The ODI world cup is a contest among the most outstanding teams. Over the years, the tournament has seen incredible performances with bat and ball. Many ballers, both seekers and spinners, have spearheaded their teams to crucial victories, and that will be so in upcoming matches ICC world cup as well. Here we take a look at some of the best balling performances in the ODI world cup.
- Glenn Mcgrath
There was a time when Australia simply seemed invincible, and that was the time of the great Glenn Mcgrath. He played for Australia in four world cup editions between 1996 and 2007. The team was runner-up in first and the winner of the tournament in the next three. Mcgrath was a big reason for this. He took an unbelievable 71 wickets in just 39 matches, with a magical bowling average of 18.19 in the period. His economy for the period remaining was a remarkable 3.96, and the best figure was seven wickets for just fifteen runs – that is also the best world cup figure for any baller ever.
- Muthayya Murlidharan
Adoringly nicknamed Murli, this Sri Lankan spinner is one of the best ballers of all time. He is also the most successful spinner and second most successful baller in world cup tournaments, with 68 wickets in seventy matches. His balling average was an impressive 19.63, and he maintained an impressive economy of 3.88. He was part of the 1996 squad. After that, the team was the only time Sri Lanka lifted the trophy. In 2007 and 2011, Sri Lanka was runner-up. The team also made it to the semi-finals in 2003. Murli was the most valued baller for the side during all these editions.
- Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Star is one of the best fast ballers at the moment. Already the fifth-highest wicket-taker of all time with 49 wickets in just two editions, Starc has the lowest balling average in the world cup tournament ever, of magical 14.81, and his figures in the tournament are six for twenty-eight. He is the only baller with over twenty wickets in two successive editions of the tournament, and also the only one that has been leading wicket ticker twice (though once it was tied with Trent Boult. He was also the man of the tournament in 2015, and his twenty-seven wickets in 2019 were the most by any baller in a single tournament. He was also selected player of the tournament in 2007.
- Trent Boult
New Zealand has consistently remained among the best performers in recent world cup editions. The team made it to finals in 2015 and 2019, and Trent Boult has remained the most valued pacer during that time. He picked 22 wickets in the 2015 edition (which was the joined best with Starc).
- Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram is considered one of the best pacers of all time. He played for Pakistan between 1987 and 2004 and was the leading wicket-taker in that period with 55 wickets in just 38 matches with an average of 23.83 and an economy rate of just over 4. At the time of his retirement, Akram was the most successful world cup baller. Akram was the player of the tournament in 1992; the only time Pakistan won the World Cup was when he picked the highest number of wickets (18).
- AME Roberts
Though West Indies has failed to qualify for the world cup tournament this time, they once seemed invincible and lifted the first two world cup trophies and made it to the final in the third. At that time, the team had some of the greatest batsmen ever and one of the best fast-balling units ever. Roberts was a big reason for the team’s success plucking 16 wickets in 26 matches. He played for the side in those editions with an average of 21.23. However, the most remarkable thing about his balling remains his economy – 3.24 runs for every over he balled, which remains the best for anyone who has balled at least 1000 balls.
- Zahir Khan
Zahir Khan played for Indian in three world cup tournament editions between 2003 and 2011, leading the team’s pace balling attack. India was runner-up in 2003 and finally listed the trophy in 2011. Khan took 44 wickets during the time in 23 matches, becoming the most successful baller for the team. Though Srinath, too, picked 44 wickets, he needed 34 games to do so. Khan has had an impressive balling average of just over twenty to boost. Khan was joined highest wicket-taker (with Shahid Afridi) in 2011.
- Brett Lee
With thirty-five wickets in just seventeen matches, Brett Lee is one of the best Australian pacers in the world cup. Lee maintained an incredible balling average of under 18 runs per wicket and helped his team to win the trophy in 2003 and 2007.
- Shane Warne
The greatest Australian spinner, Shane Warne, only played the world cup in 1999 and 2003 and helped his team to win the trophy both times, taking thirty-two wickets in sixteen matches with an average of fewer than twenty runs per wicket, making him the fourth Australian in this list. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 1999 edition and also won the man of the match in the final.
- Roger Binny
With 18 wickets in nine matches, Binny was the leading wicket-taker in 1983 when India lifted the trophy for the first time.
The bottom line
Of course, these are only some of the greatest ballers in the world cup tournament, and there are many others who could have been strong contenders for the position. Some of these include the following:
- Malinga – third highest wicket-taker in the world cup tournament.
- Chaminda Vaas – highest wicket-taker in the 2003 edition
- Srinath – joint highest wicket-taker for India with Zahir Khan.
- Kumble – Most successful spinner for India and the highest wicket-taker in the 1996 edition.
- Imran Tahir – The most successful South African baller.
Let’s see who else joins the list in 2023, and be sure to check the ICC World Cup upcoming matches schedule for the 2023 edition.
