As of December 2024, the top wicket-takers in cricket history across all formats are:
1. Muttiah Muralitharan(Sri Lanka)

800 wickets in Tests, 534 in One Day Internationals (ODIs), totaling 1,334 international wickets. Muttiah Muralitharan, widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history, holds the record for the most international wickets across all formats. Here is the detailed breakdown of his incredible achievements:
Test Cricket
- Matches: 133
- Wickets: 800
- Bowling Average: 22.72
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 9/51
- Best Bowling in a Match: 16/220
- 5-wicket Hauls: 67
- 10-wicket Hauls: 22
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Matches: 350
- Wickets: 534
- Bowling Average: 23.08
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 7/30
- 4-wicket Hauls: 15
- 5-wicket Hauls: 10
T20 Internationals
- Matches: 12
- Wickets: 13
- Bowling Average: 22.84
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 3/29
Total International Wickets
- Matches: 495
- Wickets: 1,347
- Average: ~23.11
2. Shane Warne(Australia)

708 wickets in Tests, 293 in ODIs, totaling 1,001 international wickets. Shane Warne, the legendary Australian leg-spinner, is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history. Here are the detailed statistics of his remarkable international career:
Test Cricket
- Matches: 145
- Wickets: 708
- Bowling Average: 25.41
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 8/71
- Best Bowling in a Match: 12/128
- 5-wicket Hauls: 37
- 10-wicket Hauls: 10
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Matches: 194
- Wickets: 293
- Bowling Average: 25.73
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 5/33
- 4-wicket Hauls: 12
- 5-wicket Hauls: 1
T20 Internationals
- Shane Warne retired before T20 Internationals became a regular format and, therefore, did not play any T20Is for Australia.
Total International Wickets
- Matches: 339
- Wickets: 1,001
- Average: ~25.50
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- Matches: 396
- Wickets: 991
- Average: ~27.05
3. James Anderson(England)
704 wickets in Tests, 269 in ODIs, totaling 973 international wickets. James Anderson, the iconic English fast bowler, is renowned for his mastery of swing and seam bowling. As of 2024, he is among the highest wicket-takers in cricket history. Below is a detailed account of his international career achievements:
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Test Cricket
- Matches: 183
- Wickets: 704
- Bowling Average: 26.38
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 7/42
- Best Bowling in a Match: 11/71
- 5-wicket Hauls: 32
- 10-wicket Hauls: 3
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Matches: 194
- Wickets: 269
- Bowling Average: 29.22
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 5/23
- 4-wicket Hauls: 7
- 5-wicket Hauls: 2
T20 Internationals
- Matches: 19
- Wickets: 18
- Bowling Average: 30.66
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 3/23
Total International Wickets
James Anderson, the iconic English fast bowler, is renowned for his mastery of swing and seam bowling. As of 2024, he is among the highest wicket-takers in cricket history. Below is a detailed account of his international career achievements:
Test Cricket
- Matches: 183
- Wickets: 704
- Bowling Average: 26.38
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 7/42
- Best Bowling in a Match: 11/71
- 5-wicket Hauls: 32
- 10-wicket Hauls: 3
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Matches: 194
- Wickets: 269
- Bowling Average: 29.22
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 5/23
- 4-wicket Hauls: 7
- 5-wicket Hauls: 2
T20 Internationals
- Matches: 19
- Wickets: 18
- Bowling Average: 30.66
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 3/23
Total International Wickets
- Matches: 396
- Wickets: 991
- Average: ~27.05
4. Anil Kumble(India)

619 wickets in Tests, 337 in ODIs, totaling 956 international wickets. Anil Kumble, one of India’s greatest cricketers, is renowned for his unmatched accuracy, consistency, and ability to bowl long spells. He is among the highest wicket-takers in international cricket history. Below is a detailed breakdown of his career:
Test Cricket
- Matches: 132
- Wickets: 619
- Bowling Average: 29.65
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 10/74
- Best Bowling in a Match: 14/149
- 5-wicket Hauls: 35
- 10-wicket Hauls: 8
Key Highlight in Tests:
Kumble is one of only two bowlers in cricket history to take all 10 wickets in a single innings (10/74 against Pakistan in Delhi, 1999).
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Matches: 271
- Wickets: 337
- Bowling Average: 30.89
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 6/12
- 4-wicket Hauls: 8
- 5-wicket Hauls: 2
Key Highlight in ODIs:
Kumble’s 6/12 against the West Indies in 1993 remains one of the best bowling performances in ODI history and was instrumental in India’s success in the Hero Cup.
T20 Internationals
- Anil Kumble retired before T20 Internationals became a regular format and, therefore, did not play any T20Is for India.
Total International Wickets
- Matches: 403
- Wickets: 956
- Average: ~29.65
5. Glenn McGrath(Australia)
563 wickets in Tests, 381 in ODIs, totaling 944 international wickets. Glenn McGrath, the legendary Australian fast bowler, is celebrated for his remarkable accuracy, consistency, and ability to dismiss the world’s best batsmen. Here is a detailed breakdown of his international career:
Test Cricket
- Matches: 124
- Wickets: 563
- Bowling Average: 21.64
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 8/24
- Best Bowling in a Match: 10/27
- 5-wicket Hauls: 29
- 10-wicket Hauls: 3
Key Highlights in Tests:
- McGrath’s hallmark was his unerring accuracy, which allowed him to consistently trouble batsmen with relentless pressure.
- He dismissed top-order batsmen frequently, including 89 dismissals of Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, and Jacques Kallis combined.
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- Matches: 250
- Wickets: 381
- Bowling Average: 22.02
- Best Bowling in an Innings: 7/15
- 4-wicket Hauls: 9
- 5-wicket Hauls: 7
Key Highlights in ODIs:
- McGrath’s 7/15 against Namibia in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup remains one of the best bowling figures in World Cup history.
- He was a pivotal figure in Australia’s World Cup victories in 1999, 2003, and 2007, finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the 2007 World Cup.
T20 Internationals
- Glenn McGrath retired before T20 Internationals became a regular format and, therefore, did not play any T20Is for Australia.
Total International Wickets
- Matches: 374
- Wickets: 944
- Average: ~22.19
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Mutiah Muralitharan is the greatest bowler of all the time…