Most Wickets in International Cricket: Top Bowlers Across All Formats
Wickets are one of the biggest ways to measure a bowler's career in cricket. A batter can score runs in many ways, but a bowler has to keep taking wickets over many matches, conditions, countries, and formats. That is why the list of bowlers with the most international wickets is full of players who enjoyed long and successful careers.
When we talk about the most wickets in international cricket, we mean wickets taken in Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Domestic and franchise cricket, such as the IPL, PSL, BBL, or other T20 leagues, is not included in this international record.
The all-time men's record belongs to Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, who finished his international career with 1,347 wickets. He took 800 wickets in Tests, 534 in ODIs, and 13 in T20Is. Guinness World Records also lists 1,347 as the highest combined total in Test, ODI, and T20I cricket.
Top 15 Bowlers With the Most International Wickets
The table below gives a detailed look at the leading men's international wicket-takers. For retired bowlers, the career figures are fixed. Mitchell Starc is the important current exception because he was still playing international cricket in September 2026. A published August 2026 ranking had him on 761 wickets, and his 10-wicket Test against Bangladesh later moved him to 771.
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Matches | Test Wkts | ODI Wkts | T20I Wkts | Total Wkts | 5-Wicket Hauls | 10-Wicket Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 495 | 800 | 534 | 13 | 1,347 | 77 | 22 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 339 | 708 | 293 | 0 | 1,001 | 38 | 10 |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 401 | 704 | 269 | 18 | 991 | 34 | 3 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 403 | 619 | 337 | 0 | 956 | 37 | 8 |
| 5 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 376 | 563 | 381 | 5 | 949 | 36 | 3 |
| 6 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 460 | 414 | 502 | 0 | 916 | 31 | 5 |
| 7 | Stuart Broad | England | 344 | 604 | 178 | 65 | 847 | 21 | 3 |
| 8 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 423 | 421 | 393 | 15 | 829 | 21 | 1 |
| 9 | Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 349 | 373 | 416 | 0 | 789 | 35 | 5 |
| 10 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 394 | 391 | 221 | 164 | 776 | 20 | 1 |
| 11 | Mitchell Starc* | Australia | 771 | ||||||
| 12 | Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 287 | 537 | 156 | 72 | 765 | 37 | 8 |
| 13 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 439 | 355 | 400 | 6 | 761 | 16 | 2 |
| 14 | Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 337 | 519 | 227 | 0 | 746 | 23 | 3 |
| 15 | Brett Lee | Australia | 322 | 310 | 380 | 28 | 718 | 19 | 0 |
The completed-career figures in the table come from published combined international records. The same record set lists the matches, wickets, balls, runs, five-wicket hauls and ten-wicket matches for the leading bowlers.
- Mitchell Starc: His 771 total is the later 2026 figure. He reached 771 after taking 10 wickets against Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay. In his next ODI against South Africa on September 24, he bowled 10 overs for 60 runs without a wicket, so that match did not change his total.
This list also shows something interesting about international cricket. Muralitharan is the only bowler above 1,300 wickets, while Shane Warne is the only other player above 1,000. James Anderson finished with 991, just nine wickets short of the 1,000 mark.
Muralitharan Has a Huge Lead at the Top
Muralitharan 1,347 wickets are 346 more than Shane Warne's 1,001. That is a very large gap at this level of international cricket.
His record came mainly from Test and ODI cricket. He took 800 Test wickets and 534 ODI wickets, with 13 more in T20Is. His 800 Test wickets remain the highest Test total in men's cricket, while his 534 ODI wickets also remain the highest ODI total.
Why the Total International Record Is Different
A bowler's overall total does not tell the whole story. Some bowlers played mostly Tests and ODIs, while modern players can also collect many T20I wickets.
For example, Tim Southee finished with 776 international wickets, including 164 T20I wickets. Mitchell Starc's career includes Tests, ODIs and T20Is as well, while older players such as Shane Warne and Anil Kumble played before T20Is became a major part of international cricket.
That is why it is useful to look at the overall list and the separate Test, ODI and T20I records.
Who Has Taken the Most Wickets in International Cricket?
The answer is Muttiah Muralitharan. The Sri Lankan spinner finished his career with 1,347 international wickets from 1992 to 2011.
He is also the record holder in both Test and ODI cricket. This makes his overall record even more notable because his wickets were not built in only one format. He took 800 in Tests and 534 in ODIs, with the remaining 13 coming in T20Is.
Who Holds the All-Time International Wickets Record?
Muralitharan holds the men's record for the most wickets across all three international formats.
The next two places belong to Shane Warne with 1,001 and James Anderson with 991. Anil Kumble is fourth with 956, followed by Glenn McGrath with 949.
