4 bowlers with 100 or more wickets in all three formats of international cricket ft. Shaheen Afridi
Picking up 100 wickets in any format of international cricket is a huge achievement for any bowler. Some bowlers also mastered multiple formats of the game and accomplished the feat of taking 100 wickets in two different forms of cricket.
However, there is also a rare club of bowlers who have 100 wickets each in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. It is hard to find a bowler who can bowl well in all formats of cricket these days. The ones who can bowl well find it challenging to maintain their fitness. The fact that only four bowlers have taken 100 or more wickets in all three formats further solidifies this claim.
On that note, here's a look at the four elite bowlers.
#1 Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan
Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi recently became the first player from Pakistan to accomplish the feat. He reached the milestone by taking a three-wicket haul against South Africa in a T20I on December 10. Afridi entered the match with 97 T20I wickets to his name and touched the milestone by dismissing Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, and Nqabayomzi Peter.
The Pakistani speedster had already completed 100 wickets each in ODIs and Tests. As of December 10, Afridi has 100 T20I wickets, 116 Test wickets, and 112 ODI wickets in his account.
#2 Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka
Former Sri Lankan captain Lasith Malinga was the first fast bowler from Asia to achieve this milestone. He retired from Tests early, but he ended his career with 101 scalps in the longest format of the game.
He achieved the most success in ODIs, a format where he took 338 wickets. In T20Is, Malinga scalped 107 wickets as he ended his international career with total of 546 wickets across all formats.
#3 Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh
While spinners find it easier to manage their workload across formats as compared to fast bowlers, only one spin bowler has taken 100 wickets each in all three formats. He is none other than Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
Shakib has made a name for himself with his all-round brilliance for the Tigers. The left-arm spinner has total of 712 wickets to his name, with 246 coming in Tests, 317 in ODIs, and 149 in T20Is.
#4 Tim Southee, New Zealand
The only non-Asian player to feature on this elite list is New Zealand's right-arm fast bowler Tim Southee. The Kiwi pacer is known for his swing and accuracy. Thanks to his impressive line and length, Southee has taken total of 774 wickets in international cricket.
Southee's favorite format has been Test cricket, where he has accounted for 389 wickets. In ODI cricket, the right-arm fast bowler has taken 221 wickets while in T20Is, his tally stands at 164 scalps.
It is quite surprising to note that not a single player from India, Australia, and England has achieved this feat yet. The three nations generally play the most number of matches, but none of their bowlers have 100 wickets each in all three formats.