Fastest to 700 Test Wickets

Key Insights

Muttiah Muralitharan is the fastest bowler to reach 700 Test wickets, achieving the milestone in just 113 matches.

Shane Warne is the second fastest and the first ever player to the mark, taking 144 matches. However, he reached the milestone in a very similar amount of time as Muralitharan, approximately 14 years.

James Anderson’s achievement stands out for its longevity. He became the third bowler to join the club, reaching the milestone in 187 matches and over 20 years.

Muralitharan is the only bowler to ever pick up 800 wickets in the longer format. And there’s no doubt he will remain the only one to do so in the history of cricket.

The spin master started his career in 1992 and ended with his 800th scalp in 2010. It took him 17 years and 324 days to attain the greatest record and sit at the top of the wickets tally in Tests, after so much struggle and scrutiny.