Top 5 highest wicket taker in Tests for Australia

By Ravi - Dec 18, 2025 03:03 PM
Last updated on Dec 18, 2025 03:07 PM

Australia has always produced world-class bowlers, but this week in December 2025 became particularly special for Australian cricket. In the Adelaide Test, Nathan Lyon achieved something that even the greatest legends couldn't – he broke the record of the legendary Glenn McGrath. Let's take a look at the top 5 bowlers who have helped Australia dominate in Test cricket

1. Shane Warne - 708 wickets

Shane Warne tops the Australian Test cricket charts with a remarkable record of 708 wickets, the second-highest number of wickets taken in Test cricket worldwide, after Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan. While his cricketing wizardry captivated audiences around the globe, he held a particular fondness for England's seam-friendly pitches, where he claimed 129 wickets in just 44 innings in that country. Playing 145 matches for Australia between 1992 and 2007, Warne played a crucial role in his country's unparalleled dominance in world cricket for much of his career.

2. Nathan Lyon - 564* wickets

After being dropped from the second Test of the Ashes series, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon made a spectacular comeback. On December 18, the second day of the Adelaide Test, Lyon put pressure on the England team by taking two wickets in his very first over. With these two wickets, Nathan Lyon broke the long-standing record of legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath. Lyon now has 564 wickets in Test cricket, while McGrath had taken 563 wickets in his career. Nathan Lyon has now become the sixth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history and the second-highest wicket-taker for Australia.

3. Glenn McGrath - 563 wickets

Glenn McGrath, who played a key role in Australia's three World Cup victories, also spearheaded Australia's fast-bowling attack in Test matches for nearly a decade of his playing career, achieving considerable success. The New South Wales legend took 563 wickets in just 124 matches with his consistent pace and pinpoint accuracy, and remained the leading wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Test cricket until his record was surpassed by English greats James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

4. Mitchell Starc - 420* wickets

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in the world. Known for his lethal in-swinging deliveries, Starc has been a key player for the Australian Test team since his debut in 2011. Starc has taken a total of 402 wickets in 100 Test matches at an average of 27.02. His impressive record includes 16 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. His best bowling figures are 6/9, which he achieved against the West Indies in 2025.

5. Dennis Lillee – 355 wickets

Dennis Lillee took 355 wickets in 70 Test matches at an average of just 23.92. He took five wickets in an innings 23 times in his Test career. Known for his express pace, the partnership of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson was one of the most formidable bowling combinations of the 1970s and 1980s. His best bowling performance against the West Indies was 7/83, which came at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1981. Besides being a great bowler, Lillee was also a useful lower-order batsman with a batting average of 15.

Also Read: Most wide balls bowled by India in T20 International matches

« Previous ADKR vs GG, Pitch Report, Head to Head, Playing 11, AI Prediction

Next » IPL 2026 All Teams Squad & Strongest Playing 11 with Impact Players