ODI verdict list
Best ODI Bowlers of the 1980s
Richard Hadlee rises above Joel Garner by a breath. Joel Garner keeps the better bowling average in ODI bowling, 18.68 to 19.79. Richard Hadlee's volume in ODI bowling settles it, 133 wickets to 126 wickets.
New Zealand
- Bowling average
- 19.79
- Economy
- 3.27
- Bowling strike rate
- 36.33
- Away bowling average
- 22.00
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 21.74
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 20.22
- Bowling average in wins
- 14.75
- Volume
- 133 wickets
West Indies
- Bowling average
- 18.68
- Economy
- 3.04
- Bowling strike rate
- 36.87
- Away bowling average
- 20.59
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 20.90
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 20.69
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.43
- Volume
- 126 wickets
West Indies
- Bowling average
- 21.02
- Economy
- 3.32
- Bowling strike rate
- 38.00
- Away bowling average
- 18.84
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 21.48
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 14.44
- Bowling average in wins
- 20.68
- Volume
- 126 wickets
Australia
- Bowling average
- 20.04
- Economy
- 3.40
- Bowling strike rate
- 35.32
- Away bowling average
- 19.00
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.09
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 22.92
- Bowling average in wins
- 14.18
- Volume
- 76 wickets
West Indies
- Bowling average
- 19.18
- Economy
- 3.67
- Bowling strike rate
- 31.36
- Away bowling average
- 15.85
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 19.05
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 20.00
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.08
- Volume
- 61 wickets
Pakistan
- Bowling average
- 23.09
- Economy
- 3.84
- Bowling strike rate
- 36.06
- Away bowling average
- 27.03
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 24.32
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 19.28
- Bowling average in wins
- 17.27
- Volume
- 117 wickets
Pakistan
- Bowling average
- 22.95
- Economy
- 3.89
- Bowling strike rate
- 35.44
- Away bowling average
- 32.44
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.89
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 15.38
- Bowling average in wins
- 21.40
- Volume
- 144 wickets
West Indies
- Bowling average
- 20.41
- Economy
- 3.43
- Bowling strike rate
- 35.68
- Away bowling average
- 24.00
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 20.11
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 22.22
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.79
- Volume
- 56 wickets
West Indies
- Bowling average
- 24.53
- Economy
- 3.40
- Bowling strike rate
- 43.33
- Away bowling average
- 28.10
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 23.57
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 12.84
- Bowling average in wins
- 21.65
- Volume
- 135 wickets
New Zealand
- Bowling average
- 25.71
- Economy
- 3.57
- Bowling strike rate
- 43.16
- Away bowling average
- 25.59
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 26.15
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 10.81
- Bowling average in wins
- 19.87
- Volume
- 139 wickets
- Richard Hadlee
- 94.3 — led by Volume (23.4 of it), then Bowling average (18.4)
- Joel Garner
- 94.1 — led by Volume (22.7 of it), then Bowling average (18.8)
- Michael Holding
- 90.8 — led by Volume (22.7 of it), then Bowling average (17.6)
- Dennis Lillee
- 89.4 — led by Volume (18.7 of it), then Bowling average (18.1)
- Curtly Ambrose
- 87.4 — led by Bowling average (18.6 of it), then Volume (16.8)
- Wasim Akram
- 85.7 — led by Volume (22.2 of it), then Bowling average (16.8)
- Imran Khan
- 84.8 — led by Volume (24.3 of it), then Bowling average (17.0)
- Andy Roberts
- 84.8 — led by Bowling average (17.9 of it), then Economy (15.8)
- Malcolm Marshall
- 84.0 — led by Volume (23.6 of it), then Economy (16.2)
- Ewen Chatfield
- 83.1 — led by Volume (23.9 of it), then Economy (15.5)
Transparent by design
How this ranking was calculated
The list is computed from scorecards, not selected by an AI model. Every player is measured against the same qualified peer population, and the rules below determine the order.
- Build the eligible peer population using the selected format, time window and qualification bars.
- Calculate every batting or bowling factor directly from the matching scorecards.
- Convert each factor to a score against qualified peers, respecting whether higher or lower is better.
- Apply the published weights. If a factor is unavailable, its weight is redistributed across that player's recorded factors.
- Add the weighted factors to produce the verdict score out of 100, then rank from highest to lowest.
Compared with 104 bowlers who played at least 10 innings and bowled at least 750 balls.
Contribution: total runs or wickets measure output within the selected period.
Fixed-era weighting: longevity is not scored because a player should not be penalised when only part of their career overlaps the era. Its allocation moves to runs or wickets.
Wicket magnitude: career and long-era wicket volume uses 85% peer position and 15% raw distance from the leading qualified wicket total. This preserves the difference between exceptional totals that sit together at the top of a percentile table. Run volume stays a pure percentile, because career run totals vary far more widely and blending raw magnitude there would penalise a short career of outstanding quality.
ODI eligibility: this curated list includes players representing current ICC full-member teams. All of their recorded opposition still counts.
Editorial scope: this is a transparent judgement model, not an official record table. It does not insert or promote named players, and it applies no blanket era multiplier.