Top 3 bowlers with the most wickets in their first over

Taking a wicket in the first over can immediately put the batting side under pressure. However, not many have been able to master this art, and only a few have got their teams off to sensational starts with the ball in their international career.

Doing it repeatedly across a long international career requires a bowler to be at the top of his skill and accuracy, along with the ability to assess conditions quickly. Here are the three bowlers who have claimed the most wickets in their first over in men's international cricket:

1. Mitchell Starc (64 wickets)

Mitchell Starc takes the top spot, having scalped a massive 64 wickets in his first over. The Australian speedster is known for striking early with the new ball and putting his team on top right from the word go.

Starc’s searing pace, late swing and ability to consistently attack the stumps make him one of the most formidable bowlers in world cricket.

2. James Anderson (53 wickets)

The legendary England seamer James Anderson takes second place, having taken 53 wickets in his first over in international cricket. Anderson was widely known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, often outfoxing the batters through a wide array of tricks up his sleeve.

He was one of the most lethal new-ball bowlers, often making the ball dance to his tune and running through the opposition's top order with utmost ease.

Across a career spanning more than two decades, Anderson scalped 991 wickets in total from 401 matches, out of which 704 came in Tests, which is a world record for seam bowlers.

3. Chaminda Vaas (45 wickets)

Sri Lankan legend Chaminda Vaas takes the third spot, having scalped 45 wickets in his first over. Vaas used the new ball to good effect, making the ball swing without much hassle. Vaas didn’t need much time to leave a mark on the game as he famously took a hat-trick in the very first over of the innings against Bangladesh, during the 2003 World Cup.

He ended up scalping four wickets in the over, dismantling Bangladesh’s top order. He finished his career with the second-most wickets for Sri Lanka in international cricket with 760 scalps from 519 innings.

Note: Only records after the year 2000 are considered for this list.