Test cricket is a high intensity game that demands a high level of skill from the player. It is not easy to start a career on a good note and keep on performing consistently throughout. However, there have been some players who have made the habit of delivering match-winning performances regularly.
This article will see the list of bowlers who are the fastest to take 150 wickets in the red-ball cricket. The list is dominated by some incredible bowlers who very difficult to bat against in their playing days. We are sure that many of you would not know the No. 1 ranked bowler on this list.
Fastest to 150 Wickets in Test Cricket History
| Bowler | Vs | Venue | Match Date | Debut | Time | Mts |
| Sydney Barnes (ENG) | South Africa | Durban | 13 Dec 1913 | 13 Dec 1901 | 12y 0d | 24 |
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | New Zealand | Auckland | 10 Feb 1994 | 15 Nov 1989 | 4y 87d | 27 |
| Yasir Shah (PAK) | Sri Lanka | Abu Dhabi | 28 Sep 2017 | 22 Oct 2014 | 2y 341d | 27 |
| Clarrie Grimmett (AUS) | England | Nottingham | 8 Jun 1934 | 27 Feb 1925 | 9y 101d | 28 |
| Hugh Tayfield (SA) | Australia | Cape Town | 31 Dec 1957 | 24 Dec 1949 | 8y 7d | 29 |
| Ian Botham (ENG) | West Indies | The Oval | 24 Jul 1980 | 28 Jul 1977 | 2y 362d | 29 |
| Dale Steyn (SA) | Australia | Melbourne | 26 Dec 2008 | 17 Dec 2004 | 4y 9d | 29 |
| Saeed Ajmal (PAK) | South Africa | Abu Dhabi | 14 Oct 2013 | 4 Jul 2009 | 4y 102d | 29 |
| Ravi Ashwin (IND) | South Africa | Mohali | 5 Nov 2015 | 6 Nov 2011 | 3y 364d | 29 |
| Dennis Lillee (AUS) | New Zealand | Auckland | 25 Feb 1977 | 29 Jan 1971 | 6y 27d | 31 |
5. Hugh Tayfield (SA) – 29 matches
Hugh Tayfield was a former all-rounder from South Africa who used to bowl off-spin. He played for 11 years between 1949 and 1960 and represented his country in 37 tests and picked up 3/93 in his debut inning against Australia. Tayfield completed 150 wickets in his 29th game and overall picked up 170 wickets with a best bowling figure of 9/113.
4. Clarrie Grimmett (AUS) – 28 matches
Clarrie Grimmett was a leg-break bowler from Australia and a decent lower order batter. He was the second-oldest player to pick ten wickets in a test match at an age of 44 years and 65 days. Grimmett took 28 tests to complete 150 wickets in his career. He played 37 games between 1925 and 1936 and picked up 216 wickets, including 21 five-wicket hauls.
3. Yasir Shah (PAK) – 27 matches
Veteran Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah had one of the most successful starts to his career. He is in fact the fastest bowler to reach 200 test wickets in career. However, on this list, he is the joint-second fastest. He picked up seven wickets in his debut game against Australia in 2014 and reached 150 wickets in his 27th test match. So far, he has taken 244 wickets in 48 games, with a best of 8/41.
2. Waqar Younis (PAK) – 27 matches
Former legendary Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis was known as one of the best swing bowlers of all time. He was the sprearhead of his team made an unplayable bowling duo with Wasim Akram. He made his debut against India in 1989 and picked up 4/80 in his debut inning. Waqar completed 150 wickets in just 27 games and picked up 373 wickets in his 87-test career.
1. Sydney Barnes (ENG) – 24 matches
Taking five wickets per match is considered a brilliant performance. But former English pacer Sydney Barnes took an average of six wickets per game. Barnes played 27 games, including bowling in 50 innings, in his test career between 1901 and 1914, and guess what? He took a fifer almost half of the innings played. He ended with 189 wickets and 24 five-wicket hauls in 50 innings, which is just incredible. Barnes reached 150 wickets in his 24th game.