5 bowlers with most five-wicket hauls in Test matches ft. Ravichandran Ashwin
Bowlers picking up five-wicket hauls in Test matches are akin to batters scoring a hundred. Claiming five wickets in an innings means dismissing half the side. If the victims are claimed cheaply, it puts the fielding side in a strong position to push for a win.
Some of the greatest bowlers in the world have picked up multiple five-fers in Test cricket. Australia's Glenn McGrath, one of the best pace bowlers of all time, ended his career with 29 five-fers in 124 Tests. The recently retired England legend James Anderson finished his Test career with 32 five-wicket hauls in 188 matches. Among spinners, Kiwi Daniel Vettori claimed 20 five-fers.
The above names, though, don't feature on the list of bowlers to have claimed the most number of five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. Here's a look at the illustrious group of players who are part of the 'top five' club.
#5 Anil Kumble (35)
India's spin bowling legend and former captain, Anil Kumble has the fifth most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. He represented India in 132 matches and picked up 35 five-wicket hauls.
The spin great's best of 10-74 was registered against Pakistan in Delhi in February 1999. He's only among three bowlers in Test cricket to claim all 10 wickets in an innings. Kumble picked up 8-141 against Australia in Sydney in January 2004, which was incidentally Steve Waugh's farewell Test.
Kumble also claimed 7-48 against Australia in Chennai (October 2004), 7-59 against Sri Lanka in Lucknow (January 1994), 7-63 against Pakistan in Kolkata (March 2005) and 7-115 against England in Ahmedabad (December 2001).
#4 Ravichandran Ashwin (36)
The fourth spot on the list of bowlers with most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket is also occupied by an Indian. Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has featured in 100 Test matches and has picked up 36 five-wicket hauls.
Ashwin's best Test figures in an innings (7-59) were registered against New Zealand in Indore in October 2016. The 37-year-old also claimed 7-66 against South Africa in Nagpur in November 2015, 7-71 against West Indies in Roseau in July 2023 and 7-83 against West Indies in North Sound in July 2016.
Ashwin has two more seven-fers in Test cricket. He claimed 7-103 against Australia in Chennai in February 2013 and 7-145 against South Africa in Visakhapatnam in October 2019.
#3 Richard Hadlee (36)
Former New Zealand bowling all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee also claimed 36 five-wicket hauls in his Test career. However, he played only 86 Test matches, claiming a then world record of 431 scalps.
Hadlee's best of 9-52 was registered against Australia in Brisbane in November 1985. He also ran through India's batting line-up with figures of 7-23 in Wellington in February 1976. Hadlee also claimed six wickets in an innings in Test match as many as 13 times.
The Kiwi legend picked up 6-26 against England in Wellington in February 1978, 6-49 against India at the Wankhede in Mumbai in November 1988 and 6-50 against West Indies in Christchurch in March 1987.
#2 Shane Warne (37)
The late spin wizard Shane Warne occupies the second place on the illustrious list of bowlers with most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. He featured in 145 Test matches and picked up 37 five-wicket hauls.
Warne's best of 8-71 came against England in Brisbane in November 1994. He ran through Pakistan with figures of 7-23 in Brisbane in November 1995. The former leg-spinner picked up 7-52 against West Indies in Melbourne in December 1992.
The Aussie legend picked up three more seven-fers in Tests. He claimed 7-56 against South Africa in Sydney in January 1994, 7-94 against Pakistan in Colombo in October 2002 and 7-165 versus England at The Oval in August 2001.
#1 Muttiah Muralitharan (67)
Sri Lanka's off-spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan is way ahead of his competitors on the list of bowlers with most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. Murali, as he's fondly known, played 133 Test matches and claimed a whopping 67 five-wicket hauls. He ended his Test career with 800 wickets.
Muralitharan's innings best of 9-51 came against Zimbabwe in Kandy in January 2002. He also claimed a famous nine-wicket haul against England at The Oval in August 1998. The spinner picked up 9-65 as Sri Lankan registered an iconic Test win by 10 wickets. Murali claimed seven wickets in the first innings of the Test.
He also picked up three eight-wicket hauls in Tests. He claimed 8-46 against West Indies in Kandy in July 2005, 8-70 against England in Nottingham in June 2006 and 8-87 versus India in Colombo in August 2001.