Mitchell Starc. (Photo by Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
In Test cricket, achieving success is impossible if the sides don’t have bowlers who possess the quality of picking up 20 wickets in matches consistently. Back in November 2015, Virat Kohli, the then-India Test captain also said that bowlers’ role is more crucial than batters to extract results in the longest format of the sport.
Since 2022, some bowlers have grabbed eyeballs by virtue of their scintillating bowling performances in the longest format of the game. With their self-belief and conviction, these bowlers have performed exceptionally with the ball and also broke into the list of Test bowlers with the most wickets in the calendar year 2022. Following their superb form from the previous year, these bowlers have continued their good work in the ongoing year, as well.
Here are the rankings of top 10 Test bowlers (2022-23)
10. Alzarri Joseph
Alzarri Joseph. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images)
In March 2022, the West Indies hosted England for a three-match Test series. During the competition, the Caribbean side played aggressive cricket and bagged the series by a margin of 1-0, with their 10-wicket victory in the third Test. Alzarri Joseph, who scalped 10 wickets in six innings across three Tests, played a vital role in Windies’ success.
The Kraigg Braithwaite-led side whitewashed Bangladesh in a two-match Test series in June, and this time, Joseph spearheaded the West Indies pace attack from the front, grabbing 12 wickets in four innings of the two Tests. In February-March, the Windies got whitewashed at the hands of the Proteas in South Africa in a two-match Test series.
During their horrendous tour, Joseph took 12 wickets in four innings of two Tests and became the joint-leading wicket-taker, along with South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada. In 2022, Joseph took 27 wickets in 14 innings of seven Tests and became the leading wicket-taker of 2022, for the West Indies.
9. Prabath Jayasuriya
Prabath Jayasuriya. (Photo Source: Sri Lanka Cricket/Twitter)
In July 2022, Prabath Jayasuriya made his Test debut against Australia at the Galle International Stadium. Riding on the left-arm spinner’s sensational bowling numbers of 6/118 and 6/59, Sri Lanka beat the Aussies by an innings and 39 runs in the second Test and managed to draw the series. For his incredible performance in the debut game, he was awarded the Player of the Match.
Continuing his terrific run, Jayasuriya helped his side to level a two-match Test series against Pakistan at home. Claiming eight wickets in the second Test, he contributed to Sri Lanka’s comprehensive 246-run win over Babar Azam and his men at the Galle International Stadium. The talented Sri Lanka spinner ended 2022 with 29 wickets in six innings of three Tests. With these numbers, he also became the highest wicket-taking Sri Lankan bowler of the year in Tests.
This year, Sri Lanka toured New Zealand for a two-match Test series, and playing both games of the competition, the 31-year-old Jayasuriya took four wickets in three innings, with his best match figures of 3/138 that came in the first Test at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch. His best bowling figures in an innings came against Ireland when he ended with 7/52, and ended the match with ten wickets to his tally.
Ever since his Test debut in 2022, the left-hander has picked a total of 50 wickets in just seven Tests, and has surely become a force to be reckoned with for the Lankan Lions. The Matale-born will look to provide stellar performances for the national side while donning the Whites.
8. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc. (Photo Source: Getty Images)
Mitchell Starc showcased his efficiency with the ball again in 2022 with his fantabulous Test bowling. The pacer picked up 35 wickets in 11 matches and became the third-most efficient bowler for the Aussies during the calendar year.
During Australia’s Test series in Pakistan, he put up a decent show with the ball, clinching eight wickets in the series. In Australia’s 115-run win in the third Test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Starc took five wickets (4/33 and 1/53) with his disciplined bowling.
Starc displayed his mettle during Australia’s clash with Sri Lanka in the Test series held in the island nation. In the second Test at the Galle International Stadium, Australia lost by an innings and 39 runs but Starc performed excellently in the game as he took a four-wicket haul against the hosts.
In the 2022 home season, Australia thumped West Indies and South Africa, and in both competitions, the speedster looked decent with the ball. This year, the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final became a one-sided affair with Australia’s phenomenal 209-run victory over India. In his team’s notable achievement, Starc bagged four wickets in the match and helped the Aussies grab the coveted ICC Test Mace.
7. Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Pat Cummins played an essential role in Australia’s scintillating Test performance in 2022. Hunting 36 batters in 17 innings of 10 Tests, the pacer became the second-leading wicket-taker of 2022 for the Aussies after Nathan Lyon in the longest form of the sport.
In March 2022, he led Australia to a Test series win against Pakistan on the latter’s soil. Riding on their captain’s tremendous bowling performance (5/56 and 3/23 figures), Australia vanquished Pakistan by 115 runs in the final Test at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
In January 2023, Australia hammered South Africa by 2-0 at home, and in this important series, Cummins took 12 wickets in six innings of three Tests, including his best bowling figures in an innings of 5/42 in the first Test at The Gabba, Brisbane.
In the Border Gavaskar Trophy against India in early 2023, he couldn’t deliver the goods as he had to travel back home owing to family commitments, the Aussie skipper returned in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final, stepped up against the same opponents and led the side from the front.
In the marquee game played at The Oval, London, the speedster became the highest wicket-taker for his side in the first innings, with his bowling figures of 3/83.
6. James Anderson
James Anderson. (Photo Source: Twitter)
At the age of 40, James Anderson has maintained his form and fitness to serve the England Test team efficiently. In June 2022, England whitewashed New Zealand in a three-match Test series at the former’s home. Anderson, who was leading the pace attack, provided early breakthroughs to the hosts with his confident bowling.
In the fifth Test of the Pataudi Trophy 2021-22, the veteran took a fifer in the first innings to help his team hand India a seven-wicket defeat and end the series in a stalemate. After the fifth game of the Pataudi Trophy, Anderson was next seen against South Africa in the three-match Test competition held in August-September at home.
