Image Credit: twitter.com/@glennmcgrath11
The Cricket World Cup has historically been the sport’s most important competition. Batsmen and bowlers both need more in the game with the other. Bowlers have long been a crucial aspect of the game, much like batters. Over the years, numerous bowlers have competed in and won the World Cup. The bowlers who have taken the most World Cup wickets will be examined.
The World Cup record for most wickets presently belongs to former Australian great Glenn McGrath (71). Three World Cups were attended by McGrath (1996-2007). He is arguably the best fast bowler to ever play the sport. His line, length, and swing contributed to the strength of his bowling. Regardless of the pitching situation, he was a player who had already made a name for himself. Additionally, the Australian has taken the most wickets for his country across all formats (949).
| Wickets | Player | Matches | Avg | Econ | BBI | Span |
| 71 | Glenn McGrath | 39 | 18.19 | 3.96 | 7/15 | 1996–2007 |
| 68 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 40 | 19.63 | 3.88 | 4/19 | 1996–2011 |
| 56 | Lasith Malinga | 29 | 22.87 | 5.51 | 6/38 | 2007–2019 |
| 55 | Wasim Akram | 38 | 23.83 | 4.04 | 5/28 | 1987–2003
|
| 49 | Mitchell Starc | 18 | 14.81 | 4.64 | 6/28 | 2015–2019 |
| 49 | Chaminda Vaas | 31 | 21.22 | 3.97 | 6/25 | 1996–2007
|
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Glenn McGrath
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Between his tournament debut in 1996 and his final appearance in 2007, McGrath collected 71 wickets in 39 games, three more than his closest rival, Muttiah Muralitharan. Between his tournament debut in 1996 and his final appearance in 2007, McGrath collected 71 wickets in 39 games, three more than his closest rival, Muttiah Muralitharan. Despite being 37 and nearing the end of his career, McGrath had a productive World Cup in 2007. His 26 dismissals surpassed Chaminda Vaas’ previous record of 23, creating a new World Cup record for the most dismissals in a single tournament.
Muttiah Muralitharan
Muthiah Muralidaran, a former spinner for Sri Lanka, has taken the most wickets in international cricket. Muralidharan departed as the all-time highest wicket-taker in international cricket, with 1347 wickets in 495 games at an average of 22.86. In a 1992 Test match against Australia, he made his debut for his country. He amassed 22 ten-wicket hauls in his international career and 77 five-wicket hauls. The most of any bowler in the longest format of the game, Muralidaran, who is regarded as one of the best bowlers to have ever played, amassed 800 Test wickets in 133 games at an average of 22.72.
Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga had a reputation for throwing inswinging yorkers that were as deadly as they were uncommon. He was previously considered one of the best bowlers in the history of limited-overs cricket. The yorker, a trickier slower ball, and a terrific bouncer made comprised the body of Malinga’s menace, and the motion made it challenging to predict his deliveries. Malinga is the bowler with the third-highest total of World Cup wickets. Only Glenn McGrath (71) and Muttiah Muralitharan (68) have taken more wickets in World Cup history. In each of his four World Cup games, Malinga recorded 12 or more wickets (2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019). No other bowler has taken ten or more wickets in more than three World Cup tournaments.
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