The list of top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI cricket history will be focused on those bowlers who took most wickets in ODI. Chronologically, they are arranged in this list. There are three players from both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI. The list also consists two Aussies, one Proteas and only one Indian bowler with most wickets in ODI. Australian Brett Lee has the best strike rate of 29.4 balls per wicket while the Proteas pacer Shaun Pollock has the best economy rate of 3.67 runs per over. Chaminda Vaas has the best bowling figures with 8 wickets for just 19 runs whereas Pakistani swing master Waqar Younis took five-wickets total 13 times, which is most by any other bowler in the cricket history.
Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI:
The bowlers in cricket have much responsibility to take in order to win a match. The bowling side thus play a vital role in this manner. Today, we are trying to enlist the great bowlers with most wickets in ODI. Your valuable comments will be appreciable.
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So, let’s find out who is the highest wicket taker in ODI?
10. Sanath Jayasuriya (323)
Full name: Sanath Teran Jayasuriya
Born: June 30, 1969
Birth place: Matara, Sri Lanka
Current age: 45 years 236 days
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Colombo Cricket Club, Dolphins, Asia XI, Mumbai Indians, Ruhuna, Khulna Royal Bengals, Marylebone Cricket Club, Somerset
Batting style: Left-handed bat
Bowling style: slow left-arm orthodox
Playing role: All-rounder
Sanath Jayasuriya is regarded as one of the best ODI players of all-time in cricket history. With his powerful striking and match winning performances, he played as a genuine match winner for Sri Lanka well over for two decades. Jayasuriya is the only player in the history of ODI to take more than 300 wickets and score over 12,000 runs. His all-round cricket performances awarded him the most valuable player in 1996 cricket world cup and Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack named him one of five Cricketers’ of the year in 1997.
Last but not the least, Sanath Jayasuriya is at 10th place in our list of top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI cricket history with his stunning 323 wickets. The Sri Lankan all-rounder with his 323 wickets in 445 ODIs for Sri Lanka, was a key figure for them in all formats of cricket.
In June 2011, Jayasuriya retired from limited over cricket.
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9. Anil Kumble (337)
Full name: Anil Radhakrishna Kumble
Born: October 17, 1970
Birth place: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Current age: 44 years 127 days
Major teams: India, Karnataka, Asia XI, Leicestershire, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Northamptonshire, Surrey
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Legbreak Googly
Playing role: Bowler
Anil Kumble is a former captain of Indian Cricket team and an efficient right-arm leg spin bowler. In test cricket, he is the 3rd leading bowlers with most wickets with 619. The other twos are Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.
Although, Kumble was not a big turner of the ball, rather he delivered his ball with more pace and accuracy. He was awarded as the Indian Cricketer of the Year in 1993.
Anil Kumble has taken 337 ODI wickets in 271 matches. We put him at No 9 in our list of top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI cricket history. He may be one of the three in the leading wicket takers in Test cricket, but he is not the highest wicket taker in ODI cricket.
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8. Brett Lee (380)
Full name: Brett Lee
Nickname: Bing
Born: November 8, 1976
Birth place: Wollongong, New South Wales
Current age: 38 years 105 days
Major teams: Australia, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab, New South Wales, Sydney Sixers, Otago, Wellington
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Playing role: Bowler
Bret Lee is a former Australian cricketer and he was recognized as one of the fastest bowlers in the world cricket. Lee was also famous for his athletic fielding and lower-order batting. Brett Lee finished his Test career with 310 wickets and ODI career with 380 wickets.
He is the 8th bowler with most wickets in ODI, 380 wickets in 221 ODI matches with a bowling average of 23.36.
In January 2015, Brett Lee announced his retirement from all formats of cricket and made an end to his glorious cricketing career.
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7. Glenn McGrath (381)
Full name: Glenn Donald McGrath
Nickname: Pigeon, Millard
Born: February 9, 1970
Current age: 45 years 12 days
Birth place: Dubbo, New South Wales
Major teams: Australia, Delhi Daredevils, Middlesex, New South Wales, Worcestershire
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast medium
Playing role: Bowler
Glenn McGrath was a key bowler for Australia and was known throughout his career for maintaining accurate line and length in bowling. He was one of the economic as well as dangerous fast bowler at his time. He holds the record of taking highest number of Test wickets as a fast bowler. In 2007 ICC World Cup, he was awarded the Man of the Tournament for his outstanding performances with the winning team.
Glenn McGrath has seized 381 wickets in 250 ODI matches with a phenomenal 22.02 bowling average. He grabs the No 7 position in our list of Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI cricket history.
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6. Shahid Afridi (393)
Full name: Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi
Born: March 1, 1980
Birth place: Khyber Agency, Pakistan
Current age: 34 years 357 days
Major teams: Pakistan, Deccan Chargers, Dhaka Gladiators, Fly Emirates XI, Habib Bank Limited, Asia XI, Hampshire, Karachi, ICC World XI, Melbourne Renegades, South Australia
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm legbreak Googly
Playing role: All-rounder
At the age of 16, Shahid Afridi has made his debut in international cricket. Since then, he has been an integral part of the Pakistan team. He is popularly known as “Boom Boom Afridi” for his aggressive batting style. He is the former record holder of the fastest ODI century in just 37 balls.
