The West Indies cricket team once reigned supreme in the world of cricket. However, since their golden era ended, the team’s performance has significantly declined. This decline hit a low point when the West Indies failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Ironically, the West Indies were the champions of the first two editions of the one-day World Cup, held in England in 1975 and 1979. They also reached the finals in 1983 but lost to India in a low-scoring match at Lord’s. Since that defeat, the trajectory of West Indies cricket has changed dramatically.
Despite the glory days being a distant memory, the West Indies have shown flashes of brilliance. They unexpectedly won the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy and lifted the T20 World Cup twice, in 2012 and 2016.
Over the years, the West Indies have produced some exceptional bowlers. Let’s take a closer look at five West Indies bowlers who have claimed the most wickets in international cricket.
#5 Joel Garner
The towering fast bowler Joel Garner stands fifth on the list of West Indies bowlers with the most international wickets. Garner played in 156 matches, securing 405 wickets at an impressive average of 20.20, including 10 five-wicket hauls.
Garner’s Test career saw him take 259 wickets in 58 matches at an average of 20.97, with his best innings figures of 6-56 achieved against New Zealand in Auckland in February 1980. In ODIs, Garner claimed 146 wickets in 98 games, averaging 18.84, with his best performance of 5-31 coming against Australia in Melbourne in February 1984.
#4 Kemar Roach
Right-arm fast bowler Kemar Roach ranks fourth among West Indies bowlers with the most international wickets. To date, Roach has featured in 188 matches, claiming 408 wickets at an average of 28.80, including 14 five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match haul.
In Tests, Roach has taken 273 wickets in 82 matches at an average of 27.77, with his best innings figures of 6-48 achieved against Bangladesh in St. George’s in July 2009. He has also played 95 ODIs, taking 125 wickets at an average of 31.08, with his standout performance of 6-27 occurring against the Netherlands during the 2011 World Cup in Delhi. Roach has also appeared in 11 T20Is, where he has taken 10 wickets at an average of 28.40 with an economy rate of 7.28.
#3 Malcolm Marshall
The late Malcolm Marshall is third on the list of West Indies bowlers with the most wickets in international cricket. Marshall played 217 matches and secured 533 wickets at an average of 22.71, including 22 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket match hauls.
In his Test career, Marshall took 376 wickets in 81 matches at an average of 20.94, with his best innings figures of 7-22 achieved against England in Manchester in June 1988. In ODIs, Marshall took 157 wickets in 136 matches at an average of 26.96, with his best figures of 4-18 against Australia in Melbourne in December 1991.
#2 Curtly Ambrose
One of the greatest fast bowlers in history, Curtly Ambrose ranks second among West Indies bowlers with the most international wickets. Ambrose played 274 matches, taking 630 wickets at an average of 22.11, including 26 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket match hauls.
In Tests, Ambrose took 405 wickets in 98 matches at an average of 20.99, with his best innings figures of 8-45 achieved against England in Bridgetown in April 1990. He also had a successful ODI career, taking 225 wickets in 176 matches at an average of 24.12. Ambrose’s best ODI figures of 5-17 came against Australia in Melbourne in December 1988, with two more five-wicket hauls also coming against Australia in Melbourne (January 1989) and Sydney (January 1993).
#1 Courtney Walsh
Former captain Courtney Walsh tops the list of West Indies bowlers with the most international wickets. Walsh played 337 matches, taking 746 wickets at an average of 26.28, including 23 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket match hauls.
Walsh’s Test career saw him take 519 wickets in 132 matches at an average of 24.44. He broke Kapil Dev’s then-record of 434 Test wickets and became the first bowler to reach 500 Test wickets. His best innings figures of 7-37 were achieved against New Zealand in Wellington in February 1995, where he also took 6-18 in the second innings, helping West Indies to a dominant victory by an innings and 322 runs.
In ODIs, Walsh claimed 227 wickets in 205 matches at an average of 30.47, with his best performance of 5-1 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in December 1986.
