The ICC Cricket World Cup is an arena where the finest talents in cricket assemble to display their skills and fight for their nation’s glory. As batsmen strive to score the most runs, the bowlers battle to claim the most scalps. The record for the most wickets taken in the history of the tournament is a testament to a bowler’s prowess, consistency, and ability to perform under the immense pressure of the global stage. In this exploration of World Cup history, we delve into the journeys of the highest wicket-takers, their significant contributions, and their enduring impact on the grand spectacle of the World Cup.
2023 Cricket World Cup Top Wicket Takers List
As we draw closer to the much-anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the spotlight falls on the bowlers who will be instrumental in shaping the destiny of their respective teams. It’s these craftsmen of the cricket ball, with their unique blend of skill, strategy, and tenacity, who will look to claim the most wickets and leave their mark on the tournament. In this section, we introduce a compilation of top bowlers who are predicted to be the leading wicket-takers in the upcoming edition, based on their recent form, their performances in similar conditions, and their track record in international cricket.
List of Top Wicket Takers (Previous Edi
tion Data) – List will be updated with score and real-time data once the ICC tournament begins:
| No. | Bowler (Country) | Wickets Taken |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Starc (Australia) | 27 |
| 2 | Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) | 21 |
| 3 | Jofra Archer (England) | 20 |
| 4 | Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) | 20 |
| 5 | Jasprit Bumrah (India) | 18 |
| 6 | Mark Wood (England) | 18 |
| 7 | Mohammad Amir (Pakistan) | 17 |
| 8 | Pat Cummins (Australia) | 14 |
| 9 | Trent Boult (New Zealand) | 17 |
| 10 | Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) | 16 |
Top Wicket Takers List in Cricket World Cup History
| No. | Bowler (Country) | Wickets Taken |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 71 |
| 2 | Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) | 68 |
| 3 | Wasim Akram (Pakistan) | 55 |
| 4 | Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) | 49 |
| 5 | Zaheer Khan (India) | 44 |
| 6 | Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) | 43 |
| 7 | Brett Lee (Australia) | 35 |
| 8 | Javagal Srinath (India) | 44 |
| 9 | Shaun Tait (Australia) | 34 |
| 10 | Jacob Oram (New Zealand) | 36 |
| 11 | Allan Donald (South Africa) | 38 |
| 12 | Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) | 36 |
| 13 | Mitchell Starc (Australia) | 49 |
| 14 | Shane Warne (Australia) | 32 |
| 15 | Anil Kumble (India) | 31 |
| 16 | Imran Khan (Pakistan) | 34 |
| 17 | Andrew Flintoff (England) | 39 |
| 18 | Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan) | 30 |
| 19 | Curtly Ambrose (West Indies) | 24 |
| 20 | Courtney Walsh (West Indies) | 27 |
The bowler with the most wickets in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup is Glenn McGrath of Australia. McGrath, widely considered one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket, took 71 wickets in the World Cup tournaments from 1996 to 2007.
McGrath’s precision line and length, combined with his ability to move the ball both ways, made him a formidable force in World Cup cricket. His relentless consistency and strategic acumen often put the opposition under pressure, leading to wickets.
His best performance came in the 2007 edition, where he picked up 26 wickets, the most by any player in a single World Cup tournament. This included a best bowling figure of 7/15 against Namibia in 2003, which remains one of the best bowling figures in World Cup history.
McGrath’s World Cup career is punctuated by several memorable performances, including his spell of 3/14 in the 1999 World Cup final against Pakistan, and 3/52 in the 2007 final against Sri Lanka. His ability to perform in crucial matches was a key aspect of Australia’s dominance in the World Cup during his career, with the team winning the tournament in 1999, 2003, and 2007.
Following McGrath, the next highest wicket-takers in World Cup history are Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka with 68 wickets and Wasim Akram of Pakistan with 55 wickets. Both bowlers, like McGrath, have left an indelible mark on World Cup history with their performances.