2016: The highest wicket takers to date

With a couple of big Test series run and won, and summer fast approaching, we thought it was timely to provide a 2016 update as to the most prolific performers with the ball so far.

Quick Single: 2016 - Top 10 run scorers to date

(minimum one Test played, correct as at Aug 19, 2016)

Kagiso Rabada (SA) 51 wickets at 22 in 21 matches. 5w: 3. 10w: 1. BBI: 7-112

Wickets breakdown – Test: 22 at 21.90. ODI: 16 at 23.06. T20: 13 at 20.84

If South Africans were concerned about the form of Dale Steyn at varying times in the past year or two, they've not had to look far to find their next fast-bowling superstar. Rabada was brilliant in a losing series against England to begin the year, proving a genuine joy to watch for all fast-bowling fans out there and returning 13-144 at Centurion - the second-best figures by a Protea in Test history. Throw in another 29 wickets in the short formats at low averages, and Rabada, who only turned 21 in May, might just be the most exciting young cricketer on the planet.

Rangana Herath (SL) 41 wickets at 20.95 in 14 matches. 5w: 3. 10w: 1. BBI: 7-64

Wickets breakdown – Test: 35 at 18.85. ODI: NA. T20: 6 at 33.16

At 38, Rangana Herath wasn't even sure of his Test future beyond the just-completed series against Australia before a ball had been bowled. Now, with 28 wickets and a Player of the Series award to his name, it appears the wily left-armer could go on forever. And while he's now exclusively a Test player, having retired from the shorter forms after the ICC World T20, if he keeps on taking bags of wickets, that will suit Sri Lanka Cricket just fine. Unassuming and uncomplicated, the left-arm orthodox spinner gathers his wickets via accuracy, natural variety, side spin and the one that goes straight on. It reaped him 13 victims in the final Test against the Aussies in Colombo, and he snared the wicket of Steve Smith - ranked the world's No.1 batsman - five times. 

Chris Woakes (Eng) 41 wickets at 25.12 in 14 matches. 5w: 2. 10w: 1. BBI: 6-70

Wickets breakdown – Test: 35 at 20.82. ODI: 6 at 50.16. T20: NA

Woakes entered the England v Pakistan Test series as a man considered a handy bowling allrounder and a useful third seamer to the all-conquering pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. An 11-wicket haul at Lord's put paid to that description, the right-armer finding pace and bounce many thought was beyond him to quickly establish himself as a genuine threat in his own right. He finished the battle with Pakistan as joint Player of the Series, having snared 26 scalps to be the leading wicket-taker from either side. The breakthrough in Test cricket has been surprising, given the allrounder was first handed a chance at international level in the shorter versions way back in January 2011 in Australia. He's still to conquer those formats, but recent form - including a handy 3-34 against Sri Lanka in an ODI in Bristol - suggests he's on the right track. 

Ravi Ashwin (Ind) 40 wickets at 21.17 in 20 matches. 5w: 2. 10w: 0. BBI: 7-83

Wickets breakdown – Test: 17 at 23.17. ODI: 2 at 64. T20: 21 at 15.47

Ashwin wasn't a mile off the batting list for 2016, such has been the form of India's off-spinning allrounder in the Caribbean recently. But as well as hundreds, Ashwin has done what he's paid to do. And when he takes wickets, he generally takes them in bags, as evidence by hauls of 7-83 and 5-52 in the opening two Tests against the West Indies. In ODIs, he's barely featured, but in T20 cricket there have been few more effective, his 21 wickets at 15.47 playing a key role in India's dominance in the format. 

Quick Single: Ashwin strikes his long-desired balance

Stuart Broad (Eng) 39 wickets at 27.51 in 12 matches. 5w: 1. 10w: 0. BBI: 6-17

Wickets breakdown – Test: 38 at 25.89. ODI: 1 at 89. T20: NA

The tormentor of Australia in the 2015 Ashes has turned his attentions to other countries in 2016 but he continues to be just as effective. And while Woakes and Anderson have grabbed the headlines more regularly, and Broad may have been a yard or two of his best, the right-arm quick continues to take wickets. Thirty-eight of those have come in 10 Tests, a format which England seem keen to restrict their star pacemen (Anderson as well) to these days. If the rumours are to be believed, that could potentially be good news for the Hobart Hurricanes in the KFC Big Bash. 

James Anderson (Eng) 37 wickets at 20.51 in 9 matches. 5w: 3. 10w: 1. BBI: 5-16

Wickets breakdown – Test: 37 at 20.51. ODI: NA. T20: NA

Sri Lanka's batsmen werre lambs to the slaughter when they took on James Anderson in the first Test at Leeds in May. The right-arm swing king finished with the ridiculous match figures of 10-45 as England won by an innings. The haul prompted Australia legend Glenn McGrath to suggest that Anderson - who, like Broad, doesn't look destined to figure much in coloured clothing for his country anymore - could kick on to break his Test record of 563 wickets for a paceman. The 34-year-old is exactly 100 short of that mark presently, and injuries are becoming a factor - he missed the first Test against Pakistan recently with a shoulder problem. Whatever happens, it's going to make interesting viewing. 

