Stats: Most wickets in The Ashes

We will take a look at the bowlers to have picked the most wickets in ‘The Ashes’, which as we all know, is the biggest prize in Test Cricket played between two fierce rivals, England and Australia. The list is dominated by the Aussie bowlers as they are currently occupying four of the top 5 spots. Here’s the list:

Warne and McGrath are the most successful bowlers in Ashes history

Player	Matches	Wickets	Average	Best bowling figures
Shane Warne (AUS)	36	195	23.25	8/71
Glenn Mcgrath (AUS)	30	157	20.92	8/38
Hugh Trumble (AUS)	31	141	20.88	8/65
Dennis Lillee (AUS)	24	128	22.32	7/89
Ian Botham (ENG)	32	128	28.04	6/95

1. Shane Warne (Australia)

Without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest leg spinner to have ever graced the game of Cricket, Shane Warne always was a step ahead of the Englishmen whenever they played. Even in the 2005 Ashes series, which Australia lost, Warne personally came out on top by picking 40 wickets. He is way ahead of everybody on this list with 195 wickets. His best bowling figures in the Ashes came in the first Test in Brisbane in 1994/95 when he picked up 8 wickets for 71 runs.

2. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

McGrath had one of the best farewells one could imagine. He retired in his home ground after whitewashing England 5-0 in 2006-07. The ‘pigeon’ has a stunning average of 20.92 against England while having picked up 157 wickets. He was at his devastating best when he bowled England to a paltry 77, 8 out of the 10 wickets belonged to him while having given away just 38 runs.

3. Hugh Trumble (Australia)

The first man to pick two hattricks in Test Cricket, Trumble was an off spinner who was known for being deadly on wet pitches. His average of 20.88 is the best among the top 5. He has 9 five wicket hauls and three 10 wicket match hauls to his name in the Ashes. He is third on the list with 141 wickets.

4. Dennis Lillee (Australia)

The only fast bowler who can rival McGrath for the title of Australia’s greatest pacer, Lillee picked up 128 wickets against England in 22 Tests. His best figures against the English came in the 1981 Oval Test when he picked up 7 wickets for 89 runs. But the one he will remember the most would be his performance in the 1977 centenary Test when he picked up 11 wickets in the Test to help Australia win the game by 45 runs.

5. Sir Ian Botham (England)

Finally an Englishman! Botham was English cricket’s hearthrob in the 80s and most of the time the team depended on his performances with both bat and ball. The 1981 Ashes is famously known as Botham’s Ashes due to his phenomenal performances as an allrounder. He finished as the second highest run getter and the third highest wicket taker Totally he picked up 128 wickets against the Aussies with a bowling average of 28.04.