In one of the biggest milestones in Australian cricket, the experience of veteran spinner Nathan Lyon will last long as he now takes his place in history books. Having become the highest wicket-taker in the World Test Championship history, Nathan Lyon did it after playing some brilliant bowling in the first Test against Sri Lanka in which he took 7 wickets.
This superb effort has taken him past the 200-wicket mark in the WTC, and he now stands atop the all-time list with 203 wickets. Lyon is the first bowler in the history of the WTC to have achieved this feat, making him one of the all-time greats.
Australia’s Pat Cummins: Close Behind in Second Place
Nathan Lyon’s mate and Australia’s Test captain, Pat Cummins, is second on the list of all-time wicket-takers in the WTC. Cummins has taken 200 wickets in the competition, three wickets short of Lyon. As a captain, Cummins was pivotal in teaming Australia up to victory at the 2023 World Test Championship Final. Pat Cummins is a persistent player who has made a total of 294 wickets in the Test matches played and has maintained the best performance to date.
Ravichandran Ashwin: Top Wicket-Taker of India in WTC
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin of India has stood third on the list of highest wicket-takers in the WTC. Ravichandran Ashwin took 195 wickets in the WTC competition and has emerged as the best wicket-taker for India. Despite announcing their recent retirement from all international cricket due to the end of the series against Border Gavaskar, Ashwin will be celebrated for years of his impact on Indian cricket, as well as the World Test Championship.
Most importantly, since the WTC, Ashwin has been playing a crucial part in India winning matches consistently on the Test track.
Mitchell Starc: Australia’s Fast-Bowling Phenomenon
With 168 wickets to his name, Mitchell Starc finds himself at number four in the wicket-takers list for WTC. A natural pacer and famous for his swinging deadlines, this fast bowler has become an essential weapon for Australia in any tournament. His performances have been crucial for Australia in key series like Border-Gavaskar against India. Starc has taken 379 wickets so far from 95 Test matches and has been a vital asset as a pressure player for the fastest bowlers in modern cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah: India’s Pace Sensation
Indian ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Australia’s Mitchell Starc are jointly placed at 168 wickets in the World Test Championship, thus getting the fifth position in the list of top wicket-takers. Bumrah’s performances in 2024 have only made him a greater legend. Bumrah, the fast bowler, has been crowned the ICC’s Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year.
Player of the Series in the Border-Gavaskar series for Bumrah, which proved his stature among the top-class fast bowlers in the world. He still remains the prominent player of India in all the formats, as he has so far taken 205 wickets in his Test career.
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Top 5 Highest Wicket-Takers in the World Test Championship
1. Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 203 wickets
2. Pat Cummins (Australia) – 200 wickets
3. Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 195 wickets
4. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 168 wickets
5. Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 168 wickets
Australia and India’s Dominance in the World Test Championship
The World Test Championship has seen some tough competition, and Australia and India have been regularly churning out some of the world’s finest bowlers. The top five wicket-takers list reflects the dominance of these two cricketing nations as it is filled with players from both countries. Nathan Lyon’s performance in the Galle Test has ensured that he remains at the top of the WTC leaderboard.
As these two countries continue to produce world-class talent, the legacy of Lyon, Cummins, Ashwin, Starc, and Bumrah is going to inspire the next generation of cricketers to play in the longest format of the game.
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