Taking a fifer in ODI cricket is never an easy task. It differs from effecting the same in Test cricket, where the bowlers have ample time to claim their wickets. However, former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis made it a habit to take 5-wicket-haul consistently in ODIs.
Picking wickets in bulk in One Day Internationals (ODIs) is an art that very few bowlers have been able to master. It’s all about picking wickets of opposition batters and creating pressure on them as a bowling team.
Usually, in the 50-over format, batting teams use the powerplay overs, then get to the safe-mode for the next 25-30 overs to keep wickets in hand for the final overs.
Your leading bowler is expected to give wickets in bulk, like 3-5 wickets in a single match. However, regular wickets can completely spoil the batting strategy of the opposition team. It can completely shift the momentum towards the bowling team.
In the history of ODI cricket, we have seen several furious bowling spells where bowlers have run over the batting team with their lethal and consistent bowling.
This article will examine the top 10 bowlers who have taken the most 5 wicket-hauls in ODI cricket.
Most 5-Wicket Hauls in ODI
| Player | Innings | 5-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 258 | 13 |
| Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) | 341 | 10 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 127 | 9 |
| Brett Lee (AUS) | 217 | 9 |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 372 | 9 |
| Lasith Malinga (SL) | 220 | 8 |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 248 | 7 |
| Mohammed Shami (IND) | 107 | 6 |
| Trent Boult (NZ) | 113 | 6 |
| Lance Klusener (SA) | 164 | 6 |
Stats Insights
Waqar Younis holds the record for the most 5-wicket-hauls in the history of ODI cricket – 13 in 258 innings. Waqar also has taken 14 four-wicket hauls. The Pakistani speedster was famous for his reverse swing bowling, which puzzled the opposition team batsman. Below is a gem of Waqar Younis’s 6-wickets spell against New Zealand.
Among the spinners, Muttiah Muralidharan has the most five-wicket hauls. Muralidharan has taken 10 five-wicket-hauls in his ODI career. The veteran Sri Lankan spinner has the prestigious record for in Tests.
