Wickets banked by test teams: an irreverent look continued

We’ve looked at a team’s overall batting performance in Tests. Now, let’s turn our attention to their bowling and wicket-taking.

In the previous article, I looked at the career runs banked by teams. I continued this not-too-serious a look this time with career wickets as the measure.

The best team for each country has been shown below with the players and the career wickets for these players. Hence it is possible that strong bowling teams such as Australia and West Indies would have many teams which have higher wicket aggregates than the other teams. However only the best team for each country is shown.

I have taken the career wickets for accumulation. However, as I have mentioned in my earlier article, the career wickets are only an overall indication of the bowling experience. Probably the correct figure to be used is the career-to-date wickets as at the time of the test. That would be a more accurate depiction of strength.

However that requires a more complex calculation and is reserved for a later date.

Only bowlers who have captured 50 career wickets or more are shown. However the team wicket tally is for all the players.

1. Year 2001 MatchId: 1550 Australia    1999 vs Eng

The top Australian bowlers get together to form the most experienced bowling line-up ever. The Waughs add 151 wickets and excellent backup bowling skills.

2. Year 2005 MatchId: 1768 Icc XI       1886 vs  Aus

ICC XI is pipped to the second place by the Australian bowling line-up. If Kumble had played instead of Vettori, they would have moved to the top position.

3. Year 1992 MatchId: 1197 India        1675 vs  Zim

Three top Indian bowlers together move this Indian bowling line-up to the third place. Harbhajan Singh was not yet in his teens during this test. The near-woo numbers of Prabhakar and Raju help swell the tally.

4. Year 1990 MatchId: 1154 Pakistan     1597 vs  Win

Could there have been a better bowling line-up than this. Three of the greatest fast bowlers ever and two of the greatest leg-spinners ever.

5. Year 2001 MatchId: 1541 South Africa 1592 vs  Win

This South African bowling quintet falls just below Pakistan. With all the Pakistani bowlers having retired, a few wickets by Kallis will move this line-up above Pakistan.

6. Year 1990 MatchId: 1157 West Indies  1576 vs  Pak

I would have expected the strong West Indian bowling line-ups to take a higher position. Possibly the presence of four bowlers who share the spoils has kept the aggregate to a reasonable figure.

7. Year 2005 MatchId: 1766 Sri Lanka    1541 vs  Bng

Sri Lanka, led by Muralitharan’s 800 wickets is in next position. Only two main bowlers in this group. Only three main bowlers in this group.

8. Year 1981 MatchId: 0911 England      1323 vs  Ind

England is next with 1323 wickets. This is a reflection of the fact that no English bowler has crossed 400 wickets.

9. Year 2004 MatchId: 1700 New Zealand   961 vs  Eng

New Zealand comes in last, led by Vettori with 325 wickets. When Hadlee played, no bowler had even crossed probably 150 wickets.