Often hailed as one of the most prestigious and intensely competitive formats of international cricket, the test cricket format is religiously followed by millions of cricket aficionados from all over the world. Since its inception in 1877, the test cricket format has witnessed numerous action-packed matches, spine-chilling moments, blood-curdling rivalries and legendary bowlers who have disrupted numerous top batting lineups in the world with their formidable and downright brutal bowling attacks and annihilating five-wicket hauls that have left the opponent teams absolutely stunned.
The glorious history of the test cricket format has witnessed numerous legendary bowlers, including Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, James Anderson and many others, who have shockingly dismantled the top battling lineups of opposing opponent teams and successfully led their teams to a spine-chilling streak of victories. Have you ever wondered about the top four bowlers who hold the record for claiming the maximum number of five-wicket hauls in the test format? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four legendary bowlers with the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the test format.
Top 4 Test Bowlers With Maximum Five-Wicket Hauls
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Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka – 67
Often widely regarded as one of the most lethal bowlers in the history of international cricket, the Sri Lankan former cricketer and current coach of the Sri Lanka’s national cricket team Muttiah Muralitharan is at the first spot in our list of the top four bowlers with the maximum five-wicket hauls in test format.
Muttiah Muralitharan represented Sri Lanka across all formats of international cricket from 1992 to 2011 and played a total of 133 test matches picking up a record total of 800 wickets at a blistering average of 22.7 and a phenomenal economy rate of 2.48. Interestingly, Muttiah Muralitharan’s deadly bowling spell throughout his glorious cricketing career included a daunting total of 67 five-wicket hauls, which continues to be the maximum number of five-wicket hauls ever picked up by a test bowler in the history of cricket.
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Shane Warne, Australia – 37
At the second spot in our list of the top four legendary bowlers with the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the test format, we have the legendary Australian former international cricketer Shane Warne, who represented Australia across all formats of international cricket from 1992 to 2007. Throughout his star-studded cricketing career, the Australian bowling sensation Shane Warne played a total of 145 test matches and claimed a phenomenal total of 708 wickets at an economy rate of 2.65 and an unbelievable average of 25.4.
Additionally, the late Australian cricketing sensation also claimed a total of 37 five-wicket hauls, which continues to be the second-highest number of five-wicket hauls ever picked up by a bowler in the test format as of September 2025.
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Ravichandran Ashwin, India – 36
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four most lethal bowlers who have disrupted the top batting lineups with their iconic five-wicket hauls in the test format, we have the legendary Indian international cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who is often popularly hailed as one of the most prominent spinners of all-time by millions of cricket aficionados from all over the world.
The Indian bowling stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin has played a total of 106 test matches as of September 2025 and has picked up a record total of 537 wickets at an average of 24.0 and an economy rate of 2.84. Moreover, the veteran Indian international bowler Ravichandran Ashwin has also claimed the third-highest total of 36 five-wicket hauls in the test format, ranking him at the third spot in our list.
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Richard Hadlee, New Zealand- 36
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four legendary bowlers with the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the test format, we have the legendary New Zealand former international cricketer Sir Richard John Hadlee, often popularly referred to as “Richard Hadlee” in the world of professional cricket.
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Often widely hailed as one of the greatest all-rounders to ever represent New Zealand in the ever competitive arena of international cricket, Richard Hadlee played a total of 86 test matches throughout his glorious test career that lasted from 1973 to 1990 and picked up a total of 431 wickets including a spine-chilling total of 36 five-wicket hauls which continues to be the fourth-highest total of five-wicket hauls ever claimed by an international bowler in the format of test cricket as of September 2025.
