Bowlers with 500 Test Wickets: The Elite Club
A list of the bowlers who have taken 500 or more Test wickets, with their countries and career totals as of the end of 2024.
Reaching 500 wickets in Test cricket takes years of consistency, fitness and skill, and only a small group of bowlers have done it. This page lists the members of that club with their career totals as of the end of 2024. Later wickets and any newer entrants are not covered here.
| Bowler | Country | Test wickets (end of 2024) | Test career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 800 | 1992–2010 |
| Shane Warne | Australia | 708 | 1992–2007 |
| James Anderson | England | 704 | 2003–2024 |
| Anil Kumble | India | 619 | 1990–2008 |
| Stuart Broad | England | 604 | 2007–2023 |
| Glenn McGrath | Australia | 563 | 1993–2007 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 537 | 2011–2024 |
| Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 519 | 1984–2001 |
| Nathan Lyon | Australia | 500+ (still active at the end of 2024) | 2011– |
Spin and pace
The list is a mix of styles. Muralitharan, Warne, Kumble, Ashwin and Lyon built their records with spin, while Anderson, Broad, McGrath and Walsh did so as fast or fast-medium bowlers. Anderson’s total is the highest by a fast bowler, and his career lasted more than twenty years.
Longevity matters
Nearly every bowler on the list played Test cricket for well over a decade. Staying fit and effective across so many seasons, often in different conditions around the world, is as much a part of the achievement as the wickets themselves.
A changing list
Because Lyon was still playing at the end of 2024, his total was not final, and the table shows only that he had passed 500. For the most recent figures, check the official records of the ICC or national boards.
This table covers Test cricket only and does not include wickets taken in One Day Internationals, Twenty20 matches or domestic cricket.
Frequently asked questions
Who has taken the most Test wickets?
Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan, with 800 wickets in Tests between 1992 and 2010.
Who is the leading fast bowler in Test wickets?
England’s James Anderson, who finished his Test career in 2024 with 704 wickets.
Does this list include players from 2025 onwards?
No. The table runs to the end of 2024, and later wickets or new members of the club are not covered.