Top 15 Wicket-Takers for Australia in Test Cricket

From the golden age of Dennis Lillee to the modern brilliance of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, Australia has long been a factory for world-class bowlers. These cricketing legends have carved their names in history through relentless spells, match-turning breakthroughs, and unwavering dominance. Below, we highlight the top Australian wicket-takers in Test history, followed by a comprehensive statistical table.

🥇 Shane Warne – 708 Wickets

The "King of Spin", Shane Warne was a cricketing genius whose leg-spin wizardry changed the perception of spin bowling forever. His duel with batters, particularly in Ashes series, is the stuff of legend. Warne’s 708 wickets came with an average of 25.41 and included 37 five-wicket hauls. His sharp turn, subtle variations, and unmatched cricketing brain make him Australia’s greatest ever bowler.

🥈 Glenn McGrath – 563 Wickets

Glenn McGrath combined robotic accuracy with nagging line and length to dominate world cricket for over a decade. Known for exploiting even the slightest seam movement, McGrath was a nightmare for top-order batters. His astonishing average of 21.64 and economy rate of 2.49 underline his control and consistency.

🥉 Nathan Lyon – 553* Wickets

Australia’s most successful off-spinner, Nathan Lyon, known affectionately as the "GOAT", has been the backbone of the team’s bowling unit for over a decade. With more than 550 wickets and counting, Lyon thrives on wearing pitches and pressure situations, particularly in the fourth innings. He is one of the most successful spinners outside the subcontinent.

🔥 Mitchell Starc – 384* Wickets

Known for his lethal yorkers and pace in excess of 145 km/h, Mitchell Starc is one of the most intimidating fast bowlers in the modern game. A key part of Australia’s pace trio, Starc has often delivered when it matters most—be it reverse swing or new ball blitzes.

🎯 Dennis Lillee – 355 Wickets

Dennis Lillee was fast, fierce, and full of flair. Representing the golden era of 70s and early 80s cricket, Lillee's bowling aggression set the tone for future Australian quicks. With a strike rate just over 52 and 23 five-wicket hauls, he dominated on all kinds of pitches.

🇦🇺 Top Australian Test Wicket-Takers (All-Time)

Rank	Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Avg	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
1	Shane Warne	1992–2007	145	273	40705	1761	17995	708	8/71	25.41	2.65	57.49	48	37	10
2	Glenn McGrath	1993–2007	124	243	29248	1470	12186	563	8/24	21.64	2.49	51.95	28	29	3
3	Nathan Lyon*	2011–2025	137	254	34151	1081	16711	553	8/50	30.21	2.93	61.75	26	24	5
4	Mitchell Starc*	2011–2025	97	185	18613	593	10575	384	6/48	27.53	3.40	48.47	20	15	2
5	Dennis Lillee	1971–1984	70	132	18467	652	8493	355	7/83	23.92	2.75	52.01	23	23	7
6	Mitchell Johnson	2007–2015	73	140	16001	514	8891	313	8/61	28.40	3.33	51.12	16	12	3
7	Brett Lee	1999–2008	76	150	16531	547	9554	310	5/30	30.81	3.46	53.32	17	10	–
8	Pat Cummins*	2011–2025	68	126	13725	502	6625	300	6/23	22.08	2.89	45.75	17	14	2
9	Craig McDermott	1984–1996	71	124	16586	579	8332	291	8/97	28.63	3.01	56.99	17	14	2
10	Josh Hazlewood*	2014–2025	73	136	14907	639	6884	280	6/67	24.58	2.77	53.23	11	12	–
11	Jason Gillespie	1996–2006	71	137	14234	630	6770	259	7/37	26.13	2.85	54.95	8	8	–
12	Richie Benaud	1952–1964	63	116	19108	805	6704	248	7/72	27.03	2.10	77.04	16	16	1
13	Graham McKenzie	1961–1971	60	113	17681	547	7328	246	8/71	29.78	2.48	71.87	7	16	3
14	Ray Lindwall	1946–1960	61	113	13650	419	5251	228	7/38	23.03	2.30	59.86	8	12	–
15	Peter Siddle	2008–2019	67	126	13907	615	6777	221	6/54	30.66	2.92	62.92	8	8	–

*Active players as of June 2025

Last updated on: June 12, 2025

Most Wickets for Australia in Test Cricket History: All-Time Greats & Stats