Teams and players contest fiercely in Test cricket, with a lot of pride and emotions at stake. This gives rise to rivalries between 2 teams that add another level of excitement to the game.
Players also become determined to perform at their best against a particular team, dominating them either with the ball or the ball. In the longest format, some bowlers have enjoyed bowling against a particular opponent, grabbing heaps of wickets.
In this article, we’ll list the top 10 bowlers with the most wickets against an opponent in Test cricket.
Most Wickets against an Opponent in Tests
| Player | Innings | Wickets | Average | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Warne (AUS) | 72 | 195 | 23.25 | England |
| Dennis Lillee (AUS) | 57 | 167 | 21.00 | England |
| Curtly Ambrose (WI) | 63 | 164 | 18.79 | England |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 60 | 157 | 20.92 | England |
| Stuart Broad (ENG) | 74 | 153 | 28.96 | Australia |
| James Anderson (ENG) | 73 | 149 | 25.47 | India |
| Ian Botham (ENG) | 66 | 148 | 27.65 | Australia |
| Courtney Walsh (WI) | 68 | 145 | 25.40 | England |
| Hugh Trumble (AUS) | 55 | 141 | 20.88 | England |
| Courtney Walsh (WI) | 69 | 135 | 28.68 | Australia |
Key Insights
195 wickets picked up by Shane Warne are the most against a single opponent in Test cricket. He took those many wickets in 72 innings at an average of 23.25 against England.
129 of Warne’s 195 scalps came in England, which is the most against an opponent in away Tests. Warne is the only bowler with 100+ wickets on the opposition’s home turf.
3 bowlers have grabbed 100 or more wickets against a single team in home Tests. Stuart Broad picked up 106 wickets against Australia, James Anderson took 105 against India (both in England), and R. Ashwin plucked 100 against England in India.
Also Read | Top 10: Most Wickets Against an Opponent for India in Tests
Courtney Walsh and Share Warne are the only 2 bowlers who have taken 130 or more wickets against 2 different opponents. Walsh took 145 and 135 wickets against England and Australia, while Warne scalped 195 and 130 wickets against England and South Africa, respectively.
When James Anderson took his 149th wicket against India in the 2024 Dharamsala Test, he reached the 700 Test wicket milestone. He became only the third bowler to touch the mark after Warne and Muthiah Muralidaran.
44 bowlers have picked up 100 or more wickets against an opponent in Test cricket.
14 five-wicket hauls by Sir Richard Hadlee against Australia are the most against an opponent in Tests. While Sydney Barnes’ 6 ten-wicket hauls against South Africa are the most versus a Test team.
