As Cricket has been on an ever-evolving phase with various decreases in overs to so much as having ten over matches, it is pretty evident that the game has become somewhat for the batters more as we now see more high scores, especially in the ODI formats where we frequently see 300+ run chases when once upon a time scoring 300+ almost meant that the side will likely win the game. Throughout these multiple phases of Cricket, ODI cricket has always been the staple format of the game.
Some of the greatest bowlers have created their legendary status by playing in this format consecutively and consistently. As we move on we will be talking some of the greatest ODI bowlers who are also among the leading wicket-takers in the format and how they did it all with such greatness when the rules were less lenient to the bowlers as now.
To understand the greatness of the bowlers: Changes happened in the rules of the ODI format
With the pitches being more batting-friendly, the rules of the game have also become more bowling-friendly.
The new ball rule
As we previously knew, there was only one new ball being played in the game, but currently, the game is split between two new balls in 25 overs. This rule has been on going ever since 2010.
The Power play rule
And in terms of the powerplay, there have been a few changes. In the beginning, we used to see that the powerplay was within the first 15 overs, where only two fielders were allowed outside the circle, followed by a maximum of 5 fielders outside the circle in the rest of the overs. Then in 2005, there were three powerplay slots, with the first powerplay being in the first ten overs, then two more 5-over powerplays chosen by the powerplays. And, the current rule, from 2015, stands as the first ten overs being the powerplay, then 11-40 overs with four players maximum out of the circle, and lastly, the final overs having a maximum of 5 players maximum out of the circle.
The No ball rule
Previously, no balls were an extra ball and one run as a penalty for full tosses, but now, for full tosses as well as stepping over the line gets you an extra run and a free hit on the next ball, with run-out being the only method of getting out in the free hit ball.
Other than these three significant rule changes, there have been changes in the substitute runner and fielder rule along with the super overrule, but those rules are a discussion for another time.
A food for thought about the impact of the legends of the game along with the rules of the game
Shoaib Akhter once implied that the rules of the current game are too easy on the bowlers and batters, saying that he respects the Tendulkar and the Dravids far more because of how the rules were more difficult and boundaries were longer. Similarly, for the bowlers as well, there was only one new ball to play along with one significant powerplay.
Back then, there were the likes of Shoaib Akhter, Brett Lee, Wasim Akram, Shane Warne, and Muralitharan, who, as you may know, either used to bowl faster, swing the bowl better, or spin the bowl more than all of the current bowlers. Only a handful of the current players comes close to these legends who have the benchmarks which are yet to be touched by the modern players even after getting two new balls, more opportunities in technology and conditioning along with adjustments in powerplay
Let’s talk about the elite list of bowlers with the most wickets in ODI Cricket
It is quite astonishing that this elite list of players has amassed so many wickets and such incredible figures when the rules of the game were actually more against compared to the rules now. These cricketers have all played with one new ball and fewer powerplay advantages, yet have such incredible stats. You can only imagine the records they’d be creating if they were playing the game now.
Let us now talk about the top 5 leading wicket-takers in the ODI format.
Muttiah Muralitharan
One of the very first bowlers who showed what it is like to have variations as an off-spinner was the humble king from Srilanka, Muttiah Muralitharan. The spin king is not just the king in his department of bowling, but he’s arguably the greatest bowler in ODI and Test cricket compared to all the pace maestros of the game. Cricket has seen various types of spinners, but there has not been any cricketer yet who bowls as unorthodox as Murali and with such timeless consistency.
Being an Indian, you can clearly remember that he got the world record of the highest wickets in ODI cricket against India by getting out Gautam Gambhir as well, and his best figures also came out against India in the Champions Trophy 2000.
Matches: 350
Overs: 3135.1
Maidens: 198
Wickets: 534
Best Figures: 7 for 30
Economy: 3.93
Wasim Akram
The sultan of swing, as we all know, the creator of reverse swing, the man who created a revelation in pace bowling and showed the art of Swing bowling, is none other than the wonderful Wasim Akram. To this day, there is not a single person who can swing the ball, as well as Wasim Akram. Fans like me have only seen Wasim Akram in YouTube videos or heard about his bowling from our dads or grandparents. It is quite ridiculous that the sultan of swing has only conceded 12 sixes throughout his ODI career. Pakistan’s bowling unit was flawless with the dynamic duo of him and Waqar Younis.
One of the reasons I have spoken about the rules of the game is to show how great these bowlers are. Back in Wasim’s days, there was only one new ball, unlike the current laws, where a team gets two new balls per inning. Wasim Akram used to swing the ball with the old, used-up, rugged ball in the 40-50 overs. Some of us may remember that spell of Wasim Akram against New Zealand in the 40 overs where he was swinging the ball as if it was a test match wicket with an old ball. If I am specific
Matches: 356
Overs: 3031
Maidens: 237
Wickets: 502
Best Figures: 5 for 15
Economy: 3.89
Waqar Younis
The only person who can complement this is Waqar Younis. You cannot talk about Wasim Akram without talking about Waqar Younis, as these two have defined what swing bowling is. Waqar Younis had it all, whether it was in swing, out swing, reverse swing, or pace. He really was a package, and his stats speak for himself; gathering 416 wickets in just 262 is an impossible feat, and he did that back in the days when they were not as friendly as now for bowlers. Not to mention that Waqar is the fastest to 400 wickets in ODIs.
