (16/136) vs West Indies in 1988
The record for the best bowling figure on Test debut is registered by an Indian spinner, Narendra Hirwani. His record is still alive since 1988. He played his first Test against West Indies in Chennai in January 1988. India made 382 and 217/8d, and West Indies scored 184 and 164. India won by a massive 255 runs. Hirwani took 8/61 and 8/75 in the two innings and made history. Despite a good start, he played only 17 Tests and took 54 wickets.
2. Sydney Barnes (17/159) vs South Africa in 1913
England’s Sydney Barnes was one of the best bowlers post-First World War, who played Test cricket between 1901 and 1914. He is the fastest bowler to 150 Test wickets and took only 24 Tests to do so. He retired with 189 wickets in just 27 Tests, with 24 five-wicket hauls. His best match figure of 17/159 came South Africa at Johannesburg in December 1913. England won that game by an inning and 12 runs, as Barnes took 8/56 and 9/103 in the game.
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1. Jim Laker (19/90) vs Australia in 1956
Jim Laker was the first bowler to take ten wickets in an innings, and he is the only bowler to take nine or more wickets in an innings twice. He played 46 Tests and took 193 between 1948 and 1959. In a test against Australia in Manchester in July 1956, he made history and took most wickets in a test match. In the first inning, he missed a ten-wicket haul and took 9/37, but he did it in the second inning and took 10/53. He took 19/90 in the match, and England won by an inning and 170 runs.