These numbers also show why reaching 1,000 international wickets is so difficult. Only Muralitharan and Warne have finished above that mark.
How Many International Wickets Did Muralitharan Take?
Muralitharan finished with:
- 800 Test wickets
- 534 ODI wickets
- 13 T20I wickets
- 1,347 international wickets in total
His 800 Test wickets are also the highest individual Test wicket total. His 534 ODI wickets are the highest ODI total.
His career also included 77 five-wicket hauls and 22 ten-wicket match hauls across international cricket, according to the combined records table.
Most Wickets in Test Cricket: Top Bowlers and Records
Test cricket gives bowlers more time to take wickets because each team can bat twice and a match can last up to five days. Because of this, Test wicket records are strongly connected with long careers, fitness, control, and the ability to keep performing in different conditions.
Muttiah Muralitharan is again at the top. He finished with 800 Test wickets in 133 matches. Shane Warne is second with 708, James Anderson third with 704, and Anil Kumble fourth with 619.
Who Has Taken the Most Wickets in Test Cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the most Test wickets in cricket history.
His 800-wicket record has stood since his retirement. He also took 67 five-wicket hauls in Tests, showing that his total was not simply built by playing a very large number of matches.
Top Test Bowlers With the Most Career Wickets
| Rank | Bowler | Country | Test Matches | Test Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 133 | 800 | 67 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | Australia | 145 | 708 | 37 |
| 3 | James Anderson | England | 188 | 704 | 32 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | India | 132 | 619 | 35 |
| 5 | Stuart Broad | England | 167 | 604 | 20 |
| 6 | Nathan Lyon | Australia | 143+ | 570+ | 24 |
| 7 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 124 | 563 | 29 |
| 8 | Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 106 | 537 | 37 |
| 9 | Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 132 | 519 | 22 |
| 10 | Dale Steyn | South Africa | 93 | 439 | 26 |
The leading historical figures are supported by ICC and current Test records pages. Nathan Lyon's total is active-era dependent and should be checked again when publishing an updated version.
Muralitharan's lead is clear, but the next part of the list is very close. Warne finished with 708 and Anderson with 704, meaning only four wickets separated them at the end of Anderson's career.
Most Wickets in ODI Cricket: Top Bowlers and All-Time Records
ODI cricket sits between Test cricket and T20I cricket. Teams have 50 overs each, so bowlers need to take wickets while also controlling the scoring rate.
The all-time ODI wicket record belongs to Muttiah Muralitharan with 534 wickets in 350 matches. Wasim Akram is second with 502, while Waqar Younis is third with 416.
Who Has Taken the Most Wickets in ODI Cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in ODI history with 534 wickets.
He is the only bowler to cross 530 ODI wickets. Pakistan's Wasim Akram is the only other bowler above 500, finishing with 502.
Top ODI Bowlers With the Most Career Wickets
| Rank | Bowler | Country | ODI Matches | ODI Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 350 | 534 | 10 |
| 2 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 356 | 502 | 6 |
| 3 | Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 262 | 416 | 13 |
| 4 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 322 | 400 | 4 |
| 5 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 398 | 395 | 9 |
| 6 | Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 303 | 393 | 5 |
| 7 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 250 | 381 | 7 |
| 8 | Brett Lee | Australia | 221 | 380 | 9 |
| 9 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 226 | 338 | 8 |
| 10 | Anil Kumble | India | 271 | 337 | 2 |
The ODI figures are supported by current ODI record tables.
This list also shows the strength of Pakistan's ODI bowling history. Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi all appear among the leading ODI wicket-takers.
Most Wickets in T20 International Cricket: Top Bowlers
T20I cricket is much shorter than Test and ODI cricket. A bowler normally gets only a few overs in a match, so reaching a very high career wicket total requires many matches and regular performances.
As of the latest September 2026 records checked, Rashid Khan of Afghanistan leads men's T20I cricket with 193 wickets. Adil Rashid is second with 169, Ish Sodhi third with 165, and Tim Southee fourth with 164.
Who Has Taken the Most T20I Wickets?
Rashid Khan is the leading men's T20I wicket-taker with 193 wickets.
His record is especially important because T20I cricket has a much shorter history than Tests and ODIs. Rashid has also played a large number of T20I matches, giving him more opportunities to build his total.
Top T20I Bowlers With the Most Career Wickets
| Rank | Bowler | Country | T20I Innings | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 116 | 193 |
| 2 | Adil Rashid | England | 143 | 169 |
| 3 | Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 135 | 165 |
| 4 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 123 | 164 |
| 5 | Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 96 | 161 |
| 6 | Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 127 | 160 |
| 7 | Adam Zampa | Australia | 115 | 153 |
| 8 | Ehsan Khan | Hong Kong | 109 | 152 |
| 9 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 126 | 149 |
| 10 | Sandeep Lamichhane | Nepal | 78 | 142 |
The latest available T20I leaderboard checked on September 26, 2026 gives these figures.
