Legendary Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath is the highest wicket-taker in ICC World Cup history.
Considered to be one of the greatest bowlers of all-time, Glenn McGrath took 71 wickets in 39 ICC World Cup matches.
Spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan is second on the list for players with most wickets in ODI World Cup history having accounted for 68 scalps in 40 games.
Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and Pakistan Wasim Akram feature third and fourth, respectively, on the highest wicket-takers in ICC World Cup list. While Malinga picked 56 wickets in 29 matches, Akram scalped 55 wickets in 38 matches.
Among active cricketers, Australia’s Mitchell Starc is the highest wicket-taker in ICC World Cup history. He has already bagged 54 wickets in just 21 matches. Know the highest wicket-takers in ICC World Cup.
Most wickets in ICC World Cup
|
Player |
Team |
Span |
Matches |
Wickets |
|
Glenn McGrath |
Australia |
1996-2007 |
39 |
71 |
|
Muttiah Muralitharan |
Sri Lanka |
1996-2011 |
40 |
68 |
|
Lasith Malinga |
Sri Lanka |
2007-2019 |
29 |
56 |
|
Wasim Akram |
Pakistan |
1987-2003 |
38 |
55 |
|
Mitchell Starc |
Australia |
2015-2023 |
21 |
54 |
|
Chaminda Vaas |
Sri Lanka |
1996-2007 |
31 |
49 |
|
Zaheer Khan |
India |
2003-2011 |
23 |
49 |
|
Javagal Srinath |
India |
1992-2003 |
34 |
44 |
|
Trent Boult |
New Zealand |
2015-2023 |
22 |
42 |
|
Imran Tahir |
South Africa |
2011-2019 |
22 |
40 |
Glenn McGrath | 71
Former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath is currently the highest wicket-taker in ICC World Cup history. Between 1996 and 2007, McGrath scalped 71 wickets in 39 matches at an average of 18.19 and an economy of 3.96. He bagged two five wicket-hauls including his best bowling figures of 7/15 in the ODI World Cup. McGrath was part of the Australian cricket team that won three consecutive ODI World Cup trophies in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
Muttiah Muralitharan | 68
Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is second on the highest wicket-takers in ICC World Cup list. Muralitharan featured in five editions of the ODI World Cup in 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. The former off-spinner picked 68 wickets in 40 World Cup matches at an average of 19.63 and an economy of just 3.88. He registered four four wicket-hauls in the marquee ODI World Cups. Muralitharan was a member of the Sri Lanka team that won the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
Lasith Malinga | 56
Former Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga features third on the highest wicket-takers in ICC World Cup list. Regarded as one of the greatest limited-overs bowlers of all-time, Malinga bagged 56 wickets in 29 World Cup matches at an average of 22.87 and an economy of 5.51. Interestingly, he is the only bowler in world cricket to have two World Cup hat-tricks. Malinga was part of the Sri Lankan team that finished as runners-up in the 2007 and 2011 ODI World Cups.
Wasim Akram | 55
Pakistan’s Wasim Akram is the fourth highest wicket-taker in ICC World Cup history. After making his ICC World Cup debut in 1987, Akram finished with 55 wickets in 38 World Cup matches at an average of 23.83 and an economy of 4.04. Widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Akram helped Pakistan clinch the 1992 Cricket World Cup. Under his leadership, Pakistan reached the final of the 1999 Cricket World Cup before losing to Australia by eight wickets.
Mitchell Starc | 54
Australia left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc is fifth on the highest wicket-takers in ICC World Cup list. Having featured in three editions of the ICC World Cup between 2015 and 2023, Starc bagged 54 wickets in just 21 matches at an average of 15.79 and an economy of 4.65. He was an integral member of the Australian team that won the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Photo credit: Alamy
