Top wicket-takers in the World Test Championship 2021-23

In October 2017, the ICC announced that there will be a Test League which would involve the top nine teams playing series over two years with the top two teams qualifying for a World Test Championship Final. The first ICC World Test Championship started with the 2019 Ashes series and finished with New Zealand lifting the trophy after defeating India in the final in June 2021. The second ICC World Test Championship was started on 4 August 2021 with the 5-match Pataudi Trophy and finished with the final between India & Australia. Australia won the World Test Championship 2021-23 after defeating India by 209 runs at the Oval. In this Article, We'll talk about the top wicket-takers of the World Test Championship 2021-23.

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Top wicket-takers of the World Test Championship 2021-23 (Top Five):

1. Nathan Lyon (Australia) | 88 wickets

The Aussie spinner played a major role in his side's path to the WTC Final 2021-23. Lyon holds a healthy average of 26.12 per wicket and also has five five-fors and a 10-for to his name during this World Test Championship. He began his run with the Ashes at home, where he led the bowling attack with his 16 wickets at an average of 23.56. Lyon carried his fine form in Pakistan and took 12 wickets at 44.91 on batting wickets including his 5/83 in the second innings at Lahore. He played a major role with the ball in Australia's historic series win.

The next destiny was Sri Lanka and he kept taking wickets on a regular basis. Lyon picked up 11 wickets at 28.63 including a match-winning 9/121 in Galle. He also scalped 22 wickets in the five Tests played against West Indies and South Africa at home. Nathan Lyon's best performance came against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy held during February-March 2023. Lyon was the highest wicket-taker for Australia with 22 scalps and also helped to get the victory over India at Indore with 3/35 and 8/64. With 88 wickets, Lyon stands right at the first spot in the top wicket-takers list of the World Test Championship 2021-23.

2. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) | 67 wickets

The Proteas pacer began with a brilliant performance against India. He picked up 20 wickets at an average of 19.05. His best bowling figures in the series were 4/42, as South Africa were able to defeat India 2-1 despite losing the first Test. He also led the bowling attack against New Zealand. With an average of 21.9 for his 10 wickets, Rabada was exceptional. His 8/106 at Christchurch ensured that the Proteas returned home with honours even. 

Rabada didn't disappoint his side and carried his form during the tough away tours of England and Australia. In England, he was the second most dangerous bowler. He got away with 14 wickets at 23.35, while he claimed 11 wickets against the mighty Aussies. In the home series against West Indies, Rabada topped the wicket charts yet again in a crushing 2-0 win for his team, taking 12 wickets at an average of 11. 

3. Ravichandran Ashwin (India) | 61 wickets

Ravi Ashwin was the leading wicket-taker in the last edition of WTC and is currently placed third in this cycle. His average of 19.67 in this edition of WTC is also the best among the top 10 wicket-takers. Ashwin began this edition of WTC with 14 wickets at an average of 11.35 against New Zealand at home. His 8/42 in Mumbai helped India to register a massive 372-run victory.

Ashwin's performance against South Africa was terrible but he was back to his best against Sri Lanka at home as India's highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets at 15.08. He continued with important contributions against Bangladesh which included seven wickets at 35.14. He also won Player of the Match for his 6/137 and 42* in the second Test at Mirpur. Ashwin became the leading wicket-taker against Australia with 25 wickets at 17.28

4. James Anderson (England) | 58 wickets

The veteran English fast bowler is fourth on the list of the leading WTC wicket-takers. Anderson averaged a mere 20.37 while giving up only 2.27 runs per over. He featured in all the Pataudi Tests and was the joint second-highest wicket-taker along with Ollie Robinson. His 21 wickets came at an avg of 22.66 including a brilliant 5/60 in the first innings of the final Test at Birmingham in July 2022. 

James remained one of the best players during England's terrible Ashes campaign in Australia. He got eight wickets at 23.37. Anderson became even more incisive. He took 11 wickets at 18.63 against New Zealand and 10 wickets at 16.6 against South Africa. Anderson finished off with eight wickets during the tour of Pakistan with an average of 18.5 and an economy of 2.2 runs in an over in the series.

5. Pat Cummins (Australia) | 57 wickets

The Australia skipper has been at his best for most of the time as he scalped 57 wickets at an average of 22.15 from 15 Tests during the 2021-23 World Test Championship. Cummins has been particularly prolific on home soil in recent times. He began with 21 wickets at 18.04 in four Tests against England in 2021/22. Then he led the pace attack against the Proteas and picked up 12 wickets at 16.91 in three Tests.

The pacer also made an impact away from home with 12 wickets at an average of 22.5 in three Tests in Pakistan. Cummins picked up 4 wickets in total against India in the WTC Final at the Oval and became one of the key factors behind Australia's success.

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Top wicket-takers of the World Test Championship 2021-23 (Top Ten):