ODI verdict list
Best ODI Bowlers of the 2000s
Muthiah Muralidaran rises above Glenn McGrath by a breath. Glenn McGrath keeps the better bowling average vs strong opposition in ODI bowling, 21.81 to 27.59. Muthiah Muralidaran's volume in ODI bowling settles it, 324 wickets to 233 wickets.
Sri Lanka
- Bowling average
- 20.45
- Economy
- 3.74
- Bowling strike rate
- 32.84
- Away bowling average
- 23.43
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 27.59
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 23.83
- Bowling average in wins
- 15.67
- Volume
- 324 wickets
Australia
- Bowling average
- 20.21
- Economy
- 3.78
- Bowling strike rate
- 32.10
- Away bowling average
- 22.67
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 21.81
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 19.86
- Bowling average in wins
- 17.62
- Volume
- 233 wickets
New Zealand
- Bowling average
- 20.88
- Economy
- 4.28
- Bowling strike rate
- 29.25
- Away bowling average
- 22.45
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 23.80
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 28.00
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.96
- Volume
- 138 wickets
England
- Bowling average
- 23.23
- Economy
- 4.27
- Bowling strike rate
- 32.63
- Away bowling average
- 26.59
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 25.97
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 22.22
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.07
- Volume
- 161 wickets
Australia
- Bowling average
- 23.01
- Economy
- 4.72
- Bowling strike rate
- 29.25
- Away bowling average
- 25.75
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 23.60
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 25.82
- Bowling average in wins
- 20.70
- Volume
- 324 wickets
South Africa
- Bowling average
- 24.60
- Economy
- 4.52
- Bowling strike rate
- 32.64
- Away bowling average
- 25.90
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 27.33
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 21.89
- Bowling average in wins
- 19.59
- Volume
- 263 wickets
South Africa
- Bowling average
- 24.72
- Economy
- 3.60
- Bowling strike rate
- 41.20
- Away bowling average
- 29.82
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 25.93
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 14.35
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.42
- Volume
- 269 wickets
Sri Lanka
- Bowling average
- 17.86
- Economy
- 4.29
- Bowling strike rate
- 24.96
- Away bowling average
- 15.62
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.43
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 37.84
- Bowling average in wins
- 9.82
- Volume
- 72 wickets
Australia
- Bowling average
- 24.37
- Economy
- 4.42
- Bowling strike rate
- 33.10
- Away bowling average
- 27.98
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 23.31
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 19.83
- Bowling average in wins
- 22.31
- Volume
- 174 wickets
Pakistan
- Bowling average
- 24.07
- Economy
- 4.74
- Bowling strike rate
- 30.44
- Away bowling average
- 24.34
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 25.42
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 23.21
- Bowling average in wins
- 17.88
- Volume
- 174 wickets
- Muthiah Muralidaran
- 96.2 — led by Volume (25.0 of it), then Bowling average (18.8)
- Glenn McGrath
- 95.9 — led by Volume (23.4 of it), then Bowling average (18.9)
- Shane Bond
- 91.6 — led by Volume (20.6 of it), then Bowling average (18.7)
- Andrew Flintoff
- 89.2 — led by Volume (21.4 of it), then Bowling average (18.1)
- Brett Lee
- 89.1 — led by Volume (25.0 of it), then Bowling average (18.2)
- Makhaya Ntini
- 87.6 — led by Volume (24.0 of it), then Bowling average (17.4)
- Shaun Pollock
- 87.4 — led by Volume (24.2 of it), then Bowling average (17.3)
- Ajantha Mendis
- 86.9 — led by Bowling average (19.0 of it), then Volume (14.8)
- Nathan Bracken
- 86.1 — led by Volume (21.9 of it), then Bowling average (17.5)
- Shoaib Akhtar
- 86.1 — led by Volume (21.9 of it), then Bowling average (17.8)
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 214 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.