The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia is around the corner. India are scheduled to play five Test matches down under, starting from November 22. Throughout the years, there have been several players from both India and Australia who made headlines with their performances in the BGT. Now it will be interesting which players will shine in the upcoming Test series.
Bowling is an important part of Test cricket where the team needs to take all 20 wickets to win a Test match. There have been star bowlers from both India and Australia who have delivered match-winning spells and etched their names in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In the following listicle, we will have a look at the top 10 players to take most wickets in the BGT history.
Highest wicket-takers in Border Gavaskar Trophy
10. Josh Hazlewood – 51 wickets
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood is the tenth highest wicket-taker in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The right-arm pacer has taken 51 scalps in 15 Test matches against India at a bowling average of 26.94. His best figures in Test against India remains 6/67.
9. Glenn McGrath – 51 wickets
Glenn McGrath was one of the dangerous pacers from Australia in the late 90s and early 2000s. He is ninth on the list to take most wickets in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The right-arm pacer has 51 wickets to his name in 11 Test matches against India with the best figures of 5/48.
8. Brett Lee – 53 wickets
Former Australia fast bowlers Brett Lee is among the best performers for Australia in the Test matches against India. He is the eighth highest wicket-taker in BGT history with 53 scalps to his name from 12 Test matches against India. Brett Lee has the best figures of 5/47 in Test matches against India.
7. Ishant Sharma – 59 wickets
Ishant Sharma is one of the best pacers for India in overseas Test matches. He has also got a great record against Australia in the longest format. Ishant Sharma is the seventh highest wicket-taker in Border Gavaskar Trophy with 59 scalps in 25 matches with the best figures 4/41.
6. Zaheer Khan – 61 wickets
Another India fast bowler in the list, Zaheer Khan also boasts of a good record in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in both India and Australia. The former left-arm pacer has taken 61 wickets from 19 Test matches against Australia, with the best figures of 5/91.
5. Ravindra Jadeja – 85 wickets
Ravindra Jadeja is among the best spinners for India in recent times and also boasts a great record in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Jadeja also won the joint player of the series award in the last BGT in India in 2023. The leg spinner has taken 85 wickets in just 16 Test matches against Australia with the best figures of 7/42.
4. Harbhajan Singh – 95 wickets
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh comes fourth in the list of the all-time highest wickets-takers in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The right-arm bowlers has 95 wickets to his name in 18 matches against Australia in his Test career with the best figures of 8/84.
3. Anil Kumble – 111 wickets
Former Indian Test captain and one of the greatest spinners from the country, Anil Kumble is third highest wicket-taker in BGT history. Kumble was also the captain of India during the famous Perth Test win against Australia in 2008. He is also the first player to take more then 100 wickets in the BGT. Kumble has taken 111 wickets in 20 Test matches against Australia with the best figures of 8/141.
2. Ravichandran Ashwin – 114 wickets
India’s premium spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is the second highest wicket-taker in the BGT history. The off-spinner was also the joint player of the series with his spin counterpart Ravindra Jadeja in the last BGT edition in 2023. Ashwin has taken 114 wickets to his name in 22 Test matches against Australia so far with the best figures of 7/103.
1. Nathan Lyon – 116 wickets
Australia’s Nathan Lyon is currently the all-time highest wicket-taker in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The right-arm off spinner has taken 116 wickets in 26 Test matches against India so far with the best figures of 8/50.