Most Test wickets taken by a fast bowler

England’s James “Jimmy” Anderson (b. 30 July 1982) retired from Test cricket on 12 July 2024 – shortly before his 42nd birthday – with 704 wickets to his name since making his debut as a fresh-faced 20-year-old at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, UK, in May 2003. That puts him third on the all-time Test wicket-takers list – behind spin bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708) – but well clear of the format’s other leading seam (fast) bowlers: England teammate Stuart Broad (604), Australia’s Glenn McGrath (563), West Indian Courtney Walsh (519) and South Africa’s Dale Steyn (439). Highlights of Anderson’s glittering career – comprising 188 matches, 40,037 balls (6,672.5 overs) and an average of 26.45 runs per wicket – include 32 five-wicket hauls and best figures of 7 for 42, against the West Indies at Lord’s on 8–9 September 2017. He signed off at the same venue, and against the same opposition, on 10–12 July 2024, taking 3 for 32 in a typically economical 16 overs to help England win the opening match of their home series by an innings and 114 runs inside three days.

Test match cricket’s leading wicket-takers (as of 5 December 2024) are: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka, spinner) – 800; Shane Warne (Australia, spinner) – 708; James Anderson (England, seamer) – 704; Anil Kumble (India, spinner) – 619; Stuart Broad (England, seamer) – 604; Glenn McGrath (Australia, seamer) – 563; Ravichandran Ashwin (India, spinner) – 536; Nathan Lyon (Australia, spinner) – 532; Courtney Walsh (West Indies, seamer) – 519; Dale Steyn (South Africa, seamer) – 439. Ashwin and Lyon were the only two bowlers still playing Test cricket, as of 5 December 2024.