Top 5: Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI Cricket

It’s an extraordinary accomplishment when a bowler captures five wickets in an ODI game — the epitome of a good bowler. A five-wicket haul or as it is commonly referred to, “fifer,” can be a game changer, tipping the scales in favour of the team that produces it.

In this select class were bowlers who did not just dismiss batsmen; they razed lineups with a deadly combination of belligerence, precision and skill.

Bowlers have to be clever and flexible in One-Day International (ODI) cricket where time is limited. Those who frequently conjured up such performances are the ones who hold the record for a maximum number of five-wicket hauls.

Here are the top 5 bowlers who have taken the most five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket.

5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 9 Five-Wicket Hauls

Though Shahid Afridi is best known for his explosive batting, he was also highly effective with the ball when it came to leg-spin bowling in ODIs. He had 9 five-wicket hauls and collected a total sum of 395 scalps from the time he started playing in 1996 until he retired in 2015.

The way that Afridi delivered his fast skiddy leg-spin took many batsmen by surprise and, at crucial points during matches, he seemed to have an uncanny knack for breaking key partnerships.

4. Brett Lee (Australia) – 9 Five-Wicket Hauls

Brett Lee was one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history because of his sheer pace. Between 2000 and 2012, he took 9 five-wicket hauls and a total of 380 ODI wickets, which made him an important member of Australia’s bowling attack.

There were few bowlers more feared than Brett Lee during his career, given his ability to bowl at speeds that seemed simply impossible to reach as well as his aggressive approach.

Lee’s spell of 5 for 22 against South Africa in 2006 stands out as one of his finest moments, where he completely dismantled a strong batting lineup from South Africa. In high-pressure fixtures, Lee’s contributions often proved decisive for the outcome with only a few overs left.

Also Read | Top 5: Best Bowling Figures in ODI Cricket

3. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 9 Five-Wicket Hauls

Mitchell Starc is a dangerous fast bowler in modern-day cricket. Starc earned his reputation as the fastest bowler and most dangerous yorker bowler around, claiming 9 five-wicket hauls since making his debut in 2010, which firmly established him as one of Australia’s top wicket-takers. He has been productive for his side with 236 dismissals from 121 matches.

In one of those moments, he performed exceptionally well during the 2015 World Cup when he single-handedly rescued Australia by taking 6 wickets for 28 runs against New Zealand. His high pace swing bowling, be it early or late in an innings ensures that any batsman facing him is in deep trouble.

2. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 10 Five-Wicket Hauls

Muttiah Muralitharan is widely regarded as the greatest spin bowler in cricket history. Over his incredible career from 1993 to 2011, Murali took an astonishing 534 wickets in ODI cricket — more than any other bowler. Among these were 10 five-wicket hauls, making him the second-best in terms of fifers.

Murali’s ability to spin the ball both ways, even on flat pitches, made him a constant threat to batsmen worldwide. One of his finest bowling performances was 7 for 30 against India in 2000 where he single-handedly destroyed the Indian batting lineup.

Murali had solid control over his bowling, the ability to vary his speed, and a most effective unusual bowling action which proved to be deadly for the batsmen at regular intervals, making him a dreadful bowling weapon for Sri Lankan cricket for almost two decades. 

1. Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 13 Five-Wicket Hauls

Waqar Younis is regarded as one of the most dreadful fast bowlers of all time. The record for the maximum number of five-wicket hauls in ODIs stands in his name at 13.

In 262 matches of his ODI career from 1989 to 2003, Waqar took 416 wickets. He was an exceptionally powerful right-arm fast bowler, more particularly an invaluable leg theory bowler with a craftsman’s alternative swing, particularly towards the end of the batteries.

Throughout the 1990s, Waqar was a crucial part of Pakistan’s bowling attack, frequently breaking partnerships with his pinpoint yorkers and devastating late swing. His 5 for 52 against the West Indies in 1990 is just one example of how his performances could change the course of a game.

With his sheer speed and mastery of reverse swing, Waqar became one of the most feared bowlers in cricket history.