The test format of cricket is the slowest but is still considered to be the best and most entertaining by many cricket fans. This is because it really tests the skills of both the bowlers and the batsman. It’s a test of skill, perseverance, and mental acuity. It is the most demanding and taxing format of cricket prevalent today. This article talks about the bowlers who were the fastest to pick up 200 wickets in this format.
Bowler | Country | Total Wickets | Matches To 100 Wickets |
Yasir Shah | Pakistan | 244 | 33 |
Clarrie Grimmett | Australia | 216 | 36 |
Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 516 | 37 |
Dennis Lillee | Australia | 355 | 38 |
Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 373 | 38 |
Dale Steyn | South Africa | 439 | 39 |
Ian Botham | England | 383 | 41 |
Stuart MacGill | Australia | 208 | 41 |
Malcolm Marshall | West Indies | 376 | 42 |
Shane Warne | Australia | 708 | 42 |
Allan Donald | South Africa | 330 | 42 |
Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 800 | 42 |
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1347 Wickets
77 Five wicket hauls
22 Ten wicket haulsHappy 52nd Birthday to the greatest bowler of all time.
Muttiah Muralitharan 🐐 pic.twitter.com/e88fMkx1K0
— Naveen Peiris (@_Naviya_) April 17, 2024
Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan off-spinner, reached 200 Test wickets in 42 matches. Known for his unique bowling action and exceptional skill, Muralitharan was a master of spin bowling. He picked up his 200th wicket on 27th August 1998 in a game against England. Muralitharan’s ability to turn the ball sharply and his consistency made him a match-winner for Sri Lanka. His record-breaking career has earned him a place among the greatest bowlers in cricket history.
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Allan Donald, the South African fast bowler, reached 200 Test wickets in 42 matches. Known for his express pace and aggressive approach, Donald was a key figure in South Africa’s bowling attack. His milestone came in the late 1990s, during a period when he was at the peak of his career. Donald’s ability to bowl with both pace and precision made him a constant threat to batsmen. His contributions to South African cricket are highly regarded, and he remains one of the most respected fast bowlers in the game.
#OnThisDay 2005 | Shane Warne became the first cricketer to take 600 Test wickets 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/HxIF60BRIX
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 11, 2024
Shane Warne, the Australian leg-spinner, reached 200 Test wickets in 42 matches. Known for his exceptional skill and charisma, Warne revolutionised the art of leg-spin bowling. Warne went past the 200 test wicket mark in 1995 when he was at the top of his game. Past or present, absolutely no one can turn the ball how Shane Warne used to. This is one of the biggest things that made him a match-winner for Australia. His contributions to cricket are immense, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.
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Malcolm Marshall, the West Indian fast bowler, reached 200 Test wickets in 42 matches. Known for his devastating pace and ability to swing the ball, Marshall was a key figure in the dominant West Indies team of the 1980s. His milestone came during a period when he was at the peak of his career. Marshall’s ability to bowl with both pace and precision made him one of the most feared bowlers of his time. He is highly respected as a legendary bowler, and no one can say otherwise.
Credit: Central Western Daily
Stuart MacGill, the Australian leg-spinner, reached 200 Test wickets in 41 matches. Often overshadowed by Shane Warne, MacGill was a highly skilled bowler in his own right. His milestone came in the early 2000s, during a period when he was a regular in the Australian team. MacGill’s ability to extract sharp turn and his aggressive approach made him a valuable asset. Despite playing in the shadow of Warne, MacGill’s achievements are highly respected in the cricketing world.
Ian Botham, the English all-rounder, reached 200 Test wickets in 41 matches. Known for his charismatic personality and match-winning abilities, Botham was a true all-rounder. His 200th wicket came in the early 1980s. Botham’s ability to swing the ball and his aggressive batting made him a key player for England. His contributions to English cricket are legendary, and he remains one of the most celebrated cricketers of all time.
