List of fastest bowlers to reach 400 Test wickets by matches

In a game that leans heavily towards the batters, what chances do bowlers actually have to assert their presence in the contest? While cricket in the 21st century may have come to lean rather excessively towards the batters, it's not always been the case. Whether spinners or fast bowlers, pressure exerting quicks or maverick spinners, many have dawned upon the classic format of the game given sheer class and redoubtable talent. Which is why we have several names from around the globe, whether from SENA countries or the sub-continental nations who have impressed and inspired just as much as batters from these very regions. Having said that, as the great Mitchell Starc has gone past 400 Test match wickets as seen in West Indies' humiliating defeat in Jamaica, maybe it's the right time to appreciate the talents that are present on the list of fastest bowlers to reach to 400 Test wickets by number of matches.

Fastest bowlers to reach to 400 Test wickets by number of matches

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) - 72 Matches

The legend. The giant. The hero that shines perhaps the brightest of them all; a table topper on the list of fastest bowlers to reach to 400 Test wickets.

Murali could do anything; set up batters, put pressure, contain runs, remove top and middle order batters on his own and at the end of the day, perturb and suffocate batters in his complex web of spin from which only a few could navigate.

The only cricketer who took 800 Test match wickets, this Sri Lankan is actually a pride of the game of cricket.

2. Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) - 77 Matches

In the pursuit of a win, it often takes spin - the words may do true justice to talismans of the game such as R. Ashwin, who finds himself on the list of the fastest bowlers to reach to 400 Test wickets. He is a hero of the game who fought back several times whether from indifferent bowling form or from injuries to persist for the long term for his Indian team.

Ashwin ended his career not just as a great off spinner but one who played 106 Tests from which he took 537 wickets. 

He bowled 27,000 plus deliveries at the Test match level and reached his 400th dismissal versus England in the year 2021.

3. Sir Richard Hadlee (ENG)- 80 Matches

Sir Richard Hadlee, often an under-appreciated legend of the game, finds himself third on the list of the fastest bowlers to reach to 400 Test wickets. A great of the game who reached the landmark for New Zealand in the contest against India in the year 1990, Sir Hadlee played 86 Test matches for his country from which he claimed 431 Test wickets.

A pioneer of precision and speed-backed fast bowling, he is still one of the most widely respected cricketers to have ever played for the Kiwis. Several other speedsters came at a much latter date post this cricketing icon such as Shane Bond and Trent Boult. 

4. Dale Steyn (SA) - 80 Matches 

A giant name and one backed by immense strength and the ability to play cricket tirelessly, there's the great Steyn on the list of the fastest bowlers to reach to 400 Test wickets. Steyn's remarkable abilities to set up batters, to uphold the game for his South Africa, and to spread a fear in the minds of most batters whom he contested against remain his reason for success.

A great asset to the South African cricket in its post-Donald, Pollock and Klusener era, Steyn was on his own, enough to make lightwork of several world class batters of their time.

The right arm express pacer began his cricket in the longest format in the year 2004 and by 2015 had captured his 400th Test match wicket, which happened away from home conditions against Bangladesh in Mirpur. His longevity (played Test cricket for 15 years), despite several injuries, underlines his greatness.

5. Rangana Herath (SL) - 84 Matches

They said that when it comes to great spin bowling, only Muttiah Muralitharan was the singular force from the island pearl that is Sri Lanka and the general feeling was that in the era succeeding Murali's reign there won't be many who could come through. 

And while it's a debate for another day if Muralitharan is the lone star of spin bowling from Sri Lanka, fact certainly is that Rangana Herath commands wide respect today when it comes to effective bowling in the red ball format.

Someone who played 93 Test matches for his country, Herath finds himself by sheer effort on the list of the fastest bowlers to reach to 400 Test wickets, taking 433 in the end. He played 93 Test matches during his time and his clever left-arm orthodox spin shone brightly for Sri Lanka during the time of legends like Mahela and Sanga. From being a support system to Murali, to rising on his own as a icon of the game, Herath is simple and often so rarely talked about.

Let us therefore look at the fastest bowlers to reach to 400 Test wickets:

FAQs

Q1. Who is the fastest bowler to reach 400 Test wickets?

In terms of number of Test matches played, it is Muttiah Muralidaran. He took just 72 Tests to get there.

Q2. Who is the youngest bowler to reach 400 Test wickets in terms of age?

Murali remains the youngest to take 400 Test match wickets. He achieved the feat aged 29 years and 270 days.