This section is also useful because it shows that international wicket records are not limited to the traditional major cricket teams. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Nepal and other teams now have bowlers appearing high on T20I record lists.
Most Wickets in Women's International Cricket: Top Bowlers
Women's international cricket has its own long list of great bowlers, and these records should be kept separate from the men's records.
In June 2026, India's Deepti Sharma reached 355 international wickets, matching former India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami's career total. At that point, both were listed at the top of the women's combined international wicket list, followed by Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Ellyse Perry and Sophie Ecclestone.
Who Has Taken the Most Women International Wickets?
Jhulan Goswami finished her international career with 355 wickets. Deepti Sharma then reached the same 355-wicket mark during the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup against the Netherlands.
The important point is that the women's record is also changing. Deepti remained active in 2026, so her total can move above 355 after further matches.
Top Women's Bowlers Across All Formats
| Rank | Player | Country | International Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1= | Jhulan Goswami | India | 355 |
| 1= | Deepti Sharma | India | 355* |
| 3 | Katherine Sciver-Brunt | England | 335 |
| 4 | Ellyse Perry | Australia | 332 |
| 5 | Sophie Ecclestone | England | 327 |
| 6 | Shabnim Ismail | South Africa | 318 |
The June 2026 record report gives these combined women's international figures.
*Deepti Sharma was still active, so her total can increase.
Most Wickets by a Bowler in Each International Format
Looking at the three formats together is useful, but format-wise records answer a different question. A bowler can be the overall leader without being the leader in every format.
In this case, Muralitharan leads both Test and ODI cricket, while Rashid Khan leads men's T20I cricket in the latest 2026 records checked.
Test, ODI and T20I Wicket Records Compared
| Format | Record Holder | Country | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 800 |
| ODI | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 534 |
| T20I | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 193 |
This simple comparison explains why Muralitharan's overall international record is so strong. He is the career leader in two major formats and also took international T20I wickets.
Which Bowlers Lead More Than One Format?
Muralitharan is the clearest example because he holds both the Test and ODI career records.
Wasim Akram also has a special place in the records. He is second in ODI wickets with 502, while his 414 Test wickets also place him among the notable all-format wicket-takers.
The records show that becoming a leading bowler across more than one format is difficult because Test, ODI and T20I cricket ask for different skills.
Most Wickets for a Single Country in International Cricket
Another useful way to look at bowling records is by country. Instead of asking who has the most wickets in the world, readers may want to know who has taken the most wickets for India, Pakistan, Australia, England or another team.
This type of record is especially useful when comparing a country's great bowlers across different generations.
Which Bowler Has Taken the Most Wickets for a Country?
Anil Kumble is India's leading men's international wicket-taker, with 956 wickets across Tests and ODIs. He took 619 Test wickets and 337 ODI wickets.
Pakistan has several bowlers high on the global list. Wasim Akram finished with 916 international wickets and Waqar Younis with 789.
Top International Wicket-Takers for Major Cricket Teams
| Country | Leading Bowler | International Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Muttiah Muralitharan | 1,347 |
| Australia | Shane Warne | 1,001 |
| England | James Anderson | 991 |
| India | Anil Kumble | 956 |
| Pakistan | Wasim Akram | 916 |
| South Africa | Shaun Pollock | 829 |
| New Zealand | Tim Southee | 776 |
| West Indies | Courtney Walsh | 746 |
These totals come from the combined international records list and show the leading men's wicket-taker for several major teams. Get more info...
Most Wickets by Spin and Fast Bowlers in International Cricket
International cricket has produced great spin bowlers and great fast bowlers. The overall record list contains both types, which makes it useful to look at the bowling style behind the numbers.
Muralitharan, Warne and Kumble were spin bowlers, while Anderson, McGrath, Akram, Broad and Waqar Younis built their records mainly through pace and seam bowling.
Leading Spin Bowlers With the Most International Wickets
Muralitharan is the biggest name among spin bowlers, with 1,347 international wickets. Warne finished with 1,001 and Kumble with 956. Ravichandran Ashwin also finished with 765.
These bowlers reached their totals in different ways. Muralitharan was a world-class off-spinner, Warne was a leg-spinner, and Kumble used leg-spin and variations to take wickets.
Leading Fast Bowlers With the Most International Wickets
James Anderson leads the fast-bowling group with 991 international wickets. Glenn McGrath finished with 949, Wasim Akram with 916, Stuart Broad with 847 and Shaun Pollock with 829.
