Most Deliveries Bowled In Test Cricket

Anderson called time on his career after playing 188 Tests (x.com)

In Test cricket, where battles are drawn out over five gruelling days, a bowler’s mettle is tested not just by the number of wickets they claim but also by their ability to endure.

Recently, as the curtains drew to a close on an illustrious career at the historic grounds of Lord’s, England speedster James Anderson etched his name in cricket history.

In his final Test against the West Indies, Anderson achieved a massive feat, becoming the first fast bowler ever to deliver 40,000 balls in Test cricket.

As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, let’s take a look at the top five bowlers who have bowled the most deliveries in Test cricket, a list graced by Anderson himself.

1. Muttiah Muralitaran – 44,039 balls

Muttiah Muralitharan (Twitter)

With a wrist supple as a willow and a smile as disarming as his deliveries, Muttiah Muralitaran tops the most balls bowled in Tests list with a staggering 44,039 balls bowled across his Test career from 1992 to 2010.

Representing Sri Lanka, Murali’s bowling style was a combination of bewitching spin and cunning craft. His doosra, a delivery that turns away from the right-handed batsmen, bamboozled even the most seasoned players.

Muralitharan’s figures are staggering: 800 wickets at an average of 22.72 and an economy of 2.47, making him not just a workhorse but a wicket-taker par excellence.

His best bowling in an innings was 9/51, and he has claimed 67 five-wicket hauls and 22 ten-wicket match hauls which shows his dominance in the longest format.

2. Anil Kumble – 40,850 balls

Anil Kumble (Twitter)

Next on our list is India’s own ‘Jumbo’, Anil Kumble. From 1990 to 2008, Kumble bowled 40,850 deliveries with a persistent drive and a incredible competitive spirit.

Known for his fast-paced leg spin—a rarity for twirlers—Kumble’s weapon of choice was his accuracy and his flipper, a quicker delivery that skidded onto the batsman.

His stats bear proof of his brilliance: 619 wickets at an average of 29.65 and an economy of 2.69 in 132 Test matches.

Kumble’s crowning glory came in the form of a perfect ten-wicket haul in an innings (10/74 against Pakistan), making him one of only three bowlers in history to achieve this feat in a single innings.

3. Shane Warne – 40,705 balls

Shane Warne (Twitter)

Australia’s Shane Warne, who spun the ball and tales with equal flair in his 15-year international career, is third on our list.

He delivered 40,705 balls in his Test career, using his charismatic leg spin to enthrall and entrap batsmen.

Warne’s arsenal was rich with a leg-break that turned prodigiously, a deceptive googly, and a slider that rushed onto the batsman.

His statistics are impressive: 708 wickets in 145 Tests at an average of 25.41 and an economy of 2.65, with best innings figures of 8/71.

Warne was not just a bowler but a showman, a strategist, and a key figure in Australia’s cricketing dominance in the last 90s and early 2000s.

4. James Anderson – 40,037 balls

James Anderson (Twitter)

England’s swing maestro James Anderson, who started his Test journey in 2003 and called time on his illustrious career recently, bowled 40,037 deliveries in his career.

Anderson’s mastery over the cricket ball, particularly under overcast skies, allowed him to make it hoop around corners with both conventional and reverse swing.

His numbers are a reflection of his skill and class: 704 wickets at an average of 26.45 and an economy of 2.79.

With best figures of 7/42, he led England’s attack for two decades, even into the twilight of his career. He played a whopping 188 Tests (second most after Sachin Tendulkar) which is proof of his incredible longevity.

5. Stuart Broad – 33,698 balls

Stuart Broad (Twitter)

Rounding off the list is another stalwart of English cricket, Stuart Broad, whose Test career spanning from 2007 to 2023 saw him bowl 33,698 deliveries.

Broad, often seen as Anderson’s perfect bowling partner, used his height to generate disconcerting bounce and seam movement.

With 604 wickets in 167 matches at an average of 27.68 and an economy of 2.97, his figures are studded with impactful performances, including his best figures of 8/15 against Australia in 2015.

Broad’s aggressive style and fierce competitiveness made him a central figure in England’s bowling lineup alongside Anderson.