Test cricket is considered the pinnacle of all cricket and it is a dream for every budding cricketer to play Test matches. Whether you are a big hitter or a bowler, you dream to play the longest format of the game. It is a tough format, especially for the bowlers who have to run all day and give their best. Hence, it is extremely difficult for bowlers to bowl many overs but there are some who have worked extremely hard and bowled many overs in Test cricket. Here are 5 bowlers who have bowled the most overs in Test cricket –
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (7339.5 overs) –
The first player in this list is the great from Sri Lanka, Muttiah Muralitharan. He was the best off-spinner and did wonders with the ball. He made his debut in the 1990s and barring a controversy, he has been simply superb. Not only has he bowled 7339.5 overs, he has also picked up 800 wickets which is by no means, an easy feat. Every batter found it tough to face him and it was a pleasure to see him bowl in his prime.
2. Anil Kumble (6808.2 overs) –
The next person in the list is Anil Kumble, the Giant from India. He usually was a bowler who could fox the batters with his guile and he was a workhorse. He delivered whenever it mattered the most and could bowl all day long. Who does not remember his 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 1999? I think everyone does. Yes, many would argue that he played many of his games in the subcontinent but bowling 6808.2 overs anywhere is not easy and Kumble has to be credited for his achievement.
3. Shane Warne (6784.1 overs) –
There is no surprise that we can only see spinners in this list so far. Spinners have a tendency to bowl for longer periods and Shane Warne was one of them. One of the best leg spinners to have graced the planet, Warne could turn the ball a mile and that was seen on his ball to Mike Gatting in what is termed as the ‘Ball of the Century’. He bowled 6784.1 overs in his entire career and took 708 wickets which is a magnificent feat.
4. James Anderson (5962 overs and counting) –
Surprise, surprise, a fast bowler in this list. James Anderson is a workhorse and he proves it again and again. He has not retired yet and so far, he has done a magnificent job. Bowling 5962 overs as a pacer is not a mean feat and that is not it, he has taken more than 600 wickets. He is definitely not done and even though he has been dropped from the Test squad, he might make a comeback and prove that it was a wrong decision to leave him out.
5. Courtney Walsh (5003.1 overs) –
Another pacer in the list and he is a legend from West Indies, Courtney Walsh. The right-arm pacer could bowl long spells and that is an amazing feat. Another thing is that he continued to take wickets at regular intervals. Overall, he bowled 5003.1 overs and picked up 519 wickets at an astonishing average of 24.44.