His in-swinging toe, crushing yorkers were a spectacle to witness. Waqar’s 5-wicket haul against India at Sharjah back in 2000 is the perfect example of how swing bowling is done.
Matches: 262
Overs: 2116.2
Maidens: 143
Wickets: 416
Best Figures: 7 for 36
Economy: 4.68
Chaminda Vaas
The bowler who defined that pace bowling is not really about having speed over 140+, but it is actually about hitting the deck and placing the ball at the place along with the natural swing, Chaminda Vaas had set a standard for pace bowling that you can be a great fast bowler even while bowling at 125-135 Kph.
Chaminda Vaas will forever remain a nightmare for Bangladeshi fans, as we all know he hat-tricked against in the 2003 World Cup, where he got it in the very first three balls of the match. He ended up getting four wickets in that over. He was also the leading wicket-taker in that World Cup, bagging 23 wickets. Also, who can forget his best-ever figures in ODI cricket of 8 for just 19 against Zimbabwe, where he dislodged them from the very first over.
Matches: 322
Overs: 2629.1
Maidens: 279
Wickets: 400
Best Figures: 8 for 19
Economy: 4.18
Shahid Afridi
People often forget that BOOM BOOM, apart from his colossal six-hitting, is also an extremely handy wrist spinner who has a lot of variations and can bowl incredibly fast for a spinner. Arguably one of the greatest all-rounders to have cemented this game, Shahid Afridi is just five wickets short of getting into the elite list of 400 wickets players. Afridi, on his day, was absolutely unplayable; if there were a record for the fastest spinners, then he’d top the list as he bowled a ball at 134 kph against the Blackcaps. He used to bowl top spinners, off-cutters, and googlies, all at a speed of over 100 Kph.
His best figures of 7 for 12 against West Indies define the art of wrist spin bowling.
Matches: 398
Overs: 2945
Maidens: 76
Wickets: 395
Best Figures: 7 for 12
Economy: 4.62
Apart from these five elite players, there are other players that are worth noting with the likes of Shaun Pollock and his unreal influence, inspiring a nation of South Africans what it is like to be a pace-bowling all-rounder, Glen McGrath, who championed the Aussies with multiple world cups through his accurate pace bowling prowess or Brett Lee who’s gun fast bowling and his excellent created nightmares for all the batters out there. These players have all wickets over 350 in ODIs.
Current active leading wicket takers and Players who will most likely breach the list
Suppose I were to jump to a conclusion right away. In that case, only Shakib Al Hasan has the possibility of being in the list of highest wicket-takers, atleast in the top 5, as he is the closest among all the active players as well one of the most consistent players in the format. Shakib is also the leading wicket-taker in ODI among the active players. He currently stands as the 11th highest wicket-taker in ODIs of all time, where we will very likely see him toping Sanath Jaysuria, getting over 323 wickets, while Shakib is at 317.
After Shakib, you may be pretty sure that Rashid Khan, being at the age of just 25, will most likely get at least 350 wickets by the end of his ODI career. He has quite the ladder to catch, currently having 183 wickets in 103 matches. If he continues to keep up with his consistency for the next ten years, who knows, he could join the elite list of 400 wicket-takers in the format.
Kagiso Rabada may be another candidate who, if the consistency is kept, can indeed be among the leading ODI wicket-takers. At just 28, he already has 157 wickets. With 7-8 years of more consistent cricket, 400 wickets can indeed be a possibility.
Similar to Kagiso, Mustafizur Rahman for Bangladesh may also be among the top ODI wicket-takers if he regains his form during his early days. He may have 163 wickets at just 28 but many say due to his recent poor performances that he is past his prime. If the Fizz can regain his fitness and form, then going past atleast 350 wickets is likely.
Other than these players, it is pretty tough to evaluate the other players who may become one of the highest ODI wicket-takers, as players like Ravi Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Trent Boult, or Mitch Starc are all over 33. Consistent performances for 5-7 years may be unlikely for these players as many of them have started to limit their matches due to fitness issues.
To Conclude!
The icons of the game, Muttiah Muralitharan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Chaminda Vaas, and Shahid Afridi are everlasting representations of bowling greatness in the rich fabric of ODI cricket. These icons, who came from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean, beat the odds when there weren’t many bowling-friendly regulations and demonstrated unmatched skill and inventiveness with each delivery. Their impact goes far beyond data; they have shaped the fundamentals of the game and motivated cricket players across the globe for years.
Their legacy will live on in the archives of cricket history as the game changes with the introduction of T20 cricket and contemporary developments. Aspiring cricket players use their career statistics, which include economy rates, batting averages, and strike rates, as a guide. At the same time, their influence resonates far beyond the cricket stadium, embodying the spirit of perseverance, excellence, and unwavering commitment to the game they adorned with their brilliance.
