Presenting the top five best bowlers in WTC history
What's the story
Mitchell Starc, Australia's premier fast bowler, has become the highest wicket-taker in World Test Championship (WTC) history. He achieved this milestone during the second Test match against Bangladesh in Mackay. Starc's brilliant bowling performance saw him take six wickets for just 12 runs, helping Australia bowl out Bangladesh for a mere 64 runs. On this note, we look at the top performers in WTC history.
#1
Bumrah boasts the best average
Jasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has been a wicket-taking machine in the WTC era.
He has claimed 185 wickets across just 42 Tests at a jaw-dropping average of 19.23, as per Cricinfo.
No other bowler with at least 100 WTC scalps has a sub-20 average.
Bumrah also happens to be the player with the most five-wicket hauls in WTC history (13).
#2
Rabada strikes every 40.2 balls
South Africa's spearhead Kagiso Rabada is one of the only seven bowlers with 150-plus WTC wickets.
The fast bowler has 164 wickets across 36 games in the championship, as he averages a stunning 22.31 (5W: 8).
His strike rate of 40.2 is the best among bowlers with a century of WTC scalps.
He took nine wickets in the 2025 WTC final against Australia at Lord's, having conceded 110 runs from 33.4 overs.
#3
Starc has been stellar with the new ball
Starc has been a new-ball menace in the WTC era, claiming as many as 19 first-over wickets.
With his heroics in Mackay, the Aussie speedster has taken his WTC tally to 230 wickets from 56 matches at an average of 24.50.
This includes eight fifers. Starc's WTC strike rate of 42.2 is the third best for any bowler (minimum 100 wickets).
#4
Hazlewood averages just 20.17 in WTC
Though the injury-prone Josh Hazlewood has not been a regular face in Australia's Test XI for the last few years, the veteran has made a mark in the games he has played.
The pacer has claimed 139 wickets across WTC Tests, as his average of 20.17 is only second to Bumrah's 19.23 among bowlers with 100-plus wickets.
He owns eight four-fers.
#5
Cummins completes the list
Australian skipper Pat Cummins would complete this elite list.
The speedster has been impressive across conditions, as his average of 25.8 is the fourth-best among bowlers with 50-plus WTC wickets away from home.
Cummins has 89 scalps in this regard.
With 225 scalps across 54 games, Cummins is also the joint-second-highest wicket-taker in the championship's history.
His overall average of 22.11 is the also fourth-best among bowlers with 100-plus scalps (5W: 10).