Bowlers With Highest Number Of Test Wickets In Winning Cause: Whenever we think of match winners, our cricketing mind goes back to either the big, burly T-20 finishers like Russell or explosive top-order batsmen such as Sehwag or Warner. A bowler very rarely gets the praise for winning a game and yet the glorious history of our game has seen so many match-winning bowlers. Here we take a look at five such test bowlers who have been very instrumental in their team’s victories in the longest format.
Dale Steyn – 305 Test wickets in winning cause
Arguably the greatest bowler of his time, Steyn was deadly in a variety of conditions across the world including an incredible record in Asia that is the envy of many fast bowlers. The Black Caps were Steyn’s favorite opponent as he has picked up 60 wickets against them in victories. South Africa has won two tests in India during his career and he picked up 18 wickets in those two tests. Overall 69.4% of his Test wickets have come in his team’s victories which shows the kind of match-winner he was for the Proteas.
James Anderson – 323 Test wickets in winning cause
The most prolific test pacer of all time, Anderson averages 20.19 in his team’s victories and has 19 five-wicket hauls to his name. He has an unbelievable record at home, taking 256 wickets at an average of 18.87. 2010 was Anderson’s dream year as he picked up 39 wickets in victories at an average of 17.61
Glenn McGrath – 414 Test wickets in winning cause
As a pivotal member of one of the all-time great sporting teams, it is no surprise that McGrath features high on the list of most wickets in victories. His favorite opponents were arch-rivals England against whom he has 106 test wickets in victories. He also has 34 wickets in victories in Asia at a mind-blowing average of 14.79.
Muttiah Muralitharan – 438 Test wickets in winning cause
A spinner who could turn the ball even on a green top, Muralitharan was indisputably the lynchpin of the Sri Lankan bowling attack of the late ’90s and the first decade of the twentieth century. In England and New Zealand, two countries where the spinners have traditionally struggled, he has a bowling average of 13.03 and 12.13 in victories respectively. He was simply ruthless in Sri Lanka, with 305 wickets in victories at an average of 15.43.
Shane Warne – 510 Test wickets in winning cause
The master magician Shane Warne tops a list filled by his contemporaries and it is safe to say that this record will take some beating. Just like his teammate McGrath, his best came in England where he has 76 wickets at an average of 18.39 in his team’s victories. 2002 was Warne’s best year as he picked up 61 wickets at an average of 19.16 in his team’s victories.
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