Top 5 Test bowlers with most wickets in winning cause

The importance of a reliable and versatile bowling attack can never be understated in Test cricket. Howsoever does a team's batting lineup pile on the runs, Test matches are usually never won without procuring those 20 necessary wickets. Consequently, the presence of match-winning bowlers becomes extremely tantamount to any team's cause in the premier format of the game.

Let us take a close look at the top five bowlers with the most number of wickets in Tests won by their respective teams. These are some of the greatest match-winners in the long and illustrious history of the format.

While Australia have two representatives in the top five, the likes of India, South Africa and Sri Lanka have one produced one such prolific bowler. Interestingly, only one active cricketer features in this distinguished segment. England's seasoned spearhead James Anderson needs five more wickets in a victorious Test to displace Anil Kumble at the fifth spot. All statistics are accurate as of 4th January, 2018.

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#5 Anil Kumble - 288 wickets from 43 Tests

During the latter part of his memorable career, Anil Kumble played alongside some of the biggest batting icons produced by India. That he managed to carve a niche for himself in a country obsessed with batting speaks volumes about his legacy in the game. Right throughout the 1990s, the legendary leg-spinner turned India into an impenetrable fortress at home. As his career evolved, he proceeded to make an impression away from his comfort zone as well.

India won 43 of the 132 Tests which Kumble played between 1990 and 2008. From those victorious matches, the wrist-spinner picked 288 wickets at an impressive average of 18.75 and splendid strike-rate of 44.4. As many as 20 of his 35 five-wicket hauls and 5 out of his 8 ten-wicket match hauls came in winning cause. His scarcely believable 10/74 in the fourth-innings of the 1999 Delhi Test against arch-rivals Pakistan ranks among the finest bowling spells of all time.

#4 Dale Steyn - 291 wickets from 44 Tests

Steyn is one of the most lethal fast bowlers in the modern era

In an era where world-class fast bowlers are few and far in between, Dale Steyn has consistently managed to stand out in the ultimate format of the game. Be it searing out-swing or relentless hostility, he has maximised his strengths unlike any other bowler in recent times. The right-arm pacer's capacity to produce match-winning spells across a wide variety of conditions played a pivotal role in South Africa's unbeaten away series streak between 2006 and 2015.

From 44 triumphant Tests, Steyn has scalped 291 wickets at a remarkable average of 16.03 and astonishing strike-rate of 31.4. Out of the 26 five-wicket hauls in his tremendous career, only four have not resulted in victories for South Africa.

All of his 5 ten-wicket match hauls have come in winning cause. Ranging from Melbourne to Nagpur, the veteran fast bowler has delivered game-changing performances across the globe. With as many as seven Tests looming large in the next few months, he will have ample opportunities to add to his collection of successful scalps.

#3 Glenn McGrath - 414 wickets from 84 Tests

McGrath's relentless accuracy helped him contribute decisively to Australia's fortunes

Possessing immaculate control over line and length, Glenn McGrath ruthlessly preyed on the technique as well as temperament of supposedly world-class batsmen right throughout his extremely productive career. Forming one half of a fruitful seam and spin partnership with Shane Warne, the right-armer was instrumental in Australia's dominant run of form during the late 90s and early 2000s.

As many as 84 of McGrath's 124 Tests were won by Australia. In those matches, he picked up 414 wickets at a brilliant average of 19.19 and stellar strike-rate of 47.7 with 18 five-wicket hauls as well as three ten-wicket match hauls. Perhaps, his most memorable spell in winning cause was the demolition of Pakistan at Perth in 2004. The visiting batsmen had no clue on how to handle his steep bounce and were shot out for just 72 runs in their second innings.

#2 Muttiah Muralitharan - 438 wickets from 54 Tests

Muralitharan spearheaded Sri Lanka's challenge right throughout his memorable career

Apart from the revered Sir Richard Hadlee, no one comes close to matching Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of shouldering a team's bowling fortunes singlehandedly for a sustained period of time. Even though Chaminda Vaas offered him considerable seam support from the other end, the exalted off-spinner often found himself carrying Sri Lanka's bowling attack on his able shoulders.

Armed with an assortment of bewildering variations as well as an affable smile, Muralitharan spun Sri Lanka to numerous memorable victories during the course of his luminous career. From 54 victorious Tests, the spin maestro amassed 438 wickets at an astounding average of 16.18 and resplendent strike-rate of 42.7.

Quite remarkably, 41 of his 67 five-wicket hauls and 18 of his 22 ten-wicket match hauls came in winning cause. The manner in which he scooped 16 scalps to singlehandedly bulldoze England on a dusty surface at The Oval in 1998 still remains entrenched in the memories of those fortunate enough to witness the virtuoso performance.

#1 Shane Warne - 510 wickets from 92 Tests

Warne's unparalleled tactical nous enabled him to outclass even accomplished batsmen

In the all-time list of players who have participated in the most number of won Tests, Shane Warne is second only to erstwhile teammate Ricky Ponting. While the dynamic batsman was involved in a gargantuan 108 Australian victories, the magical leg-spinner saw his team triumph in 92 of his 145 appearances at the highest level. With his mesmerising ability to turn the ball handsomely on any type of surface, he contributed enormously to Australia's unfettered supremacy before and after the millennium.

Warne's tally of 510 wickets in victorious Tests remains the highest in the history of the format. The iconic wrist-spinner's terrific average of 22.47 and lethal strike-rate of 51.2 stand as testament to his glowing legacy as one of the eminent match-winners in the annals of Test cricket. 27 of his 37 five-wicket hauls and 7 of his 10 ten-wicket match hauls came in winning cause. The legendary Australian spinner's match haul of 11 wickets in the 1998 Sydney Test against South Africa ranks among his best ever performances.