Playing the second Test of the series, the pacer exuded confidence with his wicket-taking bowling. Grabbing six wickets in the contest, Anderson played a vital role in bringing England back into the series.
Talking about his performance in 2022, the Lancashire-born took 36 wickets in nine Tests and became the joint-fourth-highest wicket-taker of the year in Tests, along with South Africa’s Marco Jansen and Australia’s Pat Cummins. This year, Anderson grabbed seven wickets and powered his side to a 267-run win in the first Test against New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.
5. Marco Jansen
Marco Jansen. (Photo Source: Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
Marco Jansen’s impressive bowling performance in 2022 cemented his spot in the South Africa Test team. Fetching 36 wickets in 13 innings of eight Tests, Jansen became the second-leading wicket-taker for his national team in the Test format in the calendar year. Playing the second Test of his career, the young pacer outclassed the Indian batting line-up at the Wanderers.
Claiming seven wickets in the second Test against India at The Wanderers, Jansen helped his team to beat the visitors comfortably in the contest. Whereas, he returned in the third Test in Cape Town to again pick a seven-for in the match. During South Africa’s tour of New Zealand in February-March 2022, Jansen again proved himself with his decent bowling display against the hosts in the second Test. At the Hagley Oval, he chipped in with seven wickets in the Proteas’ 198-run victory over the Kiwis.
Talking about his performance in 2023 thus far, the 23-year-old has taken three wickets in three innings of two Tests. This year, Jansen picked up three wickets in South Africa’s 87-run win over the West Indies in the first Test at the SuperSport Park.
4. Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Stuart Broad became the most effective England pacer of 2022 in Test matches. With 40 wickets in nine Tests, Broad spearheaded England’s pace attack efficiently with his senior colleague James Anderson. In England’s emphatic 3-0 victory against New Zealand in June 2022, Broad claimed 12 wickets in six innings of three Tests.
In September, England hosted South Africa and clinched a 2-1 win against the visitors with the help of Broad’s spunky bowling performances. Scalping 14 wickets in the series, the right-arm pacer ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the bilateral tournament.
This year, England went to New Zealand for a two-match Test competition and returned with a stalemate result. In the first Test at Bay Oval, Broad picked up a four-wicket haul in the second innings to guide the visitors to register a 267-run triumph against the Black Caps.
3. Jack Leach
Jack Leach of England. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
Jack Leach became the third-highest wicket-taker of 2022 in Tests, claiming 46 wickets in 23 innings of 14 Tests. During England’s tour of the West Indies in 2022, the left-arm spinner bagged 11 wickets in five innings of three Tests and ended up as England’s highest wicket-taker in the competition.
In June 2022, England made the English summer horrible for New Zealand by handing them a defeat of 0-3. Spearheading the spin attack of the team, Leach put up a remarkable show with the ball, picking up 13 wickets in four innings of three matches. The Ben Stokes-led side toured Pakistan for three Tests in December 2022. Riding on the outstanding bowling performances of Leach, England whitewashed the hosts comfortably.
Taking advantage of the spinning tracks of the sub-continent nation, Leach took 15 wickets in six innings of three Tests and ended up as the second-leading wicket-taker in the competition. Maintaining his previous year’s form ahead in the New Zealand series in February 2023, the spin veteran racked up 10 wickets in four innings of two Tests.
Nathan Lyon in the first Test against Sri Lanka (Photo Source: Twitter)
Nathan Lyon emerged as a silent performer for Australia in Test cricket. Scalping 47 wickets in 19 innings of 11 Tests, the off-spinner became the second-leading wicket-taker of 2022 in cricket’s longest format. In March 2022, Australia beat Pakistan by 1-0 in a three-match Test series and in this notable victory, Lyon shone in the bowling department and grabbed 12 wickets in six innings of three Tests.
The 35-year-old took his scintillating form ahead in Sri Lanka, where Australia couldn’t achieve their mission of winning the two-match Test series but delivered a notable win to their fans with their 10-wicket victory in the first Test. In the opening game, Lyon strengthened the team with nine wickets and became the leading wicket-taker.
In February-March 2023, Australia toured India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23. Spearheading the spin department of the Australian team, Lyon took 22 wickets in six innings of four Tests and ended up as the joint-second-highest wicket-taker with India’s Ravindra Jadeja. The Aussie spin veteran grabbed five wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final and played an essential role in his team’s humongous 209-run triumph.
1. Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada of the Proteas. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Kagiso Rabada, the premier pacer of South Africa, looked at his best in the Test format in 2022-23. Notching up 47 wickets in 15 innings of nine Tests, the Protea became the leading wicket-taker in the calendar year. In his maiden 2022 game, the pacer took six wickets against India to help his team emerge victorious by seven wickets.
In the next Test series in New Zealand, the veteran became the highest wicket-taker for his team with 10 wickets in three innings of two Tests. The speedster exhibited his skills in the away Test series again in August 2022. During South Africa’s tour of England, Rabada bagged seven wickets in the first Test at Lord’s and became the Player of the Match in his side’s spectacular victory of an innings and 12 runs.
The dynamic Protea’s next notable performance came in Australia. In the competition between two quality sides, the Aussies came out triumphant by beating the South Africa by 2-0 but Rabada stood tall from the losing side with 11 wickets in four innings of three Tests.
With these breathtaking numbers against the Aussies, he also became the second-leading wicket-taker in the series. In February-March this year, South Africa whitewashed the West Indies in a two-match Test series, and this time, Rabada clinched 12 wickets in four innings of both Tests and became the joint-best bowler in the com[etition, along with Alzarri Joseph.