Top 5 Leading wicket takers in Cricket World Cup history

#1. Glenn McGrath (Australia) - 71 Wickets

McGrath was outstanding for Australia at the World Cup

The World Cup’s leading wicket taker of all time is none other than Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath. The Aussie, renowned for his accuracy, troubled the batsmen with his precision and rarely gave anything away.

The fast bowler played four World Cups between 1996 and 2007 and had a crucial role to play in Australia’s three consecutive crowns in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He picked up 71 wickets in his World Cup career at an average of 18.19.

The memory of McGrath getting Sachin Tendulkar caught in the final at Johannesburg is something Indian fans won’t forget in a hurry. However, such moments were quite frequent whenever the Australian picked up the ball.

In his swansong tournament in 2007, he ended up with the highest wicket tally after collecting 26 wickets in 11 games. His performance against South Africa in the semi-final would forever be etched in cricketing folklore as he came up with a scintillating spell of 8-1-18-3. In the process, he ripped apart the South African batting and allowed Australia to canter into their fourth consecutive final.

Thus, a champion of the ilk of McGrath deserves to be at the top of any bowling list anyone wishes to compile. Fittingly, he takes the top spot on our list too.