Successful left-arm bowlers are a rare breed in cricket. The x-factor they bring into the team’s composition is always a welcoming one irrespective of the format. Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka, with 433 wickets, currently tops the list of the highest wicket-takers in Tests among the left-handed bowlers. That makes, no left-handed bowlers part of the elite list of 500 Test wickets.
Popular names like Wasim Akram, Daniel Vettori, Chaminda Vaas, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Ravindra Jadeja, Trent Boult, and Zaheer Khan are the other left-handed bowlers who have crossed 300 Test wickets.
Provided in the table below is the list of top-10 wicket-takers among left-handed bowlers in Test cricket:
| BOWLERS | MATCHES | INNINGS | WICKETS | AVERAGE | ECONOMY | STRIKE RATE | BEST BOWLING (inns) | 5W/10W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rangana Herath (SL) | 93 | 170 | 433 | 28.07 | 2.80 | 60.0 | 9/127 | 34/9 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 104 | 181 | 414 | 23.62 | 2.59 | 54.6 | 7/119 | 25/5 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 101 | 193 | 409 | 26.70 | 3.41 | 46.8 | 6/9 | 16/2 |
| Daniel Vettori (NZ) | 113 | 187 | 362 | 34.36 | 2.59 | 79.5 | 7/87 | 20/3 |
| Chaminda Vaas (SL) | 111 | 194 | 355 | 29.58 | 2.68 | 66.0 | 7/71 | 12/2 |
| Ravindra Jadeja (IND) | 88 | 165 | 342 | 25.10 | 2.58 | 58.1 | 7/42 | 15/3 |
| Trent Boult (NZ) | 78 | 149 | 317 | 27.49 | 3.00 | 54.9 | 6/30 | 10/1 |
| Mitchell Johnson (AUS) | 73 | 140 | 313 | 28.40 | 3.33 | 51.1 | 8/61 | 12/3 |
| Zaheer Khan (IND) | 92 | 165 | 311 | 32.94 | 3.27 | 60.4 | 7/87 | 11/1 |
| Derek Underwood (ENG) | 86 | 151 | 297 | 25.83 | 2.10 | 73.6 | 8/51 | 17/6 |
Stats Insights
Left-Arm Pacers: The Edge in Pace
Among the left-arm pacers, Wasim Akram leads the list with 414 Test wickets. See where he stands at the overall pacers’ list here.
Strike Rate King: Mitchell Starc has the most lethal strike rate of the entire group at 47.50, meaning he takes a wicket about once every eight overs. This is the best among all 300+ wicket Test bowlers, highlighting his aggressive, wicket-taking style.
Best Average: Wasim Akram edges out Starc for the best bowling average at 23.62. Coupled with a strike rate of 54.6, his long career reflects a combination of control, accuracy, and deadly reverse-swing.
Fastest to 300 Wickets: Mitchell Johnson (313 wickets) reached the 300-wicket mark faster than any other left-arm fast bowler in terms of matches played (73 matches), emphasizing his peak dominance during his prime.
Fastest to Every 100X Test Wickets
Left-Arm Spinners: The Subcontinent Dominance
Among the left-arm spinners, Rangana Herath leads the list with 433 Test wickets. Check where he stands among the overall spinners’ list here.
Highest Volume: Rangana Herath is the most successful left-arm spinner in Test history, not just with 433 wickets, but also with the most five-wicket hauls (34) and 10-wicket match hauls (9) for a left-armer. His career best of 9/127 is the best innings return by any left-arm bowler.
Best Average/Strike Rate: Ravindra Jadeja (309+ wickets) boasts the best average (24.00) and best strike rate (50.73) of any left-arm spinner on the list, demonstrating incredible potency, particularly in home conditions.
All-Round Greatness: Daniel Vettori (362 wickets) is one of only eight players in Test history to achieve the rare double of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets, showcasing his value as a true all-rounder.
Among the current list of bowlers, Mitchell Starc of Australia tops the list of highest Test wickets by left-handed bowlers.
