Perpetual Greatness: The Most Man of the Series Awards in Tests
Any decent cricketer can get a Player of the Match award, or have a good run of form to clinch the prize for the series, but in order to earn such prizes time and again one has to be an exceptional cricketer. This list is populated by 10 players of exactly such description.
All of these cricketers showed not just exceptional skill, but also had incredible longevity to their playing careers. These are the very opposite of one-match wonders — they are among the most consistent players of all time. Here are 10 cricketers with the most Man of the Series awards in Tests.
List of players with the most Player of the Series awards in Tests
| Player | Span | Mat | Series | Awards |
| M Muralitharan (ICC/SL) | 1992-2010 | 133 | 61 | 11 |
| R Ashwin (INDIA) | 2011-2022 | 84 | 34 | 9 |
| JH Kallis (ICC/SA) | 1995-2013 | 166 | 61 | 9 |
| Imran Khan (PAK) | 1971-1992 | 88 | 28 | 8 |
| Sir RJ Hadlee (NZ) | 1973-1990 | 86 | 33 | 8 |
| SK Warne (AUS) | 1992-2007 | 145 | 46 | 8 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 1985-2002 | 104 | 43 | 7 |
| S Chanderpaul (WI) | 1994-2015 | 164 | 60 | 7 |
| MD Marshall (WI) | 1978-1991 | 81 | 21 | 6 |
| CEL Ambrose (WI) | 1988-2000 | 98 | 27 | 6 |
1. MuttiContents
- 1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
- 2. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
- 3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
- 4. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
- 5. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
- 6. Shane Warne (Australia)
- 7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
- 8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
- 9. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)
- 10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
the list with an incredible 11 Man of the Series awards is Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan. Playing 61 series across his 18-year, 133 match career, it can be argued that had he begun his career a few years later, when Sri Lanka had already become an established Test side, he would have gotten many more awards. Nevertheless, picking up 800 Test wickets while averaging over 6 wickets per match is simply unparalleled.
2. Ravic2. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
one rarely hears Ashwin’s name in the same breath as those of any of the others on this list, the spinner has let the numbers do the talking. Ashwin has 9 MotS awards over just 34 series in 84 matches.
3. Jacques3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
rolific all-rounder in Test cricket history, Kallis’ achievements are second to none in his niche. As far as series-wide performances go, he also has 9 MotS awards, but over 166 Tests across 61 series.
4. Imran Kha4. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
her brilliant ace of both the main disciplines of cricket, Pakistan’s ODI World Cup-winning captain was adjudged Man of the Series 8 times over 88 matches in 28 series.
5. Sir Richard5. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
owling all-rounder and the only person on this list with a Knighthood, Sir Hadlee has the same MotS awards as Khan, but from 86 Tests and 33 series.
6. Shane Warne6. Shane Warne (Australia)
n legend was Muralitharan’s direct competitor during his playing years, and he aced 8 series across 145 matches in 46 series.
7. Wasim Akram (7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
ing curls into seventh place with 7 Man of the Series awards in 104 Tests, which came across 43 series.
8. Shivnarine Ch8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
ps://www.cric-life.com/article/history-of-cricket-in-west-indies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Indian’s batting stance in his later years may have garnered more chuckles than accolades, but he nevertheless had a fantastic career. He was man of the series 7 times across 60 series, playing 164 matches.
9. Malcolm Marshal9. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)
st quick bowlers of all time, Marshall played just 21 series in his 81-match career, but was Man of the Series 6 times — which gives him the highest ratio of series played to MotS awards won.
10. Curtly Ambrose (10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
eed demon, Ambrose only played 27 series during his 98-match career, but was elected the best player in 6 of those series.
Contents
- 1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
- 2. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
- 3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
- 4. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
- 5. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
- 6. Shane Warne (Australia)
- 7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
- 8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
- 9. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)
- 10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
2. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
one rarely hears Ashwin’s name in the same breath as those of any of the others on this list, the spinner has let the numbers do the talking. Ashwin has 9 MotS awards over just 34 series in 84 matches.3. Jacques3. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
rolific all-rounder in Test cricket history, Kallis’ achievements are second to none in his niche. As far as series-wide performances go, he also has 9 MotS awards, but over 166 Tests across 61 series.
