Although the bowlers have often overshadowed Pakistani batters there have been a few of the greatest from the Asian nation. Taking wickets against Pakistan hasn’t always been easy but some bowlers have made it a habit to perform against the ‘Men in Green’ in test cricket. Here is a look at the players with the most wickets against Pakistan in tests.
Most wickets against Pakistan in tests
| Player | Span | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling Figures in an Innings | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | Five-Wicket Hauls |
| Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) | 2000-2017 | 21 | 106 | 9/127 | 28.07 | 2.70 | 62.17 | 8 |
| Kapil Dev (India) | 1978-1989 | 29 | 99 | 8/85 | 30.12 | 3.01 | 60.04 | 7 |
| Shane Warne (Australia) | 1994-2005 | 15 | 90 | 7/23 | 20.17 | 2.68 | 45.01 | 6 |
| James Anderson (England) | 2010-2022 | 20 | 82 | 6/17 | 19.23 | 2.33 | 49.36 | 3 |
| Anil Kumble (India) | 1999-2007 | 15 | 81 | 10/74 | 31.97 | 3.18 | 60.32 | 5 |
| Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 1994-2005 | 17 | 80 | 8/24 | 21.70 | 2.71 | 47.93 | 3 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) | 1994-2009 | 16 | 80 | 6/71 | 25.46 | 2.60 | 58.71 | 5 |
| Dennis Lillee (Australia) | 1972-1984 | 17 | 71 | 6/82 | 30.43 | 2.92 | 62.43 | 5 |
| Stuart Broad (England) | 2010-2020 | 19 | 67 | 4/36 | 22.53 | 2.44 | 55.34 | 0 |
| Courtney Walsh (West Indies) | 1986-2000 | 18 | 63 | 5/22 | 23.04 | 2.58 | 53.49 | 4 |
Advertisement
Rangana Herath
Rangana Herath ranks at the top of this list with 106 scalps against Pakistan. He is one of the very few bowlers to take 100 wickets against a single opposition in test cricket. Herath’s 106 wickets came at an average of 28.07 which is also his career average.
His best performance against the nation came in 2014 during the second test match of the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka. The left-arm spinner picked up 9 wickets for 127 runs during Pakistan’s first innings. His 9/127 and a five-wicket haul in the other innings helped Sri Lanka win the test match by 105 runs.
Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev, one of the finest all-rounders of all time ranks second on the list for the most wickets against Pakistan in tests. The Indian pacer picked up 99 wickets against arch-rivals, Pakistan. His 99 wickets against Pakistan came at an average of 30.12 at a strike rate of 60.04.
His best performance against the nation came in 1983 during the 5th test at Lahore. While Mudassar Nazar became only the second Pakistani batter to carry his bat, Kapil Dev ran through the Pakistani batters. Interestingly the first Pakistani batter to carry his bat was Nazar’s father, Nazar Mohammad. The Haryana Hurricane picked up eight wickets while giving away just 85 runs. Only 186 overs were bowled in the match which ended in a draw.
Shane Warne
It is fitting that the greatest leg-spinner of all time appears third on the list for the most wickets against Pakistan in tests. Shane Warne picked up 90 wickets against Pakistan with the red ball in his hand. These wickets came at an average of just 20.17 and at an astonishing strike rate of 45.01.
Warne recorded his best figures of 7/23 against Pakistan in the first test of the Pakistan tour of Australia at Brisbane. The series which is famously or infamously (depends on your perspective) remembered for the last time Pakistan won a test in Australia was kickstarted in a great manner. Thanks to Warne’s 7/23 and four-wicket haul in the third innings, Australia won the match by an innings and 126 runs.
James Anderson
The man who does not seem to age year after year, James Anderson has taken 82 wickets against Pakistan. The right-arm pacer has a great record against Pakistan as his 82 wickets have come at an average of 19.23 at a strike rate of 49.36 which is much better than his career average (26.34) and strike rate (56.7). With retirement not in any near sight, Anderson might just overtake the three people above him.
His best innings figures against Pakistan came during the first test of the Pakistan tour of England at Nottingham. Anderson picked up 6/17 in the fourth innings after picking up a five-wicket haul in the second innings helping his team win the match by 354 runs.
Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble, one of the three players to achieve possibly cricket’s hardest achievement, taking 10 wickets in an innings. The Indian spinner picked up 81 wickets against arch-rivals, Pakistan. Those 81 wickets at an average of 31.97 at a strike rate of 60.32.
Advertisement
Kumble’s best bowling figures of 10/74 in an innings came against Pakistan. His 10 wickets in the final innings helped India defeat arch-rivals by 212 runs in Delhi during the second test of the Pakistan tour of India in 1999.
Glenn McGrath
Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath ranks sixth on this list. McGrath took 80 wickets against Pakistan at an average of 21.70 and a strike rate of 47.93.
McGrath’s best performance of 8/24 against Pakistan during the Pakistan tour of Australia in 2004 during the Perth in the first test. McGrath’s eight wickets helped Australia defeat Pakistan by 491 runs. His performance was eclipsed by Justin Langer who scored 191 runs in the first innings and 97 runs in the third innings.
Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan is joint-sixth on this list with McGrath with 80 wickets to his name. The highest wicket-taker in the format has 80 wickets at an average of 25.46 and a strike rate of 58.71.
Muralitharan’s best bowling performance against Pakistan came in 2000 in Peshawar when he took 6/71 against the hosts. Sri Lanka won the match by 57 as the legendary off-spinner picked up 10 wickets in the match.
Dennis Lillee
Menacing Australian fast bowler, Dennis Lillee picked up 71 wickets against Pakistan. Lille was one of the most feared bowlers of his time along with his partner-in-crime, Jeff Thomson. His 71 wickets came at an average of 30.43 and at a strike rate of 62.43.
Lillee’s best performance against Pakistan came in 1977 during the second test at Melbourne Cricket Ground where he picked up 6/71 in the second innings. His 10 wickets in the match along with centuries from Greg Chappell, Gary Cosier and Rick McCosker meant that Australia won the match by 348 runs.
Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad picked up 67 wickets against Pakistan. His wickets came at an average of 22.53 and a strike rate of 55.34. The English pacer is the only bowler on this list to have never picked a fifer against Pakistan.
Broad’s best performance against Pakistan came in 2012 in Dubai where picked four wickets for just 36 runs. Despite Broad’s efforts, Pakistan won the match by 71 runs.
Courtney Walsh
Legendary West Indian fast bowler, Courtney Walsh finishes off this list with 63 wickets to his name. His wickets came at an average of 23.04 and a strike rate of 53.49.
Walsh’s best bowling performance against Pakistan came in 2000 in Bridgetown. Walsh took 5/22 in a drawn test.
Advertisement