Top 5 bowlers fastest to pick 300 wickets in test cricket (by balls taken)

A total of 39 bowlers have taken over 300 wickets in test cricket.

Test cricket has evolved over the years. Throughout its rich history, it has seen many teams adapt and change. While the style of play has kept evolving, test cricket’s nature of testing players on their endurance and determination level has remained constant.

Regarded as the best format of the game, performance in test cricket is still considered the benchmark of any player’s legacy. While it tests every player that steps on the field, the bowlers in particular are examined not only on their skillset, but also on planning and persistence as well.

In 147 years of test cricket history, a total of 39 bowlers have taken 300 or more wickets in the format. Ravi Ashwin is the fastest to reach the milestone in terms of matches taken, but he took more than 15,000 balls to do so, which isn’t the fastest in terms of balls taken to achieve the feat. On that note, let’s look at the top five bowlers fastest to pick 300 wickets in test cricket in terms of balls taken.

Here are the top 5 bowlers fastest to pick 300 wickets in test cricket (by balls taken):

5. Malcolm Marshall – 13,728 balls

Regarded by many as one of the greatest fast bowler of all time, Malcolm Marshall is the only West Indies bowler in the list. Marshall made his debut against India in 1978 in Bangalore (now Bengaluru). He was known for his bowling discipline and the ability to generate extra bounce from the surface.

Malcolm Marshall created history against Australia in Melbourne in 1988 when he became the then fastest bowler (by balls taken) to take 300 test wickets. Marshall finished his career at the Oval against England with 376 wickets at a bowling average of 20.94.

4. Allan Donald – 13,672 balls

Known as the “White Lightning,” Allan Donald is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the history of cricket. Making his debut in 1992 against West Indies, Donald quickly established himself as one of the fiercest fast bowlers in the world.

Donald etched his name in the history books when he took the 300th test wicket of his career against New Zealand in Bloemfontein in 2000. He took 13,672 deliveries to scalp 300 test wickets. Donald put curtains over his stellar 10-year career in 2003 against Australia in Johannesburg.

3. Dale Steyn – 12,605 balls

Next on the list is South African speedster Dale Steyn. Famously known as the “Steyn Gun,” he reached this special landmark against New Zealand in the first test of SA vs NZ test series in Cape Town in 2013. Steyn created history as he broke Allan Donald’s record to become the then fastest South African bowler to take 300 wickets in test cricket in terms of balls taken.

Throughout his illustrious career, Steyn picked 439 test wickets at a bowling average of just 22.95. Steyn’s career was cut short due to frequent injuries. Being one of the greatest fast bowlers of this century, Steyn was unfortunate not to play 100 test matches in his career.

2. Waqar Younis – 12,602 balls

One of the greatest Pakistani fast bowlers of all time, Waqar Younis made his debut against India in 1989 in Karachi. Waqar achieved this special milestone of completing 300 test wickets against Sri Lanka at Colombo in the year 2000. Waqar took 12,602 balls to take his 300th test scalp. Known for his incredible pace and deadly reverse swing, Waqar formed a legendary bowling partnership with Wasim Akram.

Waqar retired from test cricket in 2003 after a stellar career that spanned 14 years. In his career, Waqar took 373 test wickets with a bowling average of just 23.5.

1. Kagiso Rabada – 11,817 balls

Topping the list is the leader of the current South African pace attack Kagiso Rabada. KG is also the third South African in the list which highlights the country’s prowess in the fast bowling department.

Rabada completed 300 test wickets in first test of South Africa’s tour of Bangladesh in 2024. He took 65 matches to achieve the feat (third fastest among South African bowlers) and just 11,817 deliveries, which is the fastest among all 39 bowlers to complete 300 test wickets.

(All stats updated till 21st October, 2024)

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