Shahid Afridi always considers himself a better bowler than a batsman. We put him on the 6th place in our list of Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI. He is the only player in our list who has not yet retired from cricket. He picked up a total 393 wickets 391 ODI matches so far and still counting to go further ahead in this list. He has the potential to be the highest wicket taker in ODI.
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5. Shaun Pollock (393)
Full name: Shaun Maclean Pollock
Born: July 16, 1973
Birth place: Port Elizabeth, Cape Province
Current age: 41 years 220 days
Major teams: South Africa, Africa XI, ICC World XI, Dolphins, Durham, Mumbai Indians, Natal, Kwazulu-Natal, Warwickshire
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium
Playing role: All-rounder
Shaun Pollock is a South African retired cricketer and a prolific bowling all-rounder for the team. He played as captain of the South African side from 2000-2003. With over 400 Test wickets and 393 ODI wickets, Shaun Pollock is the leading wicket taker among the South Africans.
As a fast-medium seam bowler, Shaun Pollock has the ability to bowl a quicker ball with swing and accuracy. With 393 ODI wickets in 303 matches, Shaun Pollock stays at the No 5 spot in our list of Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI cricket history.
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4. Chaminda Vaas (400)
Full name: Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas
Born: January 27, 1974
Birth place: Mattumagala, Sri Lanka
Current age: 41 years 25 days
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Basnahira North, Asia XI, Colts Cricket Club, Deccan Chargers, Hampshire, Middlesex, Marylebone Cricket Club, Northaptonshire, Worcestershire
Bowling style: Left-arm fast medium
Batting style: left-handed bat
Playing role: Bowler
Chaminda Vaas is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who is regarded as the best fast bowler for the country. He is considered as the most penetrative and successful new-ball bowler Sri Lanka has ever produced. He was selected for the World Test and One-day XI at 2005 ICC awards.
Vaas was able to take 400 ODI wickets in his 322 matches at 27.53 bowling average. In his best ODI bowling figure, he took 8 wickets for the cost of only 19 runs. Chaminda Vaas claims the number four place in our list of Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI cricket history.
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3. Waqar Younis (416)
Full name: Waqar Younis Maitla
Born: November 16, 1971
Birth place: Vehari, Punjab
Current age: 43 years 97 days
Major teams: Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, National Bank of Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Redco Pakistan Ltd, Surrey, Glamorgan, United Bank Ltd
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Batting style: right-hand bat
Playing role: Bowler
Waqar Younis is widely regarded as the greatest fast bowler of all time in the history of cricket. Currently, he is coaching Pakistan National team. This Pakistani fast bowler is the youngest captain for Pakistan. His career lasted from 1989-2003. During this time, he played 87 Test matches and 262 ODIs.
He amused the cricket world with his incredible ability to reverse swing a ball at high speed. Together with another pacer Wasim Akram, he formed one of the most dangerous bowling attacks. He took 416 wickets in his one day career. For this contribution, undoubtedly, Waqar Younis marked his place at No 3 in the list of Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI cricket history.
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2. Wasim Akram (502)
Full name: Wasim Akram
Born: June 3, 1966
Birth place: Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Current age: 48 years 263 days
Major teams: Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan Automobiles Corp, Pakistan International Airlines, Hampshire, Lancashire
Bowling style: Left-arm fast
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Playing role: All-rounder
Wasim Akram was considered as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. Akram holds the most wicket taker with 881 an List A cricket. He is one of the founders and mentors for the reverse swing fast bowling. During 2003 World Cup, he marked his name as the first bowler in cricket to reach 500 milestone in ODI. He is one of the five members in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Currently, he is coaching Kolkata Knight Riders.
With 502 wickets in 356 ODI matches, the Sultan of Swing is the 2nd among the bowlers with most wickets in ODI.
Now, just scroll down to find out the highest wicket taker in ODI.
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1. Muttiah Muralitharan (534)
Full name: Muttiah Muralitharan
Born: April 17, 1972
Birth place: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Current age: 42 years 310 days
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Chennai Super Kings, ICC World XI, Jamaica Tallawahs, Kent, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Lancashire, Melbourne Renegades, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Tamil Union Club and Athletic Club, Wellington
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Playing role: Bowler
This famous Sri Lankan bowling figure was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2002. After picking 800th test wickets on 22 July 2010, he decided to retire from Test.
He surpassed Wasim Akram’s ODI 500 wickets mark on 5 February, 2009 and became the highest wicket taker in ODI. The mesmerizing spin of Muralitharan dodged hundreds of batsmen and his ability to put pressure was just amazing.
Yes, Muttiah Muralitharan, with 534 wickets in 350 ODIs, he is the man in our list.
The list of Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in ODI cricket history is somehow glorified by all these great bowlers and their team contributions.
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Muttiah Muralitharan is legend bowler, and his style was very famous..