Muttiah Muralitharan — 800 Test Wickets and the Greatest Spinner
Muttiah Muralitharan took 800 Test wickets — the all-time record. Learn about the Sri Lankan off-spinner's extraordinary career, his controversial bowling action, and why 800 Test wickets may never be surpassed.
Muttiah Muralitharan (born 1972, Kandy, Sri Lanka) is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history with 800 wickets in 133 Tests at an average of 22.72. He also took 534 ODI wickets — the most in ODI history. An off-spin bowler with extraordinary turn and variation, Muralitharan was the dominant bowler in Test cricket across two decades and is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of any era. He took his final Test wicket — India's Pragyan Ojha on the last ball of Sri Lanka's final Test for Muralitharan — to reach exactly 800 in July 2010.
The doosra and the controversial action
Muralitharan's bowling action was repeatedly scrutinised and challenged throughout his career. His arm — which bent due to a physical condition (cubitus valgus) that does not straighten fully — looked to some observers like it was being 'chucked' (an illegal straightening of the arm during delivery). He was called for throwing by Australian umpire Darrell Hair in 1995, triggering a prolonged controversy. Biomechanical testing eventually cleared Muralitharan, and the ICC revised its throwing law to allow up to 15 degrees of arm extension — a law change prompted in large part by the Muralitharan debate.
Taking wickets everywhere in the world
One mark of Muralitharan's greatness is his ability to take wickets consistently on all surfaces — including in England, Australia, and South Africa, where conditions traditionally do not favour spin. Critics of Warne argue that Warne's wickets were concentrated in favourable home conditions; Muralitharan's global record is comparably excellent. On sub-continental pitches he was essentially unplayable, but his record in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions is also exceptional.
800 wickets — the record in numbers
Muralitharan's 800 wickets are 92 more than Shane Warne's 708 — a gap that represents the equivalent of what many bowlers achieve in entire careers. He took 10 wickets in a match 22 times (Warne: 10 times) and 5 wickets in an innings 67 times (Warne: 37 times). The 800-wicket mark is likely to stand for the foreseeable future — the best current Test bowlers are still hundreds of wickets away. James Anderson (700+ at retirement) is the only other bowler to have surpassed 700.
Frequently asked questions
How many Test wickets did Muralitharan take?
Muttiah Muralitharan took 800 Test wickets in 133 matches at an average of 22.72 — the all-time record in Test cricket. His final wicket was Pragyan Ojha, taken on the last ball of his final Test to reach exactly 800. He also took 534 ODI wickets — the ODI record — and was consistently the world's best spinner across two decades.
Was Muralitharan's bowling action legal?
Muralitharan's bowling action was cleared by biomechanical testing and endorsed by the ICC. His arm does not straighten fully due to a congenital condition (cubitus valgus). The ICC revised the allowed degree of arm extension (from 5 to 15 degrees) partly in response to testing on various bowlers including Muralitharan. He was called for throwing by umpire Darrell Hair in 1995 but was cleared upon testing.
Is Muralitharan better than Warne?
The Muralitharan vs Warne debate is one of cricket's great arguments. Muralitharan has more wickets (800 vs 708), a lower average (22.72 vs 25.41), and more five-wicket hauls (67 vs 37). Warne's supporters point to his dominance in Ashes cricket and his impact at crucial moments. Most cricket historians rank them as the two greatest spin bowlers in history, separated only by individual preference.