An eventful decade with 3 World Cups, 4 World T20s and the introduction of the maiden World Test Championship has come to an end. The gap between the bat and the ball increased, albeit in different directions in white-ball and red-ball cricket. While limited-overs became increasingly high-scoring and the economy of bowlers got higher, the bowling average improved a lot in Test cricket; 2017 and 2019 were the two of the top three years with best bowling average in the last 30 years.
With the magnificent decade of cricket coming to an end, we look at the top five wicket-takers in international cricket this decade:
#5 Trent Boult (458)
The Kiwi left-arm pacer, who stepped in international cricket towards the end of 2011, has been New Zealand’s strike bowler in both Test and limited-overs cricket for the majority of this decade. Starting as a regular in the Test side, Boult was not as consistent in limited-overs. However, he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the 2015 World Cup and has never looked back since then. Boult’s rise in ODI cricket is evident from the fact that he was the highest wicket-taker in ODIs between the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
Currently New Zealand’s spearhead in all formats, Boult finishes as the fifth-highest wicket-taker this decade with 458 wickets.
#4 Tim Southee (472)
Tim Southee and his famous out-swinger has been a familiar sight in New Zealand cricket this decade. Starting as a premier new ball bowler, Southee has developed into a fine old-ball bowler too, thanks to pace variations and reverse swing. Playing a major role in New Zealand’s semifinal finish in the 2011 World Cup, Southee’s menacing spells yet again helped his side reach the finals in the 2015 World Cup. Despite being a regular in Tests, his white-ball form has gone down a bit, as a result, he was not a regular in the playing XI in the 2019 World Cup.
An important part of the current Kiwi trio of pacers in Tests, Tim Southee stands fourth in the list of most wicket-takers in this decade with 472 wickets.
#3 Stuart Broad (525)
Remembered by many for conceding six sixes in an over to a marauding Yuvraj Singh, Stuart Broad was been instrumental in the rise of England’s red-ball cricket in the first half of the decade. Despite his side’s dip in Test form in the latter part of the decade, Broad has been consistent with the ball throughout. With 471 wickets, Broad is England’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. However, his white-ball form has not been great off late. Having captained England in the 2012 and 2014 World T-20, which was his last T20 appearance for England, Broad last played an ODI in 2016.
Stuart Broad with 525 wickets this decade finishes as the third-highest wicket-taker in international cricket.
#2 James Anderson (535)
James Anderson, the highest wicket-taker in the world among pacers in Test cricket, has been the center of England’s Test bowling attack for close to 15 years now. Not in the scheme of things in T-20Is this decade, Anderson’s ODI form took a dip and was finally dropped after the 2015 World Cup. But his impeccable form in red-ball cricket made him an indispensable part of the English Test team. Anderson became only the second English cricketer to play 150 Tests after Alastair Cook in what happened to be the last Test match of this decade. The master of swing continues to be on song despite age catching up.
With 535 wickets, James Anderson is the second-highest wicket-taker this decade.
#1 Ravichandran Ashwin (564)
Rising through the ranks and getting recognition through the IPL, R Ashwin made his limited-overs debut in 2010 and red-ball debut in 2011. Since then he has been pivotal in India’s envious home record in Tests. Ashwin became the fastest to 300 and 350 Test wickets during this period which saw him going from strength to strength, running through oppositions at ease at home. His overseas record is still under questions by many but at home, Ashwin still stands as the first-choice spinner. Barring the past one or two years when Indian pacers have taken the bulk of wickets even at home, Ashwin along with Jadeja formed a nightmarish pair for opposition batsmen. In limited overs, Ashwin continued to be in the scheme of things till the Champions Trophy 2017, post which the management looked past Ashwin recognizing the need for wrist spinners.
R Ashwin with 564 wickets stands at the top of the list of wicket-takers in international cricket this decade.