Josh Hazlewood (Aus) 37 wickets at 30.67 in 20 matches. 5w: 1. 10w: 0. BBI: 5-50

Wickets breakdown – Test: 17 at 34.41. ODI: 19 at 22.94. T20: 1 at 114

Where Mitchell Starc has ripped and torn since his return, Josh Hazlewood has been the quiet achiever at the other end, steadily doing his business. Hazlewood, much admired in Australian bowling circles and routinely likened to McGrath, hasn't hit the heights of his 2015 in Test cricket this year - the fact he is yet to collect a five-wicket haul is a telling indication of that fact. However his performances in ODIs, particularly in the absence of Starc, have been excellent, and the iron man of Australia's pace attack will be keen to add to that record in Sunday's ODI opener against Sri Lanka. 

Nathan Lyon (Aus) 34 wickets at 31.91 in 11 matches. 5w: 0. 10w: 0. BBI: 4-91

Wickets breakdown – Test: 29 at 29.55. ODI: 5 at 42.60. T20: NA

Lyon received some criticism during the Sri Lanka Test series however his performances were compared with those of Rangana Herath, who broke records on his home patch and put all others in the shade. The off-spinner passed 200 Test wickets in Sri Lanka and claimed 16 wickets for the series, and came in alongside Adam Zampa as a second spinner in Australia's ODI tri-series in the Caribbean with mixed results. Lyon remains intent on plying his trade in all three forms.

Mitchell Starc (Aus) 32 wickets at 19.43 in 8 matches. 5w: 3. 10w: 1. BBI: 6-50

Wickets breakdown – Test: 24 at 15.16. ODI: 8 at 21.37. T20: NA

He's only been on deck for a couple of months in 2016 but Mitchell Starc has certainly made that time count. In Sri Lanka, he was the standout paceman in a series dominated by the spinners, capturing 24 wickets – breaking Dennis Lillee's record for the most ever by an Australian paceman in a three-Test series. He took his 100th wicket in the series during a career-best 11-wicket haul, and has the chance to follow suit in ODIs in the series opener on Sunday; if he takes two wickets, he'll be the quickest ever to the mark in the 50-over game, in just his 52nd match. 

Moeen Ali (Eng) 29 wickets at 56.62 in 26 matches. 5w: 0. 10w: 0. BBI: 3-43

Wickets breakdown – Test: 16 at 66.31. ODI: 6 at 67.16. T20: 7 at 25.42

A saviour with the bat for England through their recent Test series against Pakistan, Moeen Ali came under some criticism for his off-spinners but found strong support from his captain, Alastair Cook. "'Mo' has done a fantastic job for us," Cook said after the fourth Test. "He came into the side as a batter who bowled a bit and had to take on a lot of responsibility to do that as part of a five-man attack. He’s not a Yasir Shah and he probably never will be. But he continues to work incredibly hard and he does pick up vital wickets for us."

Trent Boult (NZ) 29 wickets at 27.34 in 13 matches. 5w: 0. 10w: 0. BBI: 4-40

Wickets breakdown – Test: 11 at 37.72. ODI: 13 at 19. T20: 5 at 26.20

Boult was short of his best against the visiting Australians when New Zealand were soundly beaten 2-0, taking four wickets at a tick over 50. He'll be desperate to make amends for the effort in New Zealand's two-match series with South Africa, beginning tonight (Friday 6pm AEST). In ODIs, he remains a lethal opponent with the swinging ball, and has already collected 13 victims in just five outings in 2016. The 27-year-old will be disappointed he didn't get a chance in the World T20, with New Zealand employing a spin-heavy attack in conditions heavily favouring the slow men.

Quick Single: Proteas v Black Caps: All you need to know 

Mitch Santner (NZ) 29 wickets at 18.93 in 17 matches. 5w: 0. 10w: 0. BBI: 4-11

Wickets breakdown – Test: 6 at 28. ODI: 8 at 24.12. T20: 15 at 12.53

Santner debuted in Test cricket in Adelaide last year but the spinning allrounder made his biggest impression in 2016 through the shortest version of the game, when his accurate left-armers caused all sorts of problems throughout the ICC World T20. Santner tore through India to the tune of 4-11 to orchestrate a stunning upset against the tournament favourites, and went on to claim 10 wickets through the Black Caps' campaign. Earlier in the year, he was effective against the Australians in the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series, taking five wickets in two matches, and after warming up with six wickets in two Tests against Zimbabwe, the 24-year-old will be hoping to get another opportunity when the Kiwis do battle with South Africa across two Tests.