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The Top 10 Fastest Bowlers To 400 Test Wickets

Cricket, often referred to as the ‘gentleman’s game’, has witnessed some remarkable feats over the years. Among these, the achievement of reaching 400 Test wickets stands out as a testament to a bowler’s skill, consistency, and endurance.

While there are a few bowlers who have touched the 500-wicket, 600-wicket, 700-wicket, and even the 800-wicket club, that list is very small and elite. So, on this page, we’re going to focus on the 400-wicket club, something that has been achieved by several Test bowlers over the decades. Let’s delve into the careers of the top 10 bowlers who achieved this milestone in the shortest time.

Fastest Bowlers To 400 Test Wickets:

Bowler	Country	Total Wickets	Matches To 400 Wickets
Muttiah Muralitharan	Sri Lanka	800	72
Ravichandran Ashwin	India	516	77
Richard Hadlee	New Zealand	431	80
Dale Steyn	South Africa	439	80
Rangana Herath	Sri Lanka	433	84
Anil Kumble	India	619	85
Glenn McGrath	Australia	563	87
Shane Warne	Australia	708	92
Wasim Akram	Pakistan	414	96
Harbhajan Singh	India	417	96

 

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (🇱🇰)

On this day in 2010, Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan retired from the longest format of the game, finishing with 800 Test wickets 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xw17urNuKc

— ICC (@ICC) July 22, 2022

Muralitharan, the legendary Sri Lankan spinner, holds the record for being the fastest to 400 Test wickets. He achieved this feat in just 72 matches, spanning a career that began in 1992. His unorthodox action and the ability to spin the ball both ways made him a nightmare for batsmen worldwide. His legacy includes being the only bowler in Test history to scale the 800-wicket mountain, while also having a biopic created called ‘800’.

2. Ravichandran Ashwin (🇮🇳)

India’s off-spinner Ashwin reached 400 wickets in 77 matches. His variations, including the carrom ball and the classical off-break, have troubled batsmen across formats. His intelligence and adaptability make him a modern-day great. Now let’s not forget that along with so many wickets across the world in different conditions, he’s the only one on this list with 5 Test centuries to his name too.

3. Richard Hadlee (🇳🇿)

86 Tests

431 wickets @ 22.29, 36 five-fors, 9 ten-wicket hauls

3,124 runs @ 27.16, 2 hundreds

The great Richard Hadlee turns 70 today. pic.twitter.com/XUOfBcgGV0

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 3, 2021

Hadlee, the Kiwi fast bowler, took 80 matches to reach 400 wickets. His impeccable line and length, combined with genuine pace, made him a force to reckon with during the 1980s. He also excelled with the bat when required, with his Test stats including two centuries, 15 fifties, and a best score of 151* with the willow.

4. Dale Steyn (🇿🇦)

439 Test wickets
An average of 22.95
26 five wicket hauls
Five 10 wicket hauls

Thank you for the memories, Dale Steyn, and congratulations on an amazing Test career! pic.twitter.com/WM1kNrXPxM

— ICC (@ICC) August 6, 2019

Often considered as one of the most lethal new-ball bowlers of this generation, Steyn’s fiery pace and lethal swing helped him achieve the milestone in 80 matches too. His ability to generate reverse swing even on docile pitches set him apart. He ended his career with 439 wickets inclusive of 27 4-fers, 26 5-fers, and getting 10 wickets in a game on five occasions.

5. Rangana Herath (🇱🇰)

Credit: CricTracker

Another Sri Lankan spinner, Herath, reached the milestone of 400 wickets in 84 matches. His classical left-arm spin and subtle variations troubled batsmen across the globe. While his earlier days were played under the shadow of other greats, he came into his own during the latter stages of his career and his best bowling in an innings was 9/127!

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6. Anil Kumble (🇮🇳)

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest leg spinners Anil Kumble 🐐🔥

He is the 2nd player to dismiss ten batsmen in a test match innings.

He is the fourth highest wicket taker of all time in test cricket history (619 wickets)pic.twitter.com/DbCLgVNthE

— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) October 17, 2023

Kumble, India’s leg-spin maestro, achieved the feat in 85 matches. His relentless accuracy and the ability to extract bounce from any surface made him a match-winner, coupled with his tenacity and ability to never give up. He gave it his best on the field, even fighting it out with the bat when India needed him to.

7. Glenn McGrath (🇦🇺)

Credit: IndiaTimes

McGrath, the Australian seamer, reached 400 wickets in 87 matches. His metronomic accuracy and seam movement made him a nightmare for opening batsmen, and he’s often considered as one of the best Test pacers in history. Known as ‘Pidge’ among his peers, he ended his Test career with 563 wickets and a best innings spell of 8/24.

8. Shane Warne (🇦🇺)

#OnThisDay 30 years ago, a young Australian leggie called Shane Warne made his Test debut against India.

His debut didn't quite go to plan as his 45 overs yielded figures of 1-150, but he went OK thereafter, finishing his career with 708 Test wickets. A true great of the game. pic.twitter.com/OhPBV2C4bN

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 2, 2022

You can’t talk about Test bowling records without including this wizard in almost every list. Warne, the iconic leg-spinner, achieved the milestone in 92 matches. His prodigious turn and deceptive variations mesmerized fans worldwide, often creating deliveries that went down in the record books. He and Muralitharan are the only to have 700+ wickets in Test cricket and he’s also credited with bowling the ‘Ball of the Century’ to England’s Mike Gatting.

9. Wasim Akram (🇵🇰)

Credit: ThePrint

Akram was given the title of the Sultan of Swing for all the right reasons, reaching 400 Test wickets in 96 matches. His ability to swing the ball both ways at pace made him a true match-winner and even many years after his retirement, there’s no bowler who could swing it as much as him, so consistently.

10. Harbhajan Singh (🇮🇳)

An Epic Series Win#OTD in 2001, India beat Australia by 2 wickets in Chennai & won the series 2-1 after being down 0-1.

Harbhajan took 7/133 & 7/84 in test & became First & only Indian to take 4 consecutive 5-fer in Tests (7/123 & 6/73, 7/133 & 7/84).pic.twitter.com/xDF3ZOpgdY

— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) March 22, 2024

Harbhajan, India’s turbanator, also achieved the feat in 96 matches. His doosra and classical off-spin bamboozled batsmen, especially in home conditions. Singh played his last Test for India at the age of 34 years, or else he could’ve easily passed the 500-wicket milestone as well.

Note: Time is based on the start of the debut match and the match in which the milestone was achieved. This list was last updated on 11^th May 2024, and will be updated if there are new entrants on the list.

These bowlers etched their names in cricketing history by reaching 400 Test wickets in record time. Their contributions to the game continue to inspire generations of cricketers. As we celebrate their achievements, let’s remember that behind every wicket lies countless hours of hard work, dedication, and passion.

For more news and updates on Test Cricket, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.

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