The top 6 wicket-takers in the history of the World Test Championship

Jonhenry Wilson 07 Jan 2025

Pat Cummins celebrates for Australia in Test cricket

Pat Cummins has the most wickets in the history of the World Test Championship.

The International Cricket Council’s World Test Championship started in 2019.

Since then, several bowlers have risen to the fore among the WTC’s leading wicket-takers.

Here are the six highest wicket-takers in the history of the World Test Championship.

6. Kagiso Rabada – 150 wickets in 33 WTC Tests

The South African pace ace recently reached 150 World Test Championship wickets during January 2025’s clash against Pakistan at Newlands in Cape Town.

Rabada will have a big chance to add to this tally when the Proteas play Australia in the final of the 2023-25 WTC at Lord’s in London, England, later this year. At 29 years old, Rabada is more prolific in this format than Shane Warne was at the same age.

5. Jasprit Bumrah – 156 wickets in 35 WTC Tests

The Indian fast bowler has 156 wickets in the World Test Championship. He took 32 of those during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. His overall WTC bowling average is under 19 – remarkable, indeed.

Bumrah was named Player of the Series for his huge effort despite India’s defeat. He is arguably India’s greatest ever fast bowler in Test cricket. Even Kapil Dev fans could agree to this.

4. Mitchell Starc – 165 wickets in 43 WTC Tests

One of three Australia stars on this list and the only left-armer, Starc has taken really well to World Test Championship cricket. With prodigious swing and challenging pace, he has collected 165 WTC wickets.

He, too, will have a chance to add to this number when Australia meet the South Africans in the WTC final in mid-2025.

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

3. Ravichandran Ashwin – 195 wickets in 41 WTC Tests

The Indian spinner took 195 World Test Championship wickets before retiring from international cricket halfway through the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

The Indian national cricket team will miss their prolific wicket-taker, who has all but handed the baton to Washington Sundar and other young spinners. Time will tell if others are able to attain the hefty numbers he collected over a sterling Test career.

2. Nathan Lyon – 196 wickets in 48 WTC Tests

Lyon has played the most World Test Championship matches among the six players on this list, picking up 196 wickets along the way. This tally includes 10 innings five-fors.

It’s more probable than possible that he will reach 200 against Australia at Lord’s later this year.

1. Pat Cummins – 200 wickets in 47 WTC Tests

The Australian captain has been outstanding for an extended period in the World Test Championship. Averaging under 23 for his 200 WTC wickets, Cummins has taken the most wickets in the history of the WTC.

He has taken Australia to several titles – and will have a shot at the WTC trophy again later this year.