England’s top 7 wicket-takers in Test cricket in 2024

Jonhenry Wilson 28 Dec 2024

Brydon Carse in Test cricket for England

Brydon Carse was among England's most prolific wicket-takers in Test cricket in 2024.

England had several successful bowlers in Test cricket in 2024.

A few did a lot better than others.

Here, we look at England’s most prolific wicket-takers in Test cricket this year.

7. Rehan Ahmed – 15 wickets in 4 Tests

Ahmed was England’s seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024.

They used him a lot during the tour of India and again, later in the year, on the visit to Pakistan. The young leg-spinner likely has a big future ahead of him.

6. Jack Leach – 18 wickets in 4 Tests

Leach was England’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. Leach weathered a long stint on the sidelines due to injury, but still managed to finish the year amid England’s four most prolific wicket-takers in the longest format of the international game.

He’ll hope he can remain free of injury going forward. Time and match fitness will tell.

5. Tom Hartley – 22 wickets in 5 Tests

Hartley was England’s fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. Considering nine of his wickets came on debut, Hartley’s next four Tests were relatively quiet.

England will, little doubt, turn to him again the next time they tour the sub-continent.

4. Brydon Carse – 27 wickets in 5 Tests

Carse was England’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024.

His haul this year included a 10-wicket match haul against New Zealand in Christchurch for the Player of the Match award.

Also read: The 25 bowlers who took a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket

3. Chris Woakes – 32 wickets in 9 Tests

Woakes was England’s third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. Woakes all but became the leader of the seam attack as England continued to navigate life without Broad and started to plot beyond Anderson.

This was an empowering year for Woakes in Test cricket.

2. Shoaib Bashir – 49 wickets in 15 Tests

Bashir was England’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024. He made his Test debut this year and has not looked back.

Bashir, like Ahmed, is testament to head coach Brendon McCullum’s willingness to blood young spinners early in international cricket. At just 21 years old, there is evidently a lot more to come from Bashir.

1. Gus Atkinson – 52 wickets in 11 Tests

Ahmed was England’s seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024.

He, like Carse, has been key to England’s motivation to succeed after the retirements of Broad and Anderson. Atkinson took 12 of his 50-plus wickets on Test debut at Lord’s. There will be a lot of expectation from him going forward.