Top 5 bowlers with most wickets in ICC World Test Championship history

Ravi Ashwin has taken the most wickets for India in ICC World Test Championship history.

The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) started in 2019. New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023) won the first two ICC WTC titles.

The ICC introduced this tournament that would be played over a two-year cycle to increase the interest of the fans in test cricket. The WTC provided importance and significance to every single test match.

With WTC points now up for grabs for every test, teams have mostly prepared surfaces where bowlers get considerable assistance and the game ends with a result.

In this article, we will talk about the top five wicket-takers in the ICC World Test Championship history so far.

List of top five bowlers with the most wickets in ICC World Test Championship:

5. Jasprit Bumrah (IND) – 155 wickets

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has surged on this list. He made his test debut in 2018 and has been sensational throughout, at home and away.

In 35 WTC matches, Bumrah has claimed 155 wickets at an average of 18.56, which is the best among the top five wicket-takers in the WTC, with 10 five-wicket hauls.

He was a key player in India reaching two ICC WTC finals, winning the 2020/21 BGT in Australia, Man of the Series on the 2023/24 South Africa tour and had a record-breaking BGT 2024/25 series.

4. Mitchell Starc (AUS) – 165 wickets

Mitchell Starc is one of the deadliest pacers in the world. He played a crucial part in Australia winning the WTC 2021-23.

He has played 43 tests so far in the WTC and taken 165 wickets at an average of 27.03 with best bowling figures of 6/48. Starc has taken ten four five-fors in the WTC.

3. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) – 195 wickets

Veteran Indian spinner R Ashwin is India’s most successful off-spinner with over 500 test wickets. Ashwin has been a key contributor to India’s dominance at home over the past dozen years. Ashwin has delivered plenty of match-winning performances and helped India make it to two consecutive WTC finals.

The off-spinner played 41 WTC tests, taking 195 wickets at a terrific average of 21.49. He took the most fifers (11) in the ICC WTC history.

Ashwin retired from international cricket in December 2024.

2. Nathan Lyon (AUS) – 196 wickets

Nathan Lyon is hailed as Australia’s greatest off-spinner and the second-greatest spinner after Shane Warne. He’s been a vital cog in Australia’s success in tests over the past dozen years.

In the WTC history, Lyon has taken 196 wickets in 48 tests at an average of 27.16, with 10 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket match hauls.

1. Pat Cummins (AUS) – 197 wickets

The Australian test captain Pat Cummins is the leading wicket-taker currently in the ICC WTC history. Cummins has played 47 WTC matches and taken 197 wickets at an average of 22.75 with a best of 6/91. The Australian captain has taken nine five-wicket hauls in the WTC.

Cummins has been one of the best fast bowlers in the world since his return in 2017. His performances with the ball and as a captain helped Australia win the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship.

(All stats are updated till 3rd January 2025)

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