‘The 500’ club of Test cricket

Muttiah Muralitharan

Muralitharan is the highest wicket-taker in Tests with 800 dismissals

The Sri Lankan maestro is the highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket with a mind-blowing 800 scalps, perhaps the most difficult record to break.

Murali was one of the first modern cricketers to possess an unusual bowling action caused due to a birth deformity in his elbow. As a result, he was twice reported for chucking in Australia and was subsequently no-balled.

However, Murali had the last laugh when the ICC cleared his action and he became the tormentor of the Aussies during his entire career. After studying Murali’s case, the ICC changed its previous rule and allowed 15 degrees of flexibility of the bowling arm at the time of delivery.

The Sri Lankan great finished his career with 800 wickets in 133 matches and a record 67 five-wicket hauls. He was undoubtedly one of the main reasons behind Sri Lanka’s Test victories for close to two decades starting from 1992.