ODI verdict list
Greatest ODI Bowlers of All Time
Wasim Akram rises above Glenn McGrath by a breath. Glenn McGrath keeps the better bowling strike rate in ODI bowling, 34.02 to 36.23. Wasim Akram's longevity in ODI bowling settles it, 18.3 yrs · 356 matches to 13.4 yrs · 249 matches.
Pakistan
- Bowling average
- 23.53
- Economy
- 3.90
- Bowling strike rate
- 36.23
- Away bowling average
- 23.89
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 25.25
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 21.65
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.86
- Volume
- 502 wickets
- Longevity
- 18.3 yrs · 356 matches
Australia
- Bowling average
- 21.98
- Economy
- 3.88
- Bowling strike rate
- 34.02
- Away bowling average
- 26.72
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 24.38
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 18.22
- Bowling average in wins
- 17.88
- Volume
- 380 wickets
- Longevity
- 13.4 yrs · 249 matches
Sri Lanka
- Bowling average
- 23.07
- Economy
- 3.93
- Bowling strike rate
- 35.24
- Away bowling average
- 24.73
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 28.53
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 20.06
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.16
- Volume
- 523 wickets
- Longevity
- 17.6 yrs · 343 matches
South Africa
- Bowling average
- 21.79
- Economy
- 4.15
- Bowling strike rate
- 31.47
- Away bowling average
- 20.47
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 24.73
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 25.93
- Bowling average in wins
- 19.05
- Volume
- 272 wickets
- Longevity
- 11.3 yrs · 164 matches
Pakistan
- Bowling average
- 21.79
- Economy
- 4.29
- Bowling strike rate
- 30.45
- Away bowling average
- 23.32
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 24.20
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 29.09
- Bowling average in wins
- 15.85
- Volume
- 288 wickets
- Longevity
- 8.0 yrs · 169 matches
West Indies
- Bowling average
- 18.85
- Economy
- 3.10
- Bowling strike rate
- 36.51
- Away bowling average
- 20.84
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 19.85
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 22.45
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.68
- Volume
- 146 wickets
- Longevity
- 10.0 yrs · 98 matches
New Zealand
- Bowling average
- 21.56
- Economy
- 3.31
- Bowling strike rate
- 39.13
- Away bowling average
- 23.48
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.26
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 16.07
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.31
- Volume
- 158 wickets
- Longevity
- 17.3 yrs · 115 matches
South Africa
- Bowling average
- 24.31
- Economy
- 3.66
- Bowling strike rate
- 39.87
- Away bowling average
- 28.35
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 25.54
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 16.15
- Bowling average in wins
- 19.77
- Volume
- 387 wickets
- Longevity
- 12.1 yrs · 294 matches
Pakistan
- Bowling average
- 22.73
- Economy
- 4.18
- Bowling strike rate
- 32.61
- Away bowling average
- 25.14
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 22.91
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 21.43
- Bowling average in wins
- 18.31
- Volume
- 184 wickets
- Longevity
- 6.8 yrs · 113 matches
New Zealand
- Bowling average
- 20.88
- Economy
- 4.29
- Bowling strike rate
- 29.22
- Away bowling average
- 22.45
- Bowling average vs strong opposition
- 23.53
- Wicket-taking consistency
- 27.50
- Bowling average in wins
- 16.68
- Volume
- 147 wickets
- Longevity
- 8.2 yrs · 82 matches
- Wasim Akram
- 92.4 — led by Bowling average (18.1 of it), then Economy (15.8)
- Glenn McGrath
- 91.9 — led by Bowling average (18.5 of it), then Economy (16.0)
- Muthiah Muralidaran
- 91.7 — led by Bowling average (18.3 of it), then Economy (15.8)
- Allan Donald
- 91.0 — led by Bowling average (18.7 of it), then Economy (14.4)
- Saqlain Mushtaq
- 89.7 — led by Bowling average (18.6 of it), then Volume (13.5)
- Joel Garner
- 88.2 — led by Bowling average (19.0 of it), then Economy (17.0)
- Richard Hadlee
- 88.1 — led by Bowling average (18.7 of it), then Economy (16.9)
- Shaun Pollock
- 87.4 — led by Bowling average (17.5 of it), then Economy (16.4)
- Saeed Ajmal
- 85.7 — led by Bowling average (18.4 of it), then Economy (14.1)
- Shane Bond
- 85.6 — led by Bowling average (18.8 of it), then Economy (13.2)
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 441 bowlers who played at least 20 innings and bowled at least 1,500 balls.
Longevity: uses the square root of career span in years multiplied by matches selected. Match counts and first/last dates come from playing-XI appearances, so a did-not-bat or did-not-bowl match still counts.
Contribution: total runs or wickets measure output within the selected period.
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.