Bowlers can find it challenging to perform in a stringent Test cricket environment while simultaneously grasping the fan's attention. 5-wicket-hauls are a great way to express your caliber in the longest format of the game. However, picking up 5-fers is not a feat for everyone, but a few classy bowlers in the past and present have done that on numerous occasions. In this blog, we will enlist the 10 legendary bowlers with the most 5-wicket-hauls in Test cricket history.
Let's not waste any more time and dive right in!
<h2>Top 10 Bowlers With The Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test Matches</h2>
The following table consists of the list of bowlers with the most 5-wicket-hauls in Test Matches.
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | MATCHES | 5Ws |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 133 | 67 |
| Shane Warne | Australia | 145 | 37 |
| Richard Hardlee | New Zealand | 86 | 36 |
| Anil Kumble | India | 132 | 35 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 94 | 34 |
| Rangana Hearth | Sri Lanka | 93 | 34 |
| James Anderson | England | 183 | 32 |
| Glenn McGrath | Australia | 124 | 29 |
| Ian Botham | England | 102 | 27 |
| Dale Steyn | South Africa | 93 | 26 |
<h3>1. Muttiah Muralitharan</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30890" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-18.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Muttiah Muralitharan" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="icc-cricket.com">icc-cricket.com</a>
The former Sri Lankan superstar tops this list with sixty-seven 5-fers in his 18-year Test career. Muttiah also is the leading wicket-taker in this cricketing format, with an astounding 800 wickets taken at an economy of 2.47.
Among his many Test cricket achievements is his twenty-two 10-wicket-hauls, the maximum by any bowler in Test cricket history. He bowled at a strike rate of 55.4 and took a wicket for every 22.72 runs that he conceded.
The right-arm off-spinner also holds the record for most wickets taken stumped (47) and most wickets taken bowled (167) in Test cricket history.
<h3>2. Shane Warne</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30891" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-1-6.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Shane Warne" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="cricwick.net">cricwick.net</a>
The late Australian giant snaffled thirty-seven 5-wicket-hauls in his <a href="https://www.sportiqo.com/best-test-team-india-captains-in-the-history-of-cricket/">Test career</a> that lasted from 1992 to 2007. Participating in 145 Test matches, Shane picked up 708 wickets at an average of 25.41. This is the 2nd highest number of wickets taken by a bowler in this cricketing format.
Warne’s best figures in Test cricket are <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-australia-1994-95-61706/australia-vs-england-1st-test-63663/full-scorecard">8/71 against England in 1994</a>. He also holds the record for being the 2nd fastest to reach 700 wickets in Test cricket. The leg spinner also has ten 10-fers in his bag, the 2nd most by any bowler in Test cricket history.
<h3>3. Richard Hadlee</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30892" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-2-6.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Richard Hadlee" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="wisden.com">wisden.com</a>
The great Kiwi all-rounder lands at the 3rd spot in this list of bowlers with the most 5-wicket-hauls in Test cricket. Hadlee picked up thirty-six 5-fers at an average of 22.29. The right-arm pacer conceded 2.63 runs per over and managed to snaffle 431 wickets in his Test career.
Richard also took more than 10 wickets 10 times in his 17-year Test career. Known for his unique swing style, Hadlee is the 3rd fastest Test bowler to reach 300 and 400 wickets. His best figures of 9/52 were produced against Australia in 1985.
<h3>4. Anil Kumble</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30893" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-3-5.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Anil Kumble" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="cricketaddictor.com">cricketaddictor.com</a>
The former Indian skipper took 35 five-wicket-hauls at a brilliant economy of 2.69. Kumble is regarded as one of the finest leg spinners of his era, as can be judged by his superb stats. He bowled at an average of 29.65 and has 8 ten-wicket-hauls to his name.
The classy leg-spinner is also the 4th leading wicket-taker in Test history with 619 wickets. He is the 2nd fastest bowler to reach the amazing milestone of 500 and 600 Test wickets. Anil’s best figures of 10/74 were against Pakistan in 1999.
<h3>5. Ravichandran Ashwin</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30894" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-4-5.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Ravichandran Ashwin" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="cricketaddictor.com">cricketaddictor.com</a>
The iconic Indian spinner has taken more than 5 wickets in Test cricket 34 times. Since making his Test debut in 2011, Ashwin has shown off his incredible bowling skills consistently. He has snaffled 489 Test wickets so far at an economy of 2.76.
