The year 2017 has been a sensational year for the bowlers especially in the longest format of the game. The spinners have reaped the rewards more than the pacers, and it is evident from the fact that the four among the top 5 leading wicket takers in Tests in 2017 are spinners. The Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja has been at the peak of their game in the long home season and has bagged heaps of wickets during the last year or so.
However, despite their exceptional performances none of them occupies the top spot as the numero uno position is held by Australian offie Nathan Lyon who has bagged a total of 60 wickets in 10 matches at an impressive average of 22.91. He was at his imperious best during the Border Gavaskar Trophy against India earlier in the year and ended up bagging eight wickets in the 1st innings of the Bengaluru Test.

Ashwin occupies the 2nd spot with 56 wickets in 11 encounters at an average of 27.58. The off-spinner has been a consistent performer for Team India while his bowling partner Ravindra Jadeja occupies the 4th slot with 54 wickets at an average f 23.05. South African speedster Kagiso Rabada is the only pacer in the top with 54 wickets behind his name in this calendar year.
The leading wicket-taker for England in Test cricket James Anderson is at the 6th place with 51 wickets while Keshav Maharaj, Yasir Shah, Neil Wagner and Morne Morkel makes up the full list. Whole Maharaj and Yasir bagged 43 wickets each in the year, Wagner and Morne Morkel prized out 36 and 34 wickets in 7 and eight matches respectively.

| Player | Mat | Inns | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave |
| NM Lyon (AUS) | 10 | 19 | 506.2 | 97 | 1375 | 60 | 8/50 | 13/154 | 22.91 |
| R Ashwin (INDIA) | 11 | 21 | 554.0 | 119 | 1545 | 56 | 6/41 | 8/125 | 27.58 |
| K Rabada (SA) | 10 | 18 | 346.5 | 73 | 1132 | 54 | 6/55 | 10/63 | 20.96 |
| RA Jadeja (INDIA) | 10 | 20 | 508.3 | 130 | 1245 | 54 | 6/63 | 9/178 | 23.05 |
| HMRKB Herath (SL) | 11 | 19 | 465.1 | 77 | 1432 | 52 | 6/43 | 11/136 | 27.53 |
| JM Anderson (ENG) | 10 | 19 | 367.0 | 105 | 860 | 51 | 7/42 | 9/73 | 16.86 |
| KA Maharaj (SA) | 10 | 18 | 353.2 | 71 | 1065 | 43 | 6/40 | 8/87 | 24.76 |
| Yasir Shah (PAK) | 6 | 12 | 394.1 | 69 | 1242 | 43 | 7/94 | 9/177 | 28.88 |
| N Wagner (NZ) | 7 | 14 | 274.0 | 47 | 917 | 36 | 7/39 | 9/141 | 25.47 |
| M Morkel (SA) | 8 | 14 | 272.3 | 59 | 865 | 34 | 4/41 | 7/179 | 25.44 |