Bowlers Fastest to 200 Wickets In Test Cricket

Test Cricket is on the resurgence, with the inaugural World Test Championship gaining a lot of success with New Zealand winning the title, beating India at Southampton in June 2021.

It is one format that creates a level playing field for both batsmen and bowlers, and invariably bowling dictates the match’s outcome. Over decades, many world-class bowlers have proven to be matchwinners on the international stage, and some are still playing as Test specialists.

So, let’s dig the cricket records and determine which 7 bowlers have reached the 200 wickets milestone in the least number of games played. You will be surprised to see the No.1 on this list.

Table of Contents
Top 7 Bowlers Fastest to 200 Wickets In Test Cricket
No 7: Ian Botham (ENG) – 41 Matches
No 6: Dale Steyn (SA) – 39 Matches
No 5: Waqar Younis (PAK) – 38 Matches
No 4: Dennis Lillee (AUS)- 38 Matches
No 3: Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) – 37 Matches
No 2: Clarrie Grimmett (AUS) – 36 Matches
No 1: Yasir Shah (PAK) – 33 Matches

Top 7 Bowlers Fastest to 200 Wickets In Test Cricket

Fastest to 200 Wickets

  • No 7: Ian Botham (ENG) – 41 Matches

As one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, Sir Ian Botham has played both Test and ODI cricket for England for many years and won many matches with both bat and ball. He held the record for taking the most Test wickets in international cricket from 1986 to 1988 before being surpassed by another brilliant all-rounder named Sir Richard Hadlee. Botham became the fastest to grab 200 wickets in just 41 matches on 27th August 1981 in an Ashes Test match at the Oval against Australia.

Career Bowling Stats:

Matches Wickets Best Bowling Economy Average Strike Rate
102 383 8/34 2.99 28.4 57.0

 

  • No 6: Dale Steyn (SA) – 39 Matches

Dale Steyn is probably the best fast bowler in Test cricket and Glenn McGrath in modern times. Dale Steyn takes the 6th position in the fastest to take 200 test wickets record. He could run through any batting order, and that too on all kinds of surfaces. Steyn achieved this feat in 39 matches against WI at Port of Spain on 10th June 2010.

Career Bowling Stats:

Matches Wickets Best Bowling Economy Average Strike Rate
93 439 7/51 3.24 22.9 42.4

 

  • No 5: Waqar Younis (PAK) – 38 Matches

The lethal bowling partner of the great Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, is considered one of the best fast bowlers ever to have played the game.

He was considered a master of reverse swing and dismissed many batters with his fast in-swinging Yorker and quickly winning games for his team. Waqar is the 5th fastest to claim 200 scalps in Test cricket in just 38 matches.

Career Bowling Stats:

Matches Wickets Best Bowling Economy Average Strike Rate
87 373 7/76 3.25 23.6 43.5

 

  • No 4: Dennis Lillee (AUS)- 38 Matches

Hailed as a complete fast bowler of his generation, Dennis Lillee played for Australia from 1971-1983. Initially, he was a tearaway fast bowler. But injuries forced him to modify his action and become a swing and seam bowler.

Still, his guile and determination won many games for Australia over a decade. In his retirement, Lillee was the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, with 355 wickets. He is the 4th fastest bowler to grab 200 wickets in Test cricket from 38 matches.

Career Bowling Stats:

Matches Wickets Best Bowling Economy Average Strike Rate
70 355 7/83 2.75 23.9 52.0

 

  • No 3: Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) – 37 Matches

Currently, the best spinner in Test cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin, has been a matchwinner for India since his debut in the longest format. He will be regarded as the second-best spinner in Indian cricket history after the legendary leg spinner Anil Kumble when he retires. Ashwin became the 3rd fastest player to reach 200 wickets in 37 matches on 22nd September 2016 against NZ at Kanpur.

Career Bowling Stats:

Matches Wickets Best Bowling Economy Average Strike Rate
79 413 7/59 2.80 24.6 52.5

 

  • No 2: Clarrie Grimmett (AUS) – 36 Matches

He was regarded as one of the best spinners in the early 1920s and played for Australia from 1925-1936. He is the first bowler in the history of Test cricket to take 200 wickets from just 36 matches. He held this record for 82 years, only broken in 2018.

Career Bowling Stats:

Matches Wickets Best Bowling Economy Average Strike Rate
37 216 7/40 2.16 24.2 67.2

 

  • No 1: Yasir Shah (PAK) – 33 Matches

The fastest to 200 wickets in Test cricket ever is Pakistan’s premier leg spinner, Yasir Shah. He broke this record in just 33 matches against NZ on 3rd December 2018 in Abu Dhabi.

He has won many games for Pakistan since his debut in 2014 and is still playing in the game’s longest format.

Career Bowling Stats:

Matches Wickets Best Bowling Economy Average Strike Rate
46 235 8/41 3.20 31.2 58.3

 

Yasir Shah tops the chart for the fastest to get to 200 wickets among 7 bowlers in Test cricket, achieving this impressive milestone in just 33 matches. A lot of bowlers have played this format, and only a few have managed to grab 200 wickets in such a quick time.

We all know records are meant to be broken, and in a few years, we may see a bowler breaking this milestone. But it is a tough record to break nonetheless.