Top 5 Leading wicket takers in Cricket World Cup history

Ever since its inception in 1975, the ICC Cricket World Cup has garnered unparalleled popularity and unsurprisingly, it has become the premier Cricket competition in the world.

Conducted every four years, countries start planning to scale the pinnacle of world cricket quite early in order to not allow the opposition an inch.

In a few days’ time, the 12th edition of the World Cup would roll into England and the excitement has already hit an all-time high. Fans and pundits alike are raving about the prospect of the current World Cup being one of the most competitive ever and evidence certainly suggests that it could be the case.

Thus, it is only inevitable that on the grandest cricketing stage of them all, players of yesteryear have made a name for themselves either with the willow or with the ball.

The article in question concentrates on the latter aspect and it will take you down memory lane to relive some of the best cumulative wicket tallies bowlers have conjured in the past editions.

Without further ado, here is a look at the elite list of bowlers who have taken the most number of wickets in World Cup history:

---

#5. Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath (India) - 44 Wickets

Zaheer was a vital cog in India's wheel in the 2011 World Cup

Javagal Srinath is arguably one of the best right-arm pacers India has ever produced. Capable of swinging the ball at will, the lad from Karnataka went on to enjoy a superb career for India across all formats.

However, when the big occasion came calling, the fast bowler raised his game to another level.

In 34 World cup games, the seamer snapped up 44 wickets at a miserly economy rate of 4.32. In addition, he boasted a strike rate of 38.6, meaning that he picked a wicket every six overs.

However, when contesting the 5th spot on our list, he just gets pipped by another Indian seamer, Zaheer Khan.

The left-armer played a crucial role in India’s run to the final in 2003 and was unfortunate not to cap off his tournament on a high. Though a sub-standard 2007 World Cup followed, he ensured he made amends in the 2011 edition where he ended up finishing as the competition’s leading wicket taker with 21 scalps in 9 matches.

Zaheer played 3 World Cups for India and picked up 44 wickets in just 23 games. Additionally, he did so at an average of 20.22, which was considerably better than the numbers produced by Srinath who did it at an average of 27.81

Zaheer bowled a total of 198.5 overs in the competition and collected those wickets at a strike rate of 27.1. Thus, in essence, the seamer achieved a breakthrough every four and a half overs through his World Cup career.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that Zaheer makes the list at No.5.

#4. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) - 49 Wickets

Chaminda Vaas is the greatest fast bowler Sri Lanka has produced

Born on 27th January, 1974, Chaminda Vaas went on to establish himself as the best fast-bowler to have ever donned the Sri Lankan jersey. Through his international career, the left-arm pacer accumulated 400 wickets in the ODI format while also garnering 355 wickets in the Test arena.

However, come the World Cup, Vaas was an even tougher proposition to tackle and his record is a testament to the fact.

He played four World Cups for Sri Lanka with his first appearance coming in the victorious 1996 campaign while he led the island nation to another final in his last World Cup in 2007.

In between, Vaas scalped 49 batsmen in 31 games at an average of 21.22 and an economy rate of 3.97.

Hence, indicating that the seamer barely ever allowed the batsmen to get on top and take the game away from his side.

Moreover, his propensity to swing the new ball prodigiously meant that Sri Lanka could stifle the opposition from the outset. His adroitness with the ball also helped him pick up a hat-trick in the World Cup.

Vaas did so against Bangladesh in the 2003 edition when he dismissed Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haque of the first three deliveries of their innings.

Thus, there can be absolutely no doubt with regards to the seamer’s place among the pantheon of great fast bowlers to have bowled in the World Cup.

#3. Wasim Akram (Pakistan) - 55 Wickets

Akram was superb for Pakistan

The next bowler on our list is Pakistan’s seam bowling sensation, Wasim Akram. The pacer was a menace for batsmen throughout his career with his blend of quick and accurate bowling. And it wasn’t any different on the biggest stage.

In 38 games at the World Cup, Akram picked up 55 wickets with the 5-28 against Namibia in 2003 being his best bowling effort. Additionally, he performed a variety of roles for Pakistan. He was adept at bowling at the start of an innings while his yorkers were extremely difficult to get away in the death overs. Hence, he was in many respects, the complete fast bowler. To add to his legend, he even helped his country scale the World Cup peak in 1992.

The 1992 final epitomised the seamer to the tee. After removing Ian Botham at the start of the innings, Akram returned to the bowling crease in the middle phases. He then proceeded to dismiss Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis to break open the match with a superb spell of reverse-swing bowling.

Thus, it is only fitting that he makes the list of the top wicket takers of all time at the World Cup.

#2. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) - 68 Wickets

Murali weaved his magic many a time at the World Cup

Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka’s ace spinner will go down in history as the greatest off-spinner to have graced the game. After all, the Sri Lankan racked up 800 Test wickets whereas his tally of 534 ODI wickets wasn’t too shabby either.

Muralitharan made a living bamboozling batsmen with his wizardry and guile. Though he had to encounter some problems at the start of his career, he ensured he silenced those critics with the ball.

The spinner’s record at the World Cup makes for impressive reading. In 40 games, he picked up 68 wickets at an astounding average of 19.63. Moreover, he also kept things quiet in the middle overs and made sure Sri Lanka built pressure on the opposition. His economy rate of 3.88 runs conceded per over drives the aforementioned fact home.

Apart from the raw numbers he produced, Murali had an aura about him. An aura very few bowlers across the globe can claim to have created. Whenever he came on to bowl, the batsmen always looked circumspect, no matter the situation and that eventually led to them perishing against the wily spinner.

Akin to any great sportsman, he also saved his best for the biggest of occasions and unsurprisingly, he finds himself as the 2nd highest wicket taker of all time in World Cup cricket.

#1. Glenn McGrath (Australia) - 71 Wickets

McGrath was outstanding for Australia at the World Cup

The World Cup’s leading wicket taker of all time is none other than Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath. The Aussie, renowned for his accuracy, troubled the batsmen with his precision and rarely gave anything away.

The fast bowler played four World Cups between 1996 and 2007 and had a crucial role to play in Australia’s three consecutive crowns in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He picked up 71 wickets in his World Cup career at an average of 18.19.

The memory of McGrath getting Sachin Tendulkar caught in the final at Johannesburg is something Indian fans won’t forget in a hurry. However, such moments were quite frequent whenever the Australian picked up the ball.

In his swansong tournament in 2007, he ended up with the highest wicket tally after collecting 26 wickets in 11 games. His performance against South Africa in the semi-final would forever be etched in cricketing folklore as he came up with a scintillating spell of 8-1-18-3. In the process, he ripped apart the South African batting and allowed Australia to canter into their fourth consecutive final.

Thus, a champion of the ilk of McGrath deserves to be at the top of any bowling list anyone wishes to compile. Fittingly, he takes the top spot on our list too.