4. Imran Kha4. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
her brilliant ace of both the main disciplines of cricket, Pakistan’s ODI World Cup-winning captain was adjudged Man of the Series 8 times over 88 matches in 28 series.
5. Sir Richard5. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
owling all-rounder and the only person on this list with a Knighthood, Sir Hadlee has the same MotS awards as Khan, but from 86 Tests and 33 series.
6. Shane Warne6. Shane Warne (Australia)
n legend was Muralitharan’s direct competitor during his playing years, and he aced 8 series across 145 matches in 46 series.
7. Wasim Akram (7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
ing curls into seventh place with 7 Man of the Series awards in 104 Tests, which came across 43 series.
8. Shivnarine Ch8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
ps://www.cric-life.com/article/history-of-cricket-in-west-indies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Indian’s batting stance in his later years may have garnered more chuckles than accolades, but he nevertheless had a fantastic career. He was man of the series 7 times across 60 series, playing 164 matches.
9. Malcolm Marshal9. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)
st quick bowlers of all time, Marshall played just 21 series in his 81-match career, but was Man of the Series 6 times — which gives him the highest ratio of series played to MotS awards won.
10. Curtly Ambrose (10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
eed demon, Ambrose only played 27 series during his 98-match career, but was elected the best player in 6 of those series.
4. Imran Khan (Pakistan)
her brilliant ace of both the main disciplines of cricket, Pakistan’s ODI World Cup-winning captain was adjudged Man of the Series 8 times over 88 matches in 28 series.5. Sir Richard5. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
owling all-rounder and the only person on this list with a Knighthood, Sir Hadlee has the same MotS awards as Khan, but from 86 Tests and 33 series.
6. Shane Warne6. Shane Warne (Australia)
n legend was Muralitharan’s direct competitor during his playing years, and he aced 8 series across 145 matches in 46 series.
7. Wasim Akram (7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
ing curls into seventh place with 7 Man of the Series awards in 104 Tests, which came across 43 series.
8. Shivnarine Ch8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
ps://www.cric-life.com/article/history-of-cricket-in-west-indies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Indian’s batting stance in his later years may have garnered more chuckles than accolades, but he nevertheless had a fantastic career. He was man of the series 7 times across 60 series, playing 164 matches.
9. Malcolm Marshal9. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)
st quick bowlers of all time, Marshall played just 21 series in his 81-match career, but was Man of the Series 6 times — which gives him the highest ratio of series played to MotS awards won.
10. Curtly Ambrose (10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
eed demon, Ambrose only played 27 series during his 98-match career, but was elected the best player in 6 of those series.
6. Shane Warne (Australia)
n legend was Muralitharan’s direct competitor during his playing years, and he aced 8 series across 145 matches in 46 series.7. Wasim Akram (7. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
ing curls into seventh place with 7 Man of the Series awards in 104 Tests, which came across 43 series.
8. Shivnarine Ch8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
ps://www.cric-life.com/article/history-of-cricket-in-west-indies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Indian’s batting stance in his later years may have garnered more chuckles than accolades, but he nevertheless had a fantastic career. He was man of the series 7 times across 60 series, playing 164 matches.
9. Malcolm Marshal9. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)
st quick bowlers of all time, Marshall played just 21 series in his 81-match career, but was Man of the Series 6 times — which gives him the highest ratio of series played to MotS awards won.
10. Curtly Ambrose (10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
eed demon, Ambrose only played 27 series during his 98-match career, but was elected the best player in 6 of those series.
8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
ps://www.cric-life.com/article/history-of-cricket-in-west-indies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Indian’s batting stance in his later years may have garnered more chuckles than accolades, but he nevertheless had a fantastic career. He was man of the series 7 times across 60 series, playing 164 matches.9. Malcolm Marshal9. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)
st quick bowlers of all time, Marshall played just 21 series in his 81-match career, but was Man of the Series 6 times — which gives him the highest ratio of series played to MotS awards won.
10. Curtly Ambrose (10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
eed demon, Ambrose only played 27 series during his 98-match career, but was elected the best player in 6 of those series.
10. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)
eed demon, Ambrose only played 27 series during his 98-match career, but was elected the best player in 6 of those series.
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