Harbhajan Singh goes past Akram to become ninth highest wicket-taker in Tests

Fatullah: India’s senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today reached a landmark as he surpassed Pakistan legend Wasim Akram’s tally of Test wickets to climb to ninth in the all-time highest wicket-takers’ list. Harbhajan today dismissed Imrul Kayes for 72 to reach 415 Test victims, one more than Akram’s 414 from 104 matches. [caption id=“attachment_2295290” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Turbanator went past Pakistan legend to move up the leading wicket-takers ladder. AFP Photos.[/caption] His final figures of 3/64 took his tally to 416 victims from 102 Test matches. In fact, the Indian off-spinner reached the landmark quicker than Akram as the Pakistani had achieved the feat in two Test matches less. The ‘Turbanator’ is now only 20 wickets short of beating Kapil Dev’s 434 Test wickets to become the second highest wicket-taker in history of Indian Test cricket after Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets. England’s spearhead James Anderson (104 matches, 403 wickets) and South Africa’s leading pacer Dale Steyn(78 matches, 396 wickets) are the only active international bowlers in the top 25. Here’s the complete list of Top 10 wicket-takers in Test matches. (Read as: Player, Matches, Wickets) 1. Muttiah Muralitharan: 133, 800 2. Shane Warne: 145, 708 3. Anil Kumble: 132, 619 4. Glenn McGrath: 124, 563 5. Courtney Walsh: 132, 519 6. Kapil Dev 131, 434 7. Sir Richard Hadlee 86, 431 8. Shaun Pollock: 108, 421 9. Harbhajan Singh: 102, 416 10. Wasim Akram: 104, 414 (stats via ESPNCrincinfo) PTI