Fred Trueman was the first bowler to take 300 wickets in test cricket. He was an English cricketer, mainly active from 1948 to 1968, who played for England. Trueman is generally acknowledged to have been one of the greatest bowlers in cricket's history. Bowling at a genuinely fast pace and widely known as "Fiery Fred", he was the first bowler to take 300 wickets in a Test career.