Most successful spinners in Test cricket
Nathan Lyon, Australia’s off-spinner, achieved the 400 Test wickets milestone on Day 4 of the first Ashes Test, when he dismissed England batter, Dawid Malan. Lyon, who got the feat in his 101st game, became the seventh spinner to reach the landmark. The offie thus became the third-highest wicket-taker for Australia and also the second spinner to scalp 400 Test wickets after Shane Warne.
Speaking of most wickets by spinners in the longest format of the game, Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan tops the list with mind-boggling 800 wickets after playing 133 games. On second is another legend from Australia, Shane Warne who accumulated 708 scalps in 145 matches.
Three Indian spinners in the top 10
On fifth and sixth are Indian spinners R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh with 427 and 417 wickets in 81 and 103 matches respectively. R Ashwin broke turbanator’s record in the recently concluded home series against New Zealand. Anil Kumble, R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh all find themselves in the top 10 with all of them achieving over 400 wickets in Test matches.
Most wickets by spinners in Tests:
| Players | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling (Innings) | Best Bowling (Match) | Average | Economy Rate | 5 Wickets | 10 Wickets |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 133 | 800 | 9/51 | 16/220 | 22.72 | 2.47 | 67 | 22 |
| Shane Warne | 145 | 708 | 8/71 | 12/128 | 25.41 | 2.65 | 37 | 10 |
| Anil Kumble | 132 | 619 | 10/74 | 14/149 | 29.65 | 2.69 | 35 | 8 |
| Rangana Herath | 93 | 433 | 9/127 | 14/184 | 28.07 | 2.8 | 34 | 9 |
| R Ashwin | 81 | 427 | 7/59 | 13/140 | 24.12 | 2.77 | 30 | 7 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 103 | 417 | 8/84 | 15/217 | 32.46 | 2.84 | 25 | 5 |
| Nathan Lyon | 101 | 403 | 8/50 | 13/154 | 32.07 | 2.98 | 18 | 3 |