Ashwin has represented his team in 94 matches (178 innings) and has managed to take a wicket after every 51.35 deliveries. The right-arm off-spinner is the fastest to reach 250, 300, and 350 Test wickets. He is also the 2nd fastest bowler to reach the 400 and 450 wickets milestone in Test cricket.
<h3>6. Rangana Herath</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30895" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-5-5.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Rangana Herath" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="sportskeeda.com">sportskeeda.com</a>
The former Sri Lankan Test player finds himself at the 6th spot on this prestigious list with 34 five-wicket-hauls to his name. Herath has picked up 433 Test wickets in his career, which lasted from 1999 to 2018.
The left-arm orthodox spinner also has 9 ten-wicket-hauls in his bag, the 3rd highest by any bowler in a career. He bowled at an economy of 2.80 and had a strike rate of 60.03 in his Test career. Herath’s best figures in this cricketing format were 9/127. These amazing numbers were produced in <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pakistan-tour-of-sri-lanka-2014-745147/sri-lanka-vs-pakistan-2nd-test-745155/full-scorecard">2014 against Pakistan</a>.
<h3>7. James Anderson</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30896" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-6-5.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- James Anderson" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="icc-cricket.com">icc-cricket.com</a>
The veteran English pacer has taken thirty-two 5-fers in his still ongoing Test career. Known for his consistency, Anderson has snaffled 690 wickets in his Test career. He is the 3rd highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.
The right-arm pacer bowls at an average of 26.42 and took a wicket after every 56.83 deliveries that he bowled. In his 10-year Test cricket career, Anderson has bowled 1638 maiden overs. His 7/42 against West Indies in 2017 are his career’s best figures so far.
<h3>8. Glenn McGrath</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30897" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-7-5.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Glenn McGrath" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="skysports.com">skysports.com</a>
The former Australian gun pacer has twenty-nine 5-wicket-hauls in his Test career that spanned from 1993 to 2007. Glenn is considered one of the greatest assets of Australian Cricket, and his amazing Test cricket stats speak for themselves.
He bowled at an economy of 2.49 and managed to grab 563 wickets in his career. He holds the record for 6th most wickets in Test cricket.
McGrath took a wicket at a strike rate of 51.95 and dismissed a batsman every 21.64 runs that he conceded. Glenn’s 8/24 in 2004 against Pakistan are his best figures in this cricketing format.
<h3>9. Ian Botham</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30898" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-8-5.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Ian Botham" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="wisden.com">wisden.com</a>
The former English player finds himself on the 9th spot in this list of bowlers with the most 5-wicket-hauls in Test cricket. Ian showcased his unique bowling talents in the 1980s and managed to snaffle 383 wickets in 102 matches (168 innings).
Botham bowled at a strike rate of 56.95 and gave 2.99 runs per over. Botham’s Test career-best figures were 8/34 against Pakistan in 1978. He also holds the record for being the 5th fastest bowler to reach to 150 wickets.
<h3>10. Dale Steyn</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-30899" src="https://www.sportiqo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sportiqo-Image-9-5.jpg" alt="Bowlers With Most 5-Wicket-Hauls In Test- Dale Steyn" width="600" height="336" /> Image Credits: <a href="sportsadda.com">sportsadda.com</a>
The former South African star finishes off this list with twenty-six 5-fers. Dale represented his team in 93 matches (171 innings) and bowled at an economy of 3.24.
With five 10-fers in his bag, Steyn picked up 439 wickets in his 15-year career. He holds the record for being the 10th leading wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket. He also has the 7th best strike rate of 42.38 in Test cricket. The right-arm pacer's best figures in Test cricket are 7/51. He achieved this feat against India in 2010.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
10 legendary players from different nations made it to our list of bowlers with the most 5-wicket-hauls in Test cricket. 2 out of 10 listed bowlers are from Sri Lanka, 2 from India, 2 from England, 2 from Australia, and 1 each from New Zealand and South Africa. 5 of the 10 listed players are fast bowlers and 5 are spinners.
Most of the listed bowlers are also leading wicket-takers in the history of Test Cricket. These include Muttiah Muralitharan (1st), Shane Warne (2nd), James Anderson (3rd), Anil Kumble (4th), Glenn McGrath (6th) and Dale Steyn (10th).
