Highest number of wickets taken in the first over of Tests

By Aditya
November 21, 2025

8. Matthew Hoggard (ENG)

Matthew Hoggard, a reliable new ball bowler, has taken 10 opening wickets across his 87 innings.

7. Irfan Pathan (IND)

Irfan Pathan's formidable swing allowed him to claim the wicket in the first over an impressive 11 times in only 45 innings.

6. Chaminda Vaas (SL)

Swing specialist who picked up 13 early wickets in 125 innings.

5. Zaheer Khan (IND)

India’s left-arm maestro, taking 13 new-ball wickets in 106 innings.

4. Dale Steyn (SA)

Raw pace and swing delivered 14 first-over wickets in 132 innings.

3. Glenn McGrath (AUS)

Metronomic precision earned him 16 early breakthroughs in 129 innings.

2. Mitchell Starc (AUS)

Mitchell Starc, considered a new-age bowler, boasts a record of 24 wickets taken over 168 innings.

1. James Anderson (ENG)

With 29 wickets in the first over across 292 innings, James Anderson is the all-time leader.

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