Most 10-Wicket Hauls in Test

A 10-wicket haul is a rare achievement by a bowler when picking up 10 wickets combined in both innings of a Test match.

The chart below lists the top 10 cricketers who have picked the most 10-wicket hauls in Test cricket.

Most 10 Wickets Haul in Test Match

Key Insights on Most Ten-Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket

Muttiah Muralitharan’s Unmatched 10-Wicket Haul Records

Muttiah Muralitharan leads the chart of the most ten-wicket hauls in Test cricket. He claimed 22 ten-fors, 12 more than the second-placed Shane Warne.

The Sri Lankan spinner has also taken the most five-wicket hauls in Tests, with 45 such spells to his name.

Murali picked up 15 of his 22 ten-wicket hauls in Sri Lanka, the most by a bowler at home in Tests.

Murali has also grabbed the most ten-fors in overseas Tests, with his other seven spells coming outside Sri Lanka.

Muralitharan has bagged the most ten-wicket hauls in a calendar year in Tests, having claimed five in 2006.

Muralitharan is the only bowler to take four consecutive ten-wicket hauls in Tests. He, in fact, achieved the feat twice in the format.

Richard Hadlee’s nine ten-wicket hauls are the most by a fast bowler in Test cricket.

Test Ten-for Milestones at Specific Venues and Against Opponents

Muralitharan took five of his ten-fors at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy, the most by a bowler at a single venue in Tests.

Muralitharan is the only bowler to take four or more ten-wicket hauls at three venues in Tests, with Galle and Colombo (SSC) being the other grounds where he picked up four ten-fors each.

Sydney Barnes has claimed the most ten-wicket hauls against an opponent in Tests, having taken six against South Africa.

Muralitharan is the only bowler to grab four ten-wicket hauls each against three Test teams, having done so against Bangladesh, England and South Africa.

Test Ten-fors Records in Bilateral Series

England’s Sydney Barnes has claimed three ten-fors each in two bilateral Test series, having achieved the feat against South Africa in the 1912 and 1913/14 series.

Australia’s Clarrie Grimmett is the other bowler to take three ten-wicket hauls in a bilateral Test series. Coincidentally, he also achieved the feat against South Africa on the 1935/35 tour.

Most Ten-Wicket Hauls by Test Captains

Imran Khan has taken the most ten-wicket hauls as a captain in Tests, with four to his name while leading Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Intikhab Alam is the other captain with two or more ten-fors in Tests.

Historic Test Debut Achievements and All-Time Best Figures

A total of 19 bowlers have taken a ten-wicket haul on their Test debuts. 

Among them, India’s Narendra Hirwani has delivered the best match haul on Test debut, returning with 16 for 136 against the West Indies in the 1988 Chennai Test.

England’s Jim Laker, meanwhile, has registered the best bowling figures in an innings and in a Test match. He fetched 9 for 37 and 10 for 53 to have combined match figures of 19 for 90 against Australia in the 1956 Manchester Test.

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