In this earlier article we talked about the most successful batting pairs in test cricket history. In this article, we will talk about the most successful bowling pairs in test cricket history. 

Test Cricket has been around for 146 years that means ever since 1877, it has been there and it has seen a number of great batters and Bowlers do their thing. There have been individual greats such as Don Bradman, Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralidharan. However the best are the partnerships that do extremely well be it batting or Bowling. The partnerships that are legendary are remembered forever. 

Let’s look at the Top 5 Most Successful Bowling Pairs in Test Cricket history

1) Stuart Broad and James Anderson – 1039 Wickets

This is the best and most successful Bowling partnership in the history of test cricket. Stuart Broad and James Anderson with 1039 wickets are the most successful bowling pair in test cricket history. They also hold the record of Most wickets by a pair in tests all time. They broke the record earlier this year and they ended their legendary run with 1039 wickets as a pair. They are the second pair to Take over 1000 Wickets in Test Cricket as a pair and the first all pace duo to achieve this feat. Jimmy Anderson has taken 537 out of the 1039 Wickets between them and Stuart Broad has taken 502 wickets. They are Also the only bowling pair in this list where both the bowlers in the pair have taken over 500 wickets each. They have played 138 Test Matches together and they average 7.53 Wickets per test match. Do check here the best bowling by Stuart Broad in test cricket and best bowling by James Anderson in test cricket

2) Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath – 1001 Wickets

The number 2 most successful pair on this list is perhaps the greatest Australia bowling duo in history and there have been many truly great pairs. This is the most successful pair featuring a fast bowler and a spinner. Shane Warne took 513 Wickets out of the 1001 Wickets and Glenn McGrath took 488 wickets. They wrecked havoc against everyone that they played against. They played 104 Test Matches together and they averaged 9.63 Wickets per Test Match.

3) Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas-  895 Wickets

This Sri Lankan pair is the most successful bowling pair in Sri Lankan cricket history. This is the paur where the pair was the most successful Asian pair in Test Cricket history. They have taken 895 Wickets where Muttiah Muralitharan took 586 Wickets and Chaminda Vaas took 309 Wickets. They played 95 Wickets and they averaged 9.42 Wickets per match. They were the flag bearers for Asian cricket and they have won multiple matches for Sri Lanka

4) Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh- 762 Wickets

West Indies have had some of the greatest fast bowlers in the world and this pair has been the most successful bowling pair in test cricket. Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh-were a Deadly duo and they bowled out opposition most of the times. Curtly Ambrose took 389 Wickets and Courtney Walsh took 373 Wickets. They played 95 Test Matches together and took 8.02 Wickets pet test match

5) Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon – 612 Wickets and counting

This is the only bowling pair in this list that are actively playing test cricket. All the other 4 bowling pairs are no longer bowling together and they have together taken 612 Wickets so far and still they have a few years of test cricket left in them. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon will take wickets but the difference between them and number 4 is so huge that it looks unlikely that they will go to the number 4 spot. They have played 77 Test Matches together so far and have taken 7.95 Wickets per test match. Check here Best bowling performances of Nathan Lyon in Test Cricket

6) Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis – 559 Wickets

The 6th most successful bowling pair in Test Cricket is the legendary fast bowling duo from Pakistan. These 2 were so deadly and lethal together that the opposition batting would tremble in fear facing the best left arm and right arm fast bowler in the world. They took a combined 559 Test Wickets in just 61 Test Matches. They took 9.16 Wickets per Test Match. Wasim Akram took 282 Wickets and Waqar Younis took 277 Wickets in this partnership.

7) Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis- 547 Wickets

This legendary South Africa fast bowling pair is at number 7 on this list. On one side is the greatest all rounder to have ever played the sport of cricket in Kallis and on the other side is the lethal Shaun Pollock. They played for 93 Innings together and they took 5.88 Wickets per test match. Shaun Pollock took 377 Wickets in this partnership and Kallis took 170 Wickets. This is probably the highest difference between wickets in a partnership.

8) Trent Boult and Tim Southee – 541 Wickets and counting

This is one of the bowling pairs in this list that is still playing active test cricket. The best bowling pair for New Zealand in a long time. One is a devastating left arm fast bowler and the other is a swinging right arm bowler. They have played in 64 Innings together and they have taken a good 8.32 Wickets per test match. Trent Boult has taken 277 Wickets and Tim Southee has taken 264 Test Wickets in this incredible partnership so far and if they continue to play for a few more years then they can reach at number 6 in this list.

9) Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis- 538 Wickets

The last 2 pairs in this list are South African pairs which will make it 3 South African bowling pairs out of 10. Makhaya Ntini was the premier fast bowler for South Africa in the 2000s and Kallis was the perfect supporting act like he was with Shaun Pollock. They Bowled in 93 Innings together and they took 5.88 Wickets per Test Match. Makhaya Ntini took 350 Wickets in their partnership and Kallis took 150 Wickets. This is just like the Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis partnership

10) Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel- 522 Wickets

At number 10 is the modern day great South African fast bowling pair which stoked fear in all their opponents. Dale Steyn and Morne Morke are one of the best fast bowling pairs in the modern era. They played 62 Innings together and in those they took 8.42 Wickets per Test Match which was one of the best in the history of South African Test Cricket. Dale Steyn rooktook 305 Wickets and Morne Morkel took 217 Wickets in this epic partnership. South Africa have had some of the best fast bowlers in the past 30 years

Table Representing Most Successful Bowling Pairs in Test Matches history

Do let us know if you think we missed anyone in the list!