Mitchell Starc is another important modern name. After taking 10 wickets against Bangladesh in August 2026, he moved to 771 international wickets and climbed above Ashwin and Chaminda Vaas in the overall list.
Biggest Wicket Records in International Cricket History
Career wickets are only one part of a bowler's record. Fans also search for five-wicket hauls, ten-wicket matches, best bowling figures and other big milestones.
These records show how often a bowler produced a major match-changing performance rather than simply collecting wickets over a long career.
Most Five-Wicket Hauls in International Cricket
Muralitharan has the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the combined international record table, with 77. Shane Warne has 38, Anil Kumble 37, Ravichandran Ashwin 37 and James Anderson 34.
A five-wicket haul means a bowler takes at least five wickets in one innings. It is one of the most important bowling milestones in cricket.
Most Ten-Wicket Matches in Test Cricket
Muralitharan also has 22 ten-wicket match hauls in international cricket, according to the combined records. He took 10 or more wickets in a Test match on 22 occasions.
Anil Kumble finished with eight such Test match performances, while Shane Warne had ten.
These records help explain why Muralitharan's career total is so far ahead. He did not only take one or two wickets regularly; he produced many very large bowling performances.
Muralitharan, Warne and Anderson Wicket Records Compared
Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and James Anderson are three of the most recognizable names near the top of the international wicket list.
Their career numbers also show three different paths to a huge international total: spin dominance, leg-spin success and long-term fast bowling.
Muralitharan vs Shane Warne Wicket Comparison
| Player | Country | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | International Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 800 | 534 | 13 | 1,347 |
| Shane Warne | Australia | 708 | 293 | 0 | 1,001 |
Muralitharan finished 346 wickets ahead of Warne in the combined international list. Both crossed 700 Test wickets, but Muralitharan also built a much larger ODI total.
Muralitharan vs James Anderson Career Wickets
| Player | Country | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | International Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 800 | 534 | 13 | 1,347 |
| James Anderson | England | 704 | 269 | 18 | 991 |
Anderson finished his international career with 991 wickets, nine short of 1,000. His 704 Test wickets are the third-highest men's Test total.
This comparison also shows why the combined record should always be read together with format-wise numbers. Anderson's career was heavily based on Test cricket, while Muralitharan built huge totals in both Tests and ODIs.
Frequently Asked Questions About International Wicket Records
Who Has Taken the Most Wickets in International Cricket?
Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the most men's international wickets. He finished with 1,347 wickets across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Who Has the Most Test Wickets in Cricket History?
Muttiah Muralitharan holds the Test record with 800 wickets. Shane Warne is second with 708 and James Anderson is third with 704.
Who Has the Most ODI Wickets in Cricket History?
Muttiah Muralitharan holds the ODI record with 534 wickets. Wasim Akram is second with 502 and Waqar Younis is third with 416.
Who Has the Most T20I Wickets in International Cricket?
Rashid Khan of Afghanistan is the leading men's T20I wicket-taker in the latest September 2026 records checked, with 193 wickets.
Who Has the Most Wickets in Women's International Cricket?
Jhulan Goswami and Deepti Sharma were tied at 355 international wickets in the June 2026 record update. Deepti was still active, so her total can move ahead with further matches.
Are IPL and Other T20 League Wickets Included?
No. The international wicket record includes matches played between national teams in recognized international formats such as Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Wickets taken in the IPL, PSL, BBL, CPL and other franchise or domestic competitions are separate and should not be added to a player's international total.
Who Has Taken the Most Wickets for India?
Anil Kumble is India's leading men's international wicket-taker with 956 wickets across Tests and ODIs. He took 619 Test wickets and 337 ODI wickets.
Who Is the Only Bowler With More Than 1,300 International Wickets?
Muttiah Muralitharan is the only men's international bowler to finish above 1,300 wickets. His final total was 1,347.
Final Summary
The record for the most wickets in international cricket belongs to Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, with 1,347 wickets across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Shane Warne is second with 1,001, while James Anderson finished third with 991.
Muralitharan also leads the Test and ODI records with 800 and 534 wickets. In T20I cricket, Afghanistan's Rashid Khan leads the men's list with 193 wickets in the latest September 2026 figures checked.
Women's cricket has its own record story, with Jhulan Goswami and Deepti Sharma reaching 355 international wickets in the June 2026 update. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc's active career makes the all-format men's ranking more interesting because his 2026 performances moved him to 771 wickets and into the top 11.
International wicket records are not only about one number. Looking at Test, ODI, T20I, women's cricket, country records and major bowling milestones gives a much clearer picture of how the game's greatest wicket-takers built their careers.
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