5 bowlers with most wickets in international cricket ft. James Anderson
England legend James Anderson retired from Test cricket after the first Test of the ongoing three-match home series against West Indies. The veteran right-arm pacer, who will turn 42 on July 30, picked up 1-26 from 10.4 overs in the first innings of the Lord's Test.
He claimed 3-32 in 16 overs in the second innings as England registered a thumping victory by an innings and 114 runs, giving Anderson a much-deserved grand farewell.
In a stellar Test career, Anderson played 188 matches and claimed 704 wickets at an average of 26.45, with 32 fiver-fers and three 10-wicket match hauls. The England great is third on the list of bowlers with most wickets in Test cricket. Only Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and the late Aussie spin wizard Shane Warne (708) have claimed more wickets than Anderson in Test matches.
The Englishmen, though, is No. 1 on the list of fast bowlers with most wickets in Test cricket. His long-time bowling partner Stuart Broad (604) is the only other pacer with more than 600 Test scalps.
Anderson also features in the list of bowlers who have claimed most wickets in international cricket. Here's a look at the five bowlers with most wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is combined.
#5 Glenn McGrath (Australia)
Aussie pace bowling legend Glenn McGrath is at No. 5 on the famed list of bowlers to have taken most wickets in international cricket. He featured in 376 matches (493 innings) across the three formats of the game, claiming 949 wickets at a miserly average of 21.76, with 36 five-fers and three 10-wicket match hauls.
McGrath represented Australia in 124 Test matches, claiming 563 wickets at an average of 21.64, with 29 five-fers and three 10-wicket match hauls. The right-arm pacer also picked up 381 scalps in 250 ODIs at an average of 22.02 and an economy rate of 3.88, with seven five-fers, which included a best of 7-15. McGrath also played two T20Is, claiming five wickets at an average of 15.80.
#4 Anil Kumble (India)
India's spin bowling legend Anil Kumble is fourth on the list of bowlers with most wickets in international cricket.
The former leg-spinner played 403 matches (501 innings) in Tests and ODIs combined, claiming 956 wickets at an average of 30.09, with 37 fiver-fers and eight 10-wicket match hauls.
The former captain represented India in 132 Test matches, claiming 619 wickets at an average of 29.65, which included 35 five-fers and eight 10-wicket match hauls.
He's one of only three bowlers to have taken all 10 wickets in an innings in a Test. In ODIs, Kumble played 271 games and claimed 337 wickets at an average of 30.89 and an economy rate of 4.30, with two five-fers. He didn't play T20Is.
#3 James Anderson (England)
England legend Anderson features in third position on the list of bowlers to have taken most wickets in international cricket. He featured in 401 matches (560 innings) across the three formats of the game, claiming 991 wickets at an average of 27.28, with 34 five-fers and three 10-wicket match hauls.
Apart from 704 scalps in Test matches, Anderson also claimed 269 wickets in 194 ODIs at an average of 29.22 and an economy rate of 4.92, with two five-fers. His best of 5-23 came against South Africa in Gqeberha in November 2009.
The right-arm pacer also featured in 19 T20Is, claiming 18 wickets at an average of 30.66 and an economy rate of 7.84.
#2 Shane Warne (Australia)
Aussie spin wizard Warne features in second position among bowlers with most wickets in international cricket.
The late legend played 339 matches (464 innings) for Australia in Tests and ODIs, picking up a whopping 1001 wickets at an average of 25.51, with 38 five-fers and 10 10-wicket match hauls.
Warne played 145 Test matches during his illustrious career, claiming 708 scalps at an average of 25.41, with 37 five-fers and 10 10-wicket match hauls.
He also had a stellar one-day career, picking up 293 victims in 194 games, averaging 25.73 with an economy rate of 4.25. His best of 5-33 came against West Indies in Sydney in December 1996. Warne didn't play any T20Is.
#1 Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka's spin bowling ace Muralitharan leads the pack of bowlers with most wickets in international cricket.
The much-revered former off-spinner from the island nation played 495 matches (583 innings) across the three formats, picking up a rich bag of 1347 wickets at an average of 22.86, with an astonishing 77 five-fers and 22 ten-wicket match hauls.
Muralitharan represented Sri Lanka in 133 Tests, claiming 800 wickets at an average of 22.72, with 67 five-fers and 22 10-wicket match hauls. In ODIs, the 52-year-old claimed 534 wickets in 350 matches, averaging 23.08 at an economy rate of 3.93, with 10 five-fers. His best of 7-30 came against India in Sharjah in October 2000. Muralitharan also claimed 13 scalps in 12 T20Is, averaging 22.84.
(Note: Statistics include matches played for ICC and Asia. Stats courtesy: espncricinfo)