Year-ender 2025: Ranking the top five Test bowlers who dominated with wickets, consistency, and match-winning spells.
Australia’s veteran left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc enjoyed arguably the best phase of his Test career, particularly over the final six months of 2025. Lethal with both the new and old ball, Starc consistently brought reverse swing into play, dismantling batting line-ups with pace, precision and control.
The year also underlined the dominance of fast bowling in Test cricket. Of the top 10 wicket-takers in 2025, seven were pacers, reflecting conditions and tactics increasingly favouring speed and seam. Notably, only one SENA spinner – Simon Harmer, featured in the list, highlighting how rare sustained spin success was outside the subcontinent this year.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 Test bowlers of 2025:
Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Australia’s left-arm pacer, Mitchell Starc, ended 2025 as the leading wicket-taker in Tests. He bagged 55 wickets in 22 innings at an average of 17.32 and a strike rate of 28.3. Starc celebrated three five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul at the best figures of 7-58 in an innings. During his 100th red-ball contest at the Sabina Park in Jamaica, the veteran ended with magical figures of 6-9 in the second innings.
Coming into the Ashes 2025-26, the Sydney-born had to shoulder the responsibility in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. And he stood out with clinical performances with 26 wickets in eight innings at an average of 17.42. With the new ball, the New South Wales pacer was phenomenal in troubling the batters. His decision to take time off the T20 leagues around the world has justified his current Test performance.
Read More: Starc’s ‘spell from hell’ sets the tone for Ashes 2025-26
Mohammed Siraj (India)
Mohammed Siraj was India’s standout support act in Tests in 2025, forming an excellent new-ball partnership with Jasprit Bumrah. The right-arm pacer finished the year as the second-highest wicket-taker, claiming 43 wickets in 19 innings. Siraj averaged 27.2 at a strike rate of 43.4, and registered two five-wicket hauls, with best figures of 6-70.
During the away England series in June, Siraj kept bowling relentlessly when Jasprit Bumrah was out of the eleven. The Hyderabad-born bowled the most number of overs (185.3) in the seven-week trip to claim 23 wickets at an average of 32.43.
Siraj’s 5-104 in 30.1 out of 85.1 overs of the second innings was praiseworthy. He also picked up the memorable last wicket of Gus Atkinson to provide them with the six-run win in the fifth Test at Kennington Oval in South London. His consistency, intensity and ability to sustain pressure ensured India rarely lacked penetration with the red ball.
Read More: Siraj becomes leading wicket-taker in Tests in 2025; What has made him a stand out performer?
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Considering Jasprit Bumrah’s extraordinary 2024 when he claimed 71 Test wickets at a staggering average of 14.92, his returns in 2025 may appear comparatively modest. Even so, the year was far from underwhelming. The right-arm pacer finished 2025 with 31 wickets in 14 innings, averaging 22.16 at a strike rate of 47.1. He also registered three five-wicket hauls, with best figures of 5-27 in an innings, continuing to underline his status as India’s spearhead in red-ball cricket.
Bumrah experienced a decent England series with 14 wickets in five innings at an average of 26. Even though India didn’t win any of those three clashes he featured in, Bumrah bowled well and troubled the England batters.
Later in the three-match home Test series against South Africa, the Ahmedabad pacer bagged eight wickets in two innings. His average of 18.50 was excellent for a strike rate of 46.50.
Read More: Bumrah or Rabada: Who is the better Test bowler?
Scott Boland (Australia)
Since his debut during the Ashes 2021-22, Scott Boland has been brilliant with the ball in Tests. He finished the year 2025 as Australia’s second leading wicket-taker in Tests. Boland pocketed 32 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 15 and a strike rate of 30.1. His economy rate of under three has been fabulous in this modern generation, where batters go hard at the bowlers.
Heading into the Ashes 2025-26, many claimed that he might not be as effective against England’s Bazball approach. It was anticipated that Boland would perhaps lose his charm of holding a constant line and length. But the Victoria bowler showed his terrific skills to pick 16 wickets at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 40.81.
Simon Harmer (South Africa)
Simon Harmer came as the biggest turning point for South Africa in their Test success in Asia this year. The off-spinner already had a massive experience of nearly 1000 first-class wickets before the two series in the subcontinent. And he used it beautifully during the four Tests in India and Pakistan. Harmer finished 2025 as South Africa’s highest Test wicket-taker with 30 scalps in eight innings at 14.3 and a strike rate of 34.3.
Harmer’s two four-wicket hauls at the Eden Gardens provided the Proteas with a memorable 30-run victory. A week later, he celebrated a fine spell of 6-37 in Guwahati at an economy rate of 1.6. The best part was that the 36-year-old outplayed not only veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj, but also the Indian spinners.
South Africa’s next red-ball series will be in October 2026. Harmer has perhaps done well to keep himself in the selection process for the series against Australia.
Read More: IND vs SA 2025-26, 2nd Test, Day 5: India suffer their biggest loss in history & get whitewashed 0-2
