ODI verdict list
Best ODI Bowlers of the 2020s
Abrar Ahmed rises above Trent Boult by a breath. Trent Boult keeps the better volume in ODI bowling, 47 wickets to 35 wickets. Abrar Ahmed's economy in ODI bowling settles it, 4.33 to 4.79.
Pakistan
- Bowling average
- 21.51
- Economy
- 4.33
- Bowling strike rate
- 29.83
- Away bowling average
- 20.64
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.86
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 21.05
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.88
- Volume
- 35 wickets
New Zealand
- Bowling average
- 22.02
- Economy
- 4.79
- Bowling strike rate
- 27.57
- Away bowling average
- 18.80
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 23.92
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 37.50
- Bowling average in wins
- 20.76
- Volume
- 47 wickets
Sri Lanka
- Bowling average
- 21.27
- Economy
- 5.06
- Bowling strike rate
- 25.24
- Away bowling average
- 33.67
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.82
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 31.58
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.07
- Volume
- 37 wickets
West Indies
- Bowling average
- 25.33
- Economy
- 5.11
- Bowling strike rate
- 29.74
- Away bowling average
- 23.18
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 24.59
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 20.31
- Bowling average in wins
- 21.62
- Volume
- 111 wickets
New Zealand
- Bowling average
- 23.26
- Economy
- 4.98
- Bowling strike rate
- 28.04
- Away bowling average
- 28.00
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 30.68
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 32.56
- Bowling average in wins
- 21.60
- Volume
- 80 wickets
Bangladesh
- Bowling average
- 25.20
- Economy
- 5.29
- Bowling strike rate
- 28.56
- Away bowling average
- 27.14
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 24.70
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 20.93
- Bowling average in wins
- 17.49
- Volume
- 71 wickets
England
- Bowling average
- 25.50
- Economy
- 5.27
- Bowling strike rate
- 29.05
- Away bowling average
- 24.88
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 24.61
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 33.33
- Bowling average in wins
- 15.79
- Volume
- 44 wickets
Afghanistan
- Bowling average
- 25.62
- Economy
- 4.41
- Bowling strike rate
- 34.84
- Away bowling average
- 19.61
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 30.46
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 19.35
- Bowling average in wins
- 20.13
- Volume
- 50 wickets
Sri Lanka
- Bowling average
- 26.67
- Economy
- 4.54
- Bowling strike rate
- 35.22
- Away bowling average
- 31.47
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 26.13
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 22.81
- Bowling average in wins
- 19.87
- Volume
- 81 wickets
England
- Bowling average
- 22.63
- Economy
- 5.18
- Bowling strike rate
- 26.23
- Away bowling average
- 24.33
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 32.68
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 25.93
- Bowling average in wins
- 14.64
- Volume
- 48 wickets
- Abrar Ahmed
- 88.7 — led by Bowling average (19.8 of it), then Economy (19.6)
- Trent Boult
- 88.5 — led by Bowling average (19.6 of it), then Economy (16.9)
- Jeffrey Vandersay
- 83.2 — led by Bowling average (20.0 of it), then Bowling average vs strong opposition (14.4)
- Alzarri Joseph
- 81.6 — led by Bowling average (17.8 of it), then Bowling average vs strong opposition (13.9)
- Matt Henry
- 81.6 — led by Bowling average (18.9 of it), then Economy (15.1)
- Shoriful Islam
- 81.0 — led by Bowling average (18.2 of it), then Bowling average vs strong opposition (13.6)
- Jofra Archer
- 80.6 — led by Bowling average (17.6 of it), then Bowling average vs strong opposition (13.7)
- Rashid Khan
- 80.4 — led by Economy (19.3 of it), then Bowling average (17.5)
- Maheesh Theekshana
- 79.9 — led by Economy (19.1 of it), then Bowling average (16.2)
- David Willey
- 79.9 — led by Bowling average (19.3 of it), then Economy (12.4)
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 111 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.
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.