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Test cricket is one of the traditional formats of the game of Cricket. It is in a bit of pressure to run with the current tastes and preferences of the fast-moving world. The viewers are decreasing, on the field as well as off the field as compared to the limited overs formats. The reason for it is the matches have been one-sided. To increase the viewership, ICC brought day-night pink ball Test match, which has solved the issue somewhat. Nevertheless, a team like India has not played a single pink ball Test. The major issue with the Tests in the recent past is the visiting side finds it difficult to cope with the foreign conditions, especially the batsmen. The Test format has become more of a bowler-friendly format, as in the limited overs format the pitches nowadays are flat, which suits the batsmen.
As Test cricket is currently more hospitable to the bowlers, this article covers the bowlers who have taken the maximum wickets in a single calendar year.
Before that, you can also look into the number of Wickets taken by the bowler with the Most Wickets in Tests in 2018.
Now, let’s get into the question of who are the top five bowlers to take most wickets in a single calendar year in Tests.
5. JOEL GARNER:
In the year 1984, the tall fast bowler from the Caribbean was the leading wicket-taker with 77 wickets in 15 matches.
During that year, West Indies played ten Test matches against Australia.
First, the Aussies toured the islands in March for five Test matches, where Garner picked 31 wickets, which includes three five-wicket hauls and was also adjudged as the Player of the Series. His best bowling figures in an inning in this series were 6/60 at Port of Spain and best bowling figures in a match, which is his career best were 9/108 at Georgetown. West Indies won that series 3-0.
Later, in the month of November, West Indies toured down under for five Test match series. Here, Garner picked 19 wickets. West Indies again won the series 3-1.
The remaining 29 wickets he picked against and in England in five Test matches, where West Indies whitewashed the series 5-0. Besides, he was the leading wicket-taker in the year 1980 as well with 53 wickets in 12 matches.
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4. ALLAN DONALD AND MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN:
Donald was the leading wicket-taker in the year 1998 with 80 wickets in 14 matches.
He took 3 wickets against Australia, 16 wickets against Pakistan, 14 wickets each against Sri Lanka and West Indies and 33 wickets in five matches against England.
He was also adjudged as the Player of the Series against England.
His 80 wickets include seven five-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures in an inning were 6/88 against England at Manchester and best bowling figures in a match were 8/74 against Pakistan at Port Elizabeth.
In addition, Muttiah Muralitharan also picked 80 wickets in the year 2001 in 12 matches.
Out of these 80 wickets, he took 24 wickets against West Indies in three matches.
He also took seven five-wicket hauls during this period. His best bowling figures in an inning were 8/87 against India at Colombo and best bowling figures in a match were 11/170 against West Indies at Galle.
He was also given Player of the Series award against India for his 23 wickets in 3 matches.
Moreover, Muralitharan has achieved the record of being the highest wicket-taker in a single calendar year six times in his career.
Also, in 2000, he became the 6th Test Bowler to dismiss all 11 batsmen in a Test Match.
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3. DENNIS LILLEE:
Dennis Lillee, one of the 5 Bowlers who never bowled a single no-ball in Test cricket, took 85 wickets in 13 matches in the year 1981.
The Australian fast bowler picked 10 wickets against West Indies, 15 wickets against Pakistan, 21 wickets against India and 39 wickets in six matches against England.
His 85 wickets include five five-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures in an inning, which is his career best were 7/83 against West Indies at Melbourne and best bowling figures in a match were 11/159 against England at The Oval, London.
He was also the Player of the Series against India for his 21 wickets in three matches.
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2. MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN:
The six-time record holder picked 90 wickets in 11 matches in the year 2006.
He was adjudged as the Player of the Series three times for his 24 wickets against England, 16 wickets against Bangladesh and 22 wickets against South Africa. He picked nine five-wicket hauls during this period.
His best bowling figures in an innings were 8/70 against England at Nottingham and best bowling figures in a match were 12/225 against South Africa at Colombo.
Just to add, Muttiah Muralitharan also holds the record for the Most 5-Wicket haul and 10-Wicket hauls in Test Cricket.
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1. SHANE WARNE:
The Aussie leg-spinner holds the record of picking the most number of wickets in a calendar year. He picked 96 wickets in 15 matches in the year 2005.
He picked 40 wickets in five matches against England and was also the Player of the Series.
His 96 wickets include six five-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures in an inning were 6/46 at Birmingham and best bowling figures in a match were 12/246 at The Oval against England.
Warne has achieved the record of being the highest wicket-taker in a single calendar year eight times in his career.
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