Test cricket is probably the hardest form of cricket in history. It takes a great skill set to perform consistently for five days of the match. But at last, a team that can take 20 wickets wins the game. That is why the job of a bowler is very vital in this format.
Test cricket has seen some great bowlers in the past and even in modern-day cricket. This article also contains some legendary bowlers who went on to become the fastest to take 300 test wickets. Shane Warne or Muthiah Muralidaran are not at the top. Actually, it is an Indian that takes the top position on this list.
Fastest to 300 Wickets in Test
| Bowler | Mts | Vs | Venue | Mt Date | Debut | Time |
| Ravi Ashwin (IND) | 54 | Sri Lanka | Nagpur | 24 Nov 2017 | 6 Nov 2011 | 6y 18d |
| Dennis Lillee (AUS) | 56 | Pakistan | Brisbane | 27 Nov 1981 | 29 Jan 1971 | 10y 302d |
| Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) | 58 | South Africa | Durban | 26 Dec 2000 | 28 Aug 1992 | 8y 120d |
| Richard Hadlee (NZ) | 61 | Australia | Wellington | 21 Feb 1986 | 2 Feb 1973 | 13y 19d |
| Malcolm Marshall (WI) | 61 | Australia | Melbourne | 24 Dec 1988 | 15 Dec 1978 | 10y 9d |
| Dale Steyn (SA) | 61 | New Zealand | Cape Town | 2 Jan 2013 | 17 Dec 2004 | 8y 16d |
| Shane Warne (AUS) | 63 | South Africa | Sydney | 2 Jan 1998 | 2 Jan 1992 | 6y 0d |
| Alan Donald (SA) | 63 | New Zealand | Bloemfontein | 17 Nov 2000 | 18 Apr 1992 | 8y 213d |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 64 | West Indies | Perth | 1 Dec 2000 | 12 Nov 1993 | 7y 19d |
| Fred Trueman (ENG) | 65 | Australia | The Oval | 13 Aug 1964 | 5 Jun 1952 | 12y 69d |
5. Malcolm Marshall (WI) – 61 Tests
Former West Indian legend Malcolm Marshall makes this list in fifth place. Marshall was a leading bowler for his country across formats between 1978 and 1992. He was the quickest in his country to take 300 test wickets. He took 61 tests to do so. Marshal retired with 376 wickets in 81 Tests, including 22 fifers. He also scored 1810 runs with the bat, including 10 half-centuries.
4. Richard Hadlee (NZ) – 61 Tests
Former Kiwi all-rounder Richard Hadlee was probably the best pace-bowling all-rounder that New Zealand produced in the game. He became the face of the Kiwi bowling attack and also batted well in crunch situations. Hadlee took 300 test wickets in 61 tests. In his career, he took 431 wickets in 86 tests with 36 fifers and 3124 runs with the bat, including two centuries and 15 half-centuries.
3. Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) – 58 Tests
Sri Lankan spin wizard Muthiah Muralidaran is the third fastest bowler on the list. Murali has picked up the most wickets in international cricket and has many records to his name. However, the Sri Lankan legend reached the 300-wicket milestone in his 58th test. Overall, he took 800 wickets in 133 tests, with 67 fifers and 22 ten-wicket hauls.
2. Dennis Lillee (AUS) – 56 Tests
The previous record for the fastest 300 Test wickets was held by former Australian star Dennis Lillee. He was probably the biggest name in the bowling department for Australia in the previous era. Lillee took only 56 tests to complete 300 wickets. In his career, he ended up with 355 wickets in 70 tests with 23 fifers and a BBI of 7/83.
1. Ravi Ashwin (IND) – 54 Tests
To be at the top of this list requires a lot of skills and abilities, and Ravi Ashwin has everything in him. The veteran Indian offspinner is probably the best test spinner in the world at the moment. His numbers are just incredible when it comes to red-ball cricket. Ashwin is the fastest bowler on this list; he took only 54 Tests to take 300 wickets. So far, he has taken 474 wickets in 92 Tests, with 23 fifers and seven 10-wicket hauls.