Most Wickets in First-Class Cricket

Taking wickets is no less than an art. Bowlers toil hard and set up batters to earn that one wicket. Bagging many of them is a special feat, especially in first-class (FC) cricket.

So here’s a look at the bowlers with the most wickets in first-class cricket.

Bowlers with Most Wickets in FC

Player	Span	Mat	Wkts	BBI	Avg	Econ	SR	5W/10W
Wilfred Rhodes	1898-1930	1110	4204	9/24	16.72	2.27	44.1	287/68
Tich Freeman	1914-1936	592	3776	10/53	18.42	2.69	40.9	386/140
Charlie Parker	1903-1935	635	3278	10/79	19.46	2.43	47.9	277/91
Jack Hearne	1888-1923	639	3061	9/32	17.75	2.25	47.1	255/66
Tom Goddard	1922-1952	593	2979	10/113	19.84	2.49	47.7	251/86
Alec Kennedy	1907-1936	677	2874	10/37	21.23	2.42	52.4	225/45
Derek Shackleton	1948-1969	647	2857	9/30	18.65	2.01	55.6	194/38
Tony Lock	1946-1971	654	2844	10/54	19.23	2.18	52.8	196/50
Fred Titmus	1949-1982	792	2830	9/52	22.37	2.19	61.2	168/26
W.G. Grace	1865-1908	870	2809	10/49	18.14	2.45	44.4	240/64
Maurice Tate	1912-1937	679	2784	9/71	18.16	2.01	54.0	195/44
George Hirst	1891-1929	826	2742	9/23	18.73	2.49	44.9	184/40
Colin Blythe	1899-1914	439	2503	10/30	16.81	2.43	41.3	218/71
Derek Underwood	1963-1987	676	2465	9/28	20.28	2.14	56.7	153/47
Ewart Astill	1906-1939	733	2432	9/41	23.76	2.50	56.9	140/22

Key Insights on Leading Wicket-Takers in First-Class Cricket

All-Time Wicket Taker in FC Cricket

Wilfred Rhodes has taken the most wickets in first-class cricket. He claimed 4204 wickets in 1110 matches.

Rhodes delivered 185,742 balls in his career, the most by a bowler in FC cricket.

Best Innings and Match Bowling Figures in FC Cricket

Hedley Verity has registered the best bowling figures in an innings in first-class cricket. He returned 10 for 10 runs in 19.4 overs for Yorkshire against Nottinghamshire in the 1932 County Championship.

Jim Laker, meanwhile, has recorded the best bowling figures in a first-class match. He collected 19 wickets for 90 runs (9/37 and 10/53) combined in two innings for England against Australia in the 1956 Manchester Test.

Laker’s 10 for 53 is also the best bowling figures in an innings and the 19 for 90 is the best in a match in Test cricket.

Record Five-Wicket Hauls and Match Spells in FC Cricket

Alfred Freeman has bagged the most five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket, registering 386 such spells in 592 matches. He is the only one with more than 300 five-fors in FC cricket.

Freeman has also claimed the most ten-wicket hauls in FC cricket, with 140 match spells.

Doug Wright from England has claimed the most hat-tricks in red-ball cricket. He recorded seven instances of taking three or more consecutive wickets.

Elite Bowling Averages and Strike Rates in FC Cricket

George Freeman has the best bowling average in first-class cricket (minimum 100 wickets taken). He took 288 wickets at an average of 9.71 in 44 matches.

Edward Drake, meanwhile, has the lowest bowling strike rate in FC cricket (minimum 100 wickets taken). He struck 197 wickets at 22.82 in 55 matches.