South Africa’s ace fast bowler joined the ‘400 Test wickets club’ after he dismissed Bangladesh’s opening batsman Tamim Iqbal on day 1 of the second Test of ongoing Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa, in Bangladesh. Dale Steyn completed the feat in his 80th Test match, the same as the great Sir Richard Hadlee.
Dale Steyn has become the joint-second fastest bowler (in terms of matches). Sri Lanka’s magician Muttiah Muralitharan is the fastest bowler to take 400 wickets. Muralitharan achieved this feat in 72 Tests.
Dale Steyn has become the 13th bowler and 2nd South African to reach the landmark in the history of the game – 9 fast bowlers and 4 spinners.
India has the most representatives with three players in the list, followed by Australia, West Indies and now South Africa with two-a-piece.
Here is the list of fastest bowlers to 400 Test wickets:
No | Bowler | Matches | Innings | Time since debut | Opposition |
1 | Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | 72 | 117 | 9 years, 137 days | Zimbabwe |
2 | Dale Steyn (SA) | 80* | 149* | 10 years, 225 days | Bangladesh |
3 | Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ) | 80 | 140 | 17 years, 0 days | India |
4 | Anil Kumble (IND) | 85 | 148 | 14 years, 58 days | Australia |
5 | Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 87 | 168 | 8 years, 341 days | Pakistan |
6 | Shane Warne (AUS) | 92 | 169 | 9 years, 233 days | England |
7 | Wasim Akram (PAK) | 96 | 168 | 15 years, 141 days | Sri Lanka |
8 | Harbhajan Singh IND) | 96 | 175 | 13 years, 103 days | West Indies |
9 | Curtly Ambrose (WI) | 97 | 176 | 12 years, 137 days | England |
10 | Shaun Pollock (SA) | 103 | 191 | 11 years, 29 days | India |