25 Best ODI Bowlers in Cricket History (As Per ICC Ratings)
Shane Bond
Often named among the greatest fast bowlers of his era, New Zealand's Shane Bond occupies the 25th spot on this elite list. A right-arm pacer, Bond played 82 ODIs, for his country, and achieved a career-best rating of 801 points, level with Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal, who has not found his place on this list.
Saqlain Mushtaq
Former Pakistani spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq is known for having pioneered the 'Doosra', a leg break delivery bowled with an off-break action. Mushtaq played 169 ODIs for his country, picking 288 wickets, and achieved a career-best rating of 802 points.
Nathan Bracken
A member of Australia's 2003 and 2007 World Cup-winning side, Nathan Bracken played for his national side from 2001 to 2009, before his career was cut short by a serious knee injury. Bracken played 116 ODIs, and achieved a career-best rating of 803 points.
Craig McDermott
Just ahead of Nathan Bracken is another former Australian bowling star, Craig John McDermott, who played for the national side from 1884 to 1996, during which he picked 203 wickets in 138 ODIs at an average close to 24, and achieved a career-best rating of 808 points.
Paul Reiffel
Currently a member of ICC's elite panel of umpire, former Australian pacer Paul Reiffel was a part of the national side that won the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Reiffel played 92 ODIs for the Men in Yellow, picking up 106 wickets, and achieved a career-best rating of 811 points.
Jason Gillespie
Continuing this list of Australian ODI bowling icons, next is Jason Gillespie, who was part of Australia's 2003 Cricket World Cup-winning squad and is well-known for his unbeaten 201-run Test innings, which is the highest-ever by a night-watchman. Having played 97 ODIs throughout his career, Gillespie achieved a career-best rating of 822 points.
Kapil Dev
One of the greatest all-rounders of all-time and India's first World Cup winning captain in 1983, Kapil Dev finds his name on the list, and is among the few players in history to have taken more than 250 wickets and scored over 3,500 runs in ODIs. The 'Haryana Hurricane' achieved a career-best rating of 840 points.
Jasprit Bumrah
Level on points with Kapil Dev is another Indian player, ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah, who is considered to be one of best fast bowlers in the world right now. The 31-year-old, who held the world no. 1 rank on the ICC ODI Bowling charts for a while, achieved a career-best rating of 840 points.
Geoff Lawson
Nicknamed 'Henry', Geoff Lawson was Australia's leading fast bowler in the early 1980s, before his career was cut short by an unfortunate injury. Lawson played 79 ODIs for the Australian national team, and achieved a career-best rating of 841 points.
Brett Lee
Part of Australia's 2003 Cricket World Cup, 2006 and 2009 Champions Trophy winning squads, Brett Lee is one of the finest quickies to have ever played the game. Lee played an astonishing 221 ODIs for the national side, during which he achieved a career-best rating of 845 points.
Andy Roberts
Considered as the father of modern-day West Indian fast bowling, Sir Anderson Roberts was a part of the national side that won the inaugural editions of the ICC Cricket World Cups, in 1975 and 1979. Roberts achieved a career-best rating of 847 points.
Wasim Akram
The all-time second highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket and one of the only two bowlers to have scalped over 500 wickets in the format, Pakistani legend Wasim Akram is a part of the ICC Hall of Fame. Akram led Pakistan to the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup final, and achieved a career-best rating of 849 points.
Maninder Singh
A slow-left arm orthodox spinner, India's Maninder Singh is surprisingly the highest-ranked player from his country to feature on this list. Once considered the heir apparent to Bishan Singh Bedi, but had to retire due to personal reasons, Maninder achieved a career-best ODI bowling rating of 849 points.
Chaminda Vaas
The fourth highest wicket-taker in One-Day Internationals cricket history, Chaminda Vaas was a part of the Sri Lankan squad that lifted the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup. Vaas played 322 ODIs for his country, and achieved a career-best rating of 857 points.
Bob Willis
Ex-English cricketing icon and one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Robert 'Bob' Willis was a part of the historic England side that finished runners-up at the inaugural 1975 Cricket World Cup. Willis played for the Three Lions from 1971 to 1984, and achieved a career-best rating of 866 points.
Michael Holding
The no. 10 spot on this list is occupied by one of the greatest pace bowlers of all time, who was nicknamed the 'Whispering Death' due to his effective bowling style, West Indies icon Michael Holding. He also played during a successful period for the West Indies national time in the 1970s and 80s, and achieved a career-best rating of 874 points.
Curtly Ambrose
Former West Indies cricketing legend Curtly Ambrose stood 6 feet 7 inches tall, which allowed him to make the ball bounce unusually high. Ambrose played 176 ODIs throughout his career, picking up 225 wickets, and achieved a career-best rating of 876 points.
Ewen Chatfield
Another legendary New Zealand bowler, Ewan John Chatfield played 144 ODIs for the Kiwis, throughout his career that spanned from 1975 to 1989. Chatfield achieved a career-best rating of 891 points, which is the second highest by a player from New Zealand.
Dennis Lillee
Ex-Australian pacer Dennis Lillee was best known for his iconic bowling partnership with teammate Jeff Thomson, both of whom were recognized as the greatest fast bowlers at the time. Lille played 63 ODIs for the Australian team, and achieved a career-best rating of 891 points.
Malcolm Marshall
A part of West Indies' 1979 Cricket World Cup-winning squad, Malcolm Marshall was recognized for his ability to generate fearsome pace, despite being relatively short compared to many of his bowling peers. Marshall achieved a career-best rating of 891 points.
Glenn McGrath
A leading contributor to Australia's dominance in world cricket from the mid-1990s to the late 2000s, fast bowler Glenn McGrath is his country's all-time leading wicket-taker in the 50-over format. Glenn McGrath won three consecutive World Cup trophies, and achieved a career-best rating of 902 points.
Muttiah Muralidharan
The fourth spot on this list is occupied by the greatest spin bowler of all-time and the highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket history, Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralidharan. He has over 800 wickets in Test cricket and more than 500 wickets in ODIs, and achieved a career-best rating of 912 points.
Shaun Pollock
Chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2003, South African fast bowling legend Shaun Pollock played 303 ODIs throughout his career, scalping 393 wickets at an average of 24.50. Pollock achieved a career-best rating of 915 points.
Richard Hadlee
Ranked second on this list is former New Zealand bowling great, Sir Richard Hadlee, who is widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder of all time. Hadlee played for the Kiwis from 1973 to 1990, and achieved a career-best rating of 922 points.
Joel Garner
Another member of West Indies' iconic 1979 World Cup-winning side, Joel Garner is the highest ranked ODI bowler according toe the ICC's Best-Ever Bowling Ratings of all-time. Garner played 98 ODIs throughout his career, picking up 146 wickets, and achieved a career-best rating of 940 points.
