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.
This article will examine the top 10 bowlers who have taken the most 5 wicket-hauls in ODI cricket.
| Player | Innings | 5-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 258 | 13 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | 341 | 10 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 130 | 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 |
Pakistan’s Waqar Younis holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket, having taken 13 in 258 innings.
Younis has also taken the most four-plus wicket hauls in ODIs, with 27 spells to his name.
Muttiah Muralitharan’s 10 five-fors are the most by a spinner in ODI cricket.
Younis and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga have taken three consecutive five-fors each in ODIs.
New Zealand’s Trent Boult and Australia’s Brett Lee have picked up the most five-wicket hauls at home in ODIs, taking five each in their respective home countries.
Muralitharan, meanwhile, has bagged the most five-fors in away ODIs, with four to his name.
Younis picked up four of his 13 five-wicket hauls at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the most by a bowler at a single ground in ODIs.
Younis took five of his 13 five-fors against New Zealand, the most by a bowler against an ODI team.
Scotland’s Charlie Cassell has registered the best bowling figures on ODI debut, returning 7 for 21 against Oman in 2024.
Overall, Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas has claimed the best ODI bowling figures, having taken eight wickets for a mere 19 runs against Zimbabwe in 2001.
Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the youngest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in ODIs. He was 16 years and 325 days old when he returned 5 for 50 against Zimbabwe in 2018.
Canada’s Sunil Dhaniram is the oldest bowler to bag a five-for in ODIs. He took 5 for 32 against Bermuda at the age of 39 years and 256 days in 2008.
Younis has also taken the most five-wicket hauls in a calendar year in ODIs, having bagged five in 19 innings in 1990.
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