Reaching 300 Test wickets is a remarkable milestone for any bowler, but some pace bowlers have achieved this feat at an astonishing rate.
Let’s count down the top 10 fastest bowlers to reach 300 Test wickets, showcasing their speed, skill, and endurance.
10. Fred Trueman (ENG) – 65 Tests
Frederick Sewards Trueman, OBE or Fred Trueman, was the first bowler ever to reach the landmark of 300 Test Wickets. In his 65th Test match, “Fiery Fred” dismissed Neil Hawke of Australia to notch up a triple century of wickets.
When asked if anyone could better his feat, Trueman once famously said, “Aye, but whoever does will be bloody tired.” He held the world record of highest number of wickets in Test matches until 1975-76, when he was eventually overtaken by West Indies spinner, Lance Gibbs.
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9. Glenn McGrath (AUS) – 64 Tests
Glenn Donald McGrath, AKA Pigeon, was an Australian fast bowler who represented the Baggy Green from 1993 to 2007. McGrath picked up his 300th wicket in his 64th match against the West Indies at Perth in 2000, when he had Brian Lara caught by Staurt MacGill.
Lara’s wicket was the second of a hattrick that also included the scalps of Sherwin Campbell and Jimmy Adams.
McGrath eventually retired from Test cricket in 2007 with 563 wickets to his name.
8. Allan Donald (SA) – 63 Tests
Allan Anthony Donald, nicknamed White Lightning, was a South African fast bowler who represented the Proteas from 1992 to 2003. Donald picked up his 300th wicket in his 63rd match against New Zealand at Bloemfontein in 2000, when he had Shayne O’Connor dismissed leg before wicket for 15.
Donald eventually retired from Test cricket in 2002, finishing his career at 330 wickets.
7. Shane Warne (AUS) – 63 Tests
Shane Keith Warne is considered to be one of the greatest bowlers of all time, and the one who brought the craft of leg spin bowling back into the limelight.
He represented Australia from 1993 to 2007, and was also instrumental in leading the Rajasthan Royals to the crown of champions in the first ever edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. In 2000, Warne was also named by Wisden as one of the five greatest cricketers of the century.
Warne picked up his 300th wicket in his 63rd Test against South Africa at Sydney in 1998, when he clean bowled Jacques Kallis for 45 runs.
Warne eventually became the first bowler to reach the landmark of 700 Test wickets before retiring in 2007, with a tally of 708 wickets in his kitty.
6. Dale Steyn (SA) – 61 Tests
Dale Willem Steyn is a South African fast bowler who made his Test debut against England at Port Elizabeth in 2004.
He notched up the 300-wicket mark in the first Test against New Zealand at Cape Town in 2013, when he clean bowled Doug Bracewell for 2 runs.
Of late, Steyn has been plagued by many injuries, and that has cut short his glorious run in international cricket. We do hope he makes a speedy recovery and we see a modern great in action once again.
5. Malcolm Marshall (WI) – 61 Tests
Malcolm Denzil Marshall was a member of the famed West Indian pace battery also comprising Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Colin Croft and Joel Garner. He represented the Windies from 1978 to 1992.
He picked up his 300th Test wicket in the 3rd Test against Australia at Melbourne in 1988, when he got David Boon LBW for 20 runs.
Marshall finished his career with 376 Test wickets against his name.
The cricketing world was saddened by the demise of this great fast bowler in 1999, when he succumbed to colon cancer at only 41.
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4. Richard Hadlee (NZ) – 61 Tests
Sir Richard John Hadlee MBE is a former New Zealand fast bowler who represented the Kiwis from 1973 to 1990. He also briefly held the world record highest number of Test wickets.
Hadlee took his 300th wicket in the first Test against Australia at Wellington in 1986, when he trapped Allan Border LBW for 13 runs.
Hadlee finished his career with a then-world record haul of 431 Test wickets, which was eclipsed by India’s Kapil Dev.
3. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) – 58 Tests
Deshabandu Muttiah Muralitharan is a former Sri Lankan off spinner who represented the Lankans from 1992 to 2010. He picked up his 300th wicket in the 1st Test against South Africa at Durban in 2000, when he had Shaun Pollock caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan for 11 runs.
Muralitharan still holds the world record for the most Test wickets (800) and became the first bowler to reach the mark of 800 Test wickets in his last match against India at Galle in 2010.
2. Dennis Lillee (AUS) – 56 Tests
Dennis Keith Lillee, AM, MBE is a former Australian fast bowler who represented the Aussies from 1971 to 1984. He picked up his 300th Test wicket in the 2nd Test against Pakistan at Brisbane in 1981, when he dismissed Wasim Raja caught by Bruce Laird for 43 runs.
Lillee finished his Test career in 1984 against Pakistan at Sydney, ending with 355 Test wickets in his kitty.
1. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) – 54 Tests
Ravichandran Ashwin is numero uno on the list, the fastest man to reach 300 Test wickets. He reached the landmark in 54 Tests, leaving behind a host of great bowlers that the game has ever seen.
Ashwin got his 300th Test wicket when he dismissed Lahiru Gamage in the 2nd Test of the ongoing India vs Sri Lanka Test series at Nagpur.
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