Is It Feasible for Any Bowler to Break Muttiah Muralitharan's Test Wicket Record?
Muttiah Muralitharan's record of 800 test wickets stands as one of the most remarkable achievements in cricket history. Can any bowler ever break this record? This article explores the feasibility of breaking this record, focusing on bowlers currently active in the game.
Ravichandran Ashwin and His Chances
As Muttiah Muralitharan's current record holder, Ashwin (35 years old with 430 test wickets in 84 matches) faces significant challenges in breaking this record. Even if he plays for four more years, the likelihood of Ashwin reaching 800 test wickets is slim. However, with continued effectiveness, he can surpass Anil Kumble's 619 wickets to become the highest wicket-taker for India in tests.
Ravichandran Ashwin's Statistics
Statistic Value Age 35 Test Wickets 430 Matches Played 84James Anderson: A Potential Record Breaker
While Ashwin’s chances are slim, another current player, James Anderson, presents a more attainable future for breaking the Muttiah Muralitharan record. Anderson, the best fast bowler of all time, has already played 169 Tests and captured 640 wickets, leaving him only 161 wickets away from the historic 800 mark.
James Anderson's Statistics
Statistic Value Age (As of 2023, 39 years old) Tests Played 169 Tests Wickets 640The State of Cricket and Test Bowling
The game of cricket has evolved significantly, with modern pitches catering better to the batsmen. This has considerably reduced the number of wickets a bowler can take in a test match. For instance, Muralitharan's wickets were often taken on pitches that were not as conducive to batting as those today. Therefore, even with the best players, the same quality of wickets is not widely available as in Muralitharan's era.
Given these conditions, it becomes challenging for a player like Anderson, who was already playing a decade after Muralitharan's peak, to breach the 800 wicket mark. He is currently 39 years old, and even if he plays until around 43, he would need to average more than 10 wickets per test to reach 800. This is an exceptionally high bar to meet.
Conclusion
While Ravi Ashwin could potentially surpass Anil Kumble's record, the likelihood of him breaking Muttiah Muralitharan's 800 wicket mark is remote due to his age and current wicket count. On the other hand, James Anderson has a realistic chance, albeit with a significant gap to bridge. The natural progression of the game towards pitches better suited for batsmen poses a formidable challenge to reaching such historic milestone numbers.