Most Test Wickets for New Zealand

Key Insights – Leading New Zealand Test Wicket-Takers

Sir Richard Hadlee: New Zealand’s All-Time Wicket Leader

Richard Hadlee is the undisputed leader in most Test wickets for New Zealand, setting high benchmarks for bowling excellence:

Total Wickets: Hadlee holds the record for the most Test wickets, bagging 431 scalps in 150 innings.

Best Average & Strike Rate: Among Kiwi bowlers who have bowled a minimum of 5,000 balls, Hadlee boasts the lowest average of 22.29 and the lowest strike rate of 50.8.

Speed to Milestones: He is the fastest Kiwi bowler to 300 Test victims, achieving the mark in 61 matches (joint fourth quickest overall). He reached his 400th Test wicket in 80 matches, the joint third fastest overall.

Five- & Ten-Wicket Hauls: His 36 five-fors are the fourth most on the all-time list, and his nine ten-wicket hauls are the joint third most globally.

Wickets in Wins: 17 of Hadlee’s 36 five-fors and eight of his nine ten-wicket hauls came in wins, the most for New Zealand.

Overseas Dominance: 230 of Hadlee’s wickets came outside New Zealand, the most by a Blackcaps bowler in overseas Tests. His tally included 21 five-wicket hauls, the second most by a bowler in away-from-home Tests.

Rivalry and Series Records: Hadlee took 130 wickets against Trans-Tasman rivals Australia, the most by a Kiwi bowler against an opponent in Tests. His 33 wickets in the 1985 Trans-Tasman Trophy is the most by a Blackcaps bowler in a bilateral Test series.

Venue & Calendar Year: He snared 76 scalps at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch, the most among New Zealand bowlers at a single venue. His 64 wickets in ten Tests in 1985 are the most by a New Zealand bowler in a calendar year in Tests.

Daniel Vettori: The Leading Spinner

Daniel Vettori is the second most prolific wicket-taker and the record-holder among New Zealand spin bowlers.

Wickets by a Spinner: Vettori’s 361 wickets are the most by a New Zealand spinner in Test cricket. John Bracewell (102) is the only other Kiwi spinner with 100-plus Test wickets.

Multiple Ten-Wicket Hauls: Vettori has achieved three ten-wicket hauls in Test cricket.

Captaincy Record: Vettori is the only New Zealand skipper with 100-plus wickets and five-plus five-fors in Tests, having picked up 116 scalps and six five-wicket hauls as captain.

Calendar Year: Vettori is the only other New Zealand bowler with 50-plus Test wickets in a year, taking 54 scalps in 2008.

Tim Southee and Ajaz Patel: Key Modern Contributors

Tim Southee and Ajaz Patel hold important records related to home performance and rare single-innings achievements:

Home Wickets Record: Tim Southee picked up 234 Test wickets on home soil, the most among New Zealand bowlers.

Wickets in Wins: Southee is the only bowler to take 200-plus wickets in Test wins for New Zealand, with 209 of his 391 scalps coming in 47 victories.

Venue Versatility: Southee is the only New Zealand bowler with 50-plus wickets at three different venues: Basin Reserve (63), Hagley Oval (63), and Seddon Park (54).

10 Wickets in an Innings: Ajaz Patel is the only New Zealand bowler to bag all ten wickets in a Test innings, achieving the feat against India in the 2021 Wankhede Test.

Multiple Ten-Wicket Hauls: Patel has achieved two ten-wicket hauls in Test cricket.