Top 3 bowlers with the most Test wickets in a calendar year

1. Shane Warne (96 wickets in 2005)

Shane Warne

Australia’s spin wizard Shane Warne holds the record for most Test wickets in a calendar year. In 15 Tests he claimed 96 wickets at an average of 22.02 and a strike rate of 45.1, with six five-fors and two 10-wicket match hauls.

Warne’s best bowling performance in an innings, 6 for 46, came against England at Birmingham in the second innings of the legendary Test as England were bowled out for 182. Warne dismissed Strauss, Ian Bell, Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff.

Chasing 282, the Aussies fell tantalizingly close to lose by two runs, with a desolate Brett Lee stranded on 279.

The legend’s best match figures of 12 for 246 came in the same Ashes at The Oval in a drawn encounter. This was the Test in which Kevin Pietersen scored the famous 158 to ensure the Ashes fell in England’s kitty.

Against New Zealand in the second innings at Christchurch in March, Warne ran through the Kiwis with figures of 5 for 39. The Kiwis crumbled to 131 all out to lose the Test by nine wickets.

Towards the end of the year, Warne also claimed 5 for 48 against West Indies at Brisbane, and 6 for 80 at Adelaide, as Australia won the three-match series 3-0.