The bowling strike rate in the One Day Internationals (ODIs) holds a great place. It is one of the most underrated yet crucial statistical metrics that reflects a bowler’s effectiveness and impact in limited-overs cricket.
It measures the number of balls bowled by a bowler per wicket taken. A lower strike rate for the bowlers is generally considered better for them, as it signifies their ability to break partnerships and dismiss batsmen more frequently.
Consistently taking wickets match-on-match not only lowers the individual’s bowling strike rate but also puts the lid on the opposition, making it difficult for them to build partnerships and score freely. This helps the bowling team control the game and restrict the opposing team’s total.
Here in this article, we will see the top 10 bowlers with the best bowling strike rate in ODI cricket.
Best Bowling Strike Rate in ODIs
| Player | Team | Innings | Balls Bowled | Wickets | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Harris | Australia | 20 | 1031 | 44 | 23.4 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Sri Lanka | 28 | 1224 | 50 | 24.4 |
| Corey Anderson | New Zealand | 43 | 1485 | 60 | 24.7 |
| Bilal Khan | Oman | 49 | 2510 | 101 | 24.8 |
| Mohammed Shami | India | 107 | 5326 | 206 | 25.8 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | Nepal | 64 | 3602 | 135 | 26.6 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | 71 | 3637 | 136 | 26.7 |
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 130 | 6638 | 247 | 26.8 |
| Haris Rauf | Pakistan | 54 | 2630 | 97 | 27.1 |
| Josh Davey | Scotland | 31 | 1361 | 50 | 27.2 |
| Shaun Tait | Australia | 34 | 1688 | 62 | 27.2 |
| Ajantha Mendis | Sri Lanka | 84 | 4154 | 152 | 27.3 |
| Prasidh Krishna | India | 23 | 1097 | 40 | 27.4 |
| Anrich Nortje | South Africa | 21 | 1006 | 36 | 27.9 |
If you don’t know how to calculate the bowling strike rate, then here is our guide to help you with that. Check it out!
Key Insights on Lowest Bowling Strike Rates in ODI Cricket
Leading ODI Bowling Strike Rates & Associate Nation Records
Australia’s Ryan Harris boasts the best bowling strike rate in ODIs. He took 44 wickets at a strike rate of 23.4 in 20 innings.
Oman’s Bilal Khan is the only bowler from an associate nation to have a strike rate below 25 in ODIs.
Zimbabwe’s Pommie Mbangwa has registered the worst bowling strike rate in ODIs. He took 11 wickets at 124.4 in 29 innings. He also has an inferior bowling average, having gone at 103.63.
ODI Bowling Strike Rate Milestones by Home-Away and Venue
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga and Australia’s Clint McKay are the two bowlers with bowling strike rates below 25 at home in ODIs.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan is the only bowler to maintain a strike rate under 21 in a single country, achieving the feat in the UAE.
Rashid Khan and Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis have sub-26 strike rates in away ODIs.
Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman is the only bowler with a strike rate below 26 at a single venue, doing so at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
Best ODI Strike Rates by Opponent and Captaincy
Rashid Khan (vs Zimbabwe), Waqar Younis (vs New Zealand) and Ajit Agarkar (vs Sri Lanka) are the three bowlers with strike rates under 25 against an opponent each in ODIs.
Dwayne Bravo has the lowest bowling strike rate as a captain in ODIs. He scalped 53 wickets at 26.9 while leading the West Indies in 37 matches.
Record-Breaking Seasonal and ODI WC Performances
South Africa’s Allan Donald has recorded the lowest bowling strike rate in a calendar year in ODIs. He picked up 51 wickets at 21.6 in 20 innings in 1996.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc has the best bowling strike rate in the ODI World Cup. He has a strike rate of 22.4 while taking 65 wickets in 28 innings.
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