With Dale Steyn announcing his retirement from Test cricket, here's every wicket he took on Aussie soil. Legend. pic.twitter.com/1pScSNhp8X
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 5, 2019
Dale Steyn, the South African fast bowler, reached 200 Test wickets in 39 matches. Renowned for his express pace and ability to swing the ball both ways, Steyn was a constant threat to batsmen. When Steyn picked up his 200th test wicket, he was considered as one of if not the best bowlers in the world. Steyn’s fierce competitiveness and consistent performances have made him one of the most successful and admired bowlers in cricket history.
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Happy birthday Waqar Younis🎉 – the Toe crusher💥
– 416 ODI wickets and 373 Test wickets 🏏
– Man with the most 5-wicket hauls in ODIs 🖐️
– Fastest to pick 400 ODI Wickets 🚀
– Best figures by a captain in ODIs 🏆
– 35 Career 5-fers🌟#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/OqjQvs95jg— TCTV Cricket (@tctv1offl) November 16, 2023
Waqar Younis, the Pakistani fast bowler who reached 200 Test wickets in 38 matches, is known for his lethal reverse swing and toe-crushing yorkers. Waqar’s milestone came in the early 1990s, during a period when he formed a formidable partnership with Wasim Akram. He was brilliant at making the ball move late, and this made him a nightmare for batsmen. Waqar’s aggressive style and knack for taking wickets in crucial moments have earned him a place among the greats of the game.
Credit: Sport360
Dennis Lillee, the Australian fast bowler, reached 200 Test wickets in 38 matches. Known for his fiery pace and aggressive approach, Lillee was a fearsome competitor on the field. He crossed the 200-mark in the late 1970s, during a period when he was at the peak of his powers. Lillee’s ability to intimidate batsmen with his speed and skill made him one of the most respected and feared bowlers of his era. His contribution to Australian cricket is celebrated, and he remains a legend of the game.
500 Test wickets for a one-in-a-million bowler!
In AshWIN the SpinNER, there was always a WINNER. 500 wickets is a huge milestone in Test cricket. Congratulations, Champion!#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Cb48ZJE3XO
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 16, 2024
Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian off-spinner, reached 200 Test wickets in just 37 matches, becoming the fastest Indian to do so. Ashwin’s journey to this milestone was characterised by his versatility and intelligence on the field. His ability to adapt to different conditions and his wide array of deliveries have made him a crucial player for India. Ashwin’s 200th wicket came in 2016 against New Zealand, and he has since continued to be a mainstay in the Indian bowling lineup owing to his match-winning performances.
Clarrie Grimmett, the Australian leg-spinner, reached 200 Test wickets in 36 matches, a record that stood for decades. Known for his accuracy and clever variations, Grimmett was a master of the art of leg-spin. His milestone came during the 1930s, a period dominated by his duels with some of the best batsmen of his time. Grimmett’s ability to outthink and outfox batsmen made him a key figure in Australia’s bowling attack. His legacy as one of the greatest leg-spinners in cricket history remains intact.
The fastest player to 200 Test wickets, taking just 33 matches to reach the milestone 🔥
Happy 37th birthday to Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah 🎂@Shah64Y pic.twitter.com/kGdHNLYNOV
— ᴀᴅᴀᴍ (@achabhaiii) May 2, 2023
Yasir Shah, the Pakistani leg-spinner, reached the 200 Test wickets milestone in just 33 matches, making him the fastest to achieve this feat. His exceptional control and ability to extract turn from any surface have made him a formidable bowler. Yasir’s journey to 200 wickets was marked by consistent performances, including several match-winning spells. His record-breaking achievement came against New Zealand in 2018, showcasing his skill and determination. Yasir’s rapid rise in Test cricket has cemented his place as one of the premier spinners in the modern era.
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Guransh Machra is a sportswriter at Gutshot Magazine. He covers football news from local leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues like the Premier League. He follows various sports like Football, Cricket, Formula 1, and Tennis. Apart from sports, Guransh is also enthusiastic about reading and gaming.
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