Anderson: 994 Reasons He’s England’s Greatest Bowler

Here’s a look at England’s top seven wicket-takers across all formats of the game, celebrating their incredible achievements and lasting contributions to English cricket.

1. James Anderson: The King of Swing

With a staggering 991 wickets across all formats, James Anderson stands alone as England’s most prolific bowler. His remarkable career, spanning over two decades, has seen him dominate both at home and abroad.

• Tests: 704 wickets
• ODIs: 269 wickets
• T20Is: 18 wickets

Anderson’s longevity is unparalleled. He has played in 188 Test matches, second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s 200. His first international wicket was the prized scalp of Adam Gilchrist, while his final Test wicket came against Joshua da Silva at Lord’s, a fitting end to a career highlighted by three 10-wicket hauls, 34 five-wicket hauls, and 34 four-wicket hauls.

2. Stuart Broad: A Force of Nature

Stuart Broad, Anderson’s long-time bowling partner, is second on the list with 847 wickets. Like Anderson, Broad’s greatest success came in Test cricket.

• Tests: 604 wickets
• ODIs: 178 wickets
• T20Is: 65 wickets

Broad’s Test career saw him take 604 wickets at an average of 27.68 in 167 matches. His international career lasted 17 years. He took his first wicket in a T20I against Pakistan, clean bowling the batter. His final wicket, that of Alex Carey, secured a memorable victory for England against Australia, ensuring the 2023 Ashes series was drawn.

3. Ian Botham: The All-Round Legend

Sir Ian Botham, one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, takes third place with 528 wickets. Alongside his impressive bowling figures, Botham also amassed over 7,000 runs in Tests and ODIs.

• Tests: 383 wickets
• ODIs: 145 wickets

Botham’s international career began with an ODI against the West Indies. Unlike Anderson and Broad, Botham finished his career wicketless in an ODI against Pakistan.

4. Darren Gough: The Master of Reverse Swing

Darren Gough, with 466 wickets, was a master of reverse swing and variations in pace. His dedication and hard work saw him become one of England’s finest bowlers.

• Tests: 229 wickets
• ODIs: 235 wickets
• T20Is: 3 wickets

Gough announced himself on the international stage by clean-bowling Martin Crowe in an ODI against New Zealand. His final appearance for England was an ODI against Pakistan, where he went wicketless.

5. Adil Rashid: The Spin King

Adil Rashid is England’s most successful spinner in terms of total wickets across all formats, with 419 to his name. He was a key figure in England’s white-ball revolution, playing a vital role in their 2019 World Cup victory.

• Tests: 60 wickets
• ODIs: 224 wickets
• T20Is: 135 wickets

Rashid made his international debut in a T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands, taking the wicket of Bas Zuiderent. While highly successful in ODIs and T20Is, his Test career was less fruitful, featuring in only 19 matches.

6. Graeme Swann: The Late Bloomer

Graeme Swann, with 410 wickets, enjoyed a remarkable career after initially being discarded from the international scene. He returned to the England side and became a key bowler, particularly in Test cricket.

• Tests: 225 wickets
• ODIs: 104 wickets
• T20Is: 81 wickets

Swann made his Test debut in December 2008 and quickly established himself, taking 225 wickets in 60 Tests. He retired as England’s sixth-highest wicket-taker and the country’s leading off-spinner in Tests since Jim Laker.

7. Bob Willis: The Courageous Pacer

Bob Willis, with 405 wickets, was known for his courage and determination, battling through numerous injuries to become one of England’s finest fast bowlers.

• Tests: 325 wickets
• ODIs: 80 wickets

Willis signed off from international cricket with two wickets in a Test match at Leeds. Despite undergoing multiple knee operations, he remained one of England’s fastest bowlers, taking 16 five-wicket hauls in Tests. Willis remains the last England bowler to have taken 400 or more wickets in international cricket.