In every era, notable bowling superstars have inscribed their names into the record books. Yet, only a few have managed to captivate audiences and earn admiration right from the beginning of their careers.
Numerous bowlers have left a significant impact on the world stage in white ball cricket. Their effectiveness is evaluated and assessed by the number of wickets they secure and the speed at which they get them. These bowlers achieved many landmarks in the early stages of their careers, and one such is the fastest 50 wickets in ODI.
Let’s explore, in detail, the top 10 bowlers who have taken the fastest 50 wickets in ODIs.
Fastest 50 Wickets in ODI
The list of top 10 bowlers to achieve this feat is as follows:
| Player | Opposition | Matches | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajantha Mendis | Sri Lanka | 19 | 2009 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | Nepal | 22 | 2022 |
| Ajit Agarkar | India | 23 | 1998 |
| Mitchell McClenaghan | New Zealand | 23 | 2014 |
| Dennis Lillee | Australia | 24 | 1980 |
| Hasan Ali | Pakistan | 24 | 2017 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | India | 24 | 2018 |
| Shane Warne | Australia | 25 | 1994 |
| Matt Henry | New Zealand | 25 | 2016 |
| Barry McCarthy | Ireland | 25 | 2019 |
1. Ajantha Mendis
Former Sri Lankan right-arm off-break bowler Ajantha Mendis achieved the remarkable feat of securing the fastest 50 wickets in ODI history. The mystery spinner made his ODI debut in 2008 against West Indies at the Queen’s Park Oval. The momentous moment occurred during his 19th ODI match, where he faced Zimbabwe in Mirpur in 2009.
It was in this game that Mendis accomplished the feat of claiming 50 wickets in the ODI format. Throughout his ODI career, Mendis showcased his bowling brilliance by taking a total of 152 wickets in 87 matches. His impressive stats included an economy rate of 4.8 and a best bowling innings of 6/13.
2. Sandeep Lamichhane
Sandeep Lamichhane, a talented right-arm leg-break bowler hailing from Nepal, is in second place for claiming the fastest 50 wickets in ODI. Lamichhane made his ODI debut at the young age of 17 years. He made his first ODI appearance against the Netherlands in 2018.
He reached this remarkable feat during a match against Papua New Guinea in 2022. Lamichhane’s accomplishment underscores his immense potential in the sport, as he accomplished it in just 22 games. He has played 51 ODI matches so far, amassing an impressive total of 112 wickets with an economy rate of 4.3.
3. Ajit Agarkar
Ajit Agarkar emerged as one of the most underrated bowlers during his era. He consistently delivered impactful performances yet often did not receive the recognition he deserved. The bowler marked his debut in 1998 and played 30 ODIs within the same year. It was in this prolific debut year that he accomplished the milestone of reaching 50 ODI wickets, achieving this feat in just 23 matches in a game against Zimbabwe.
Notably, Agarkar’s prowess was evident from the start, as he managed to secure at least one wicket in each of his initial 13 games. The right-arm fast bowler participated in a total of 191 matches, concluding with an impressive tally of 288 wickets. This achievement places him as the third-highest ODI wicket-taker among Indian bowlers.
4. Mitchell McClenaghan
Mitchell McClenaghan, the skilled left-arm fast-medium bowler from New Zealand, holds the distinction of being the fourth player to achieve the fastest 50 wickets in ODI history. McClenaghan started his ODI career against South Africa in 2013.
His remarkable feat appeared during his 23rd One Day International match against South Africa in October 2014. Following this achievement, he accumulated a total of 82 wickets in 48 games. McClenaghan’s bowling stats include an economy rating of 5.94 and a best bowling innings of 5/58.
5. Dennis Keith Lillee
Dennis Lillee has left an indelible mark as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. The iconic Australian fast-bowler etched his name in the records by becoming the first bowler to claim 50 wickets in the history of ODI cricket. Lillee accomplished this milestone in just 24 matches, setting a benchmark that remained unbroken for nearly two decades.
Dennis Lillee made the ODI debut against England in 1972. It was Lillee’s 24th ODI match, held against India in 1980, where he showcased his fast and precise deliveries to achieve the milestone of claiming his 50th wicket in ODI cricket. Furthermore, he holds the top position in the Australian chart for the fastest ODI 50 wickets ever taken.
6. Hassan Ali
Hassan Ali has secured the 6th position on the list of the fastest 50 wickets in ODI. Hasan Ali marked his ODI debut in 2016 against Ireland, delivering a decent performance in his inaugural year with 11 wickets from 8 games. However, it was in 2017 that he truly hit his stride. Hasan Ali exhibited a remarkable bowling performance that year by claiming 45 wickets in just 18 games.
Notably, his standout performance earned him the Player of the Tournament award in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, where he took 13 wickets in five games. In the same year, Hasan Ali reached the milestone of 50 ODI wickets, achieving this feat in 24 matches.
7. Kuldeep Yadav
Over the past few years, wrist spin has emerged as a significant element in the Indian white-ball arsenal. Since his debut in 2017, Kuldeep has been instrumental in making batters dance to his tunes. In his debut year, the chinaman bowler showed his talent by picking up 22 wickets in 14 games.
In the subsequent year, 2018, Kuldeep elevated his game, taking an impressive 45 wickets in just 19 games. With this outstanding performance, he also became the second-fastest Indian to reach the milestone of 50 wickets in ODI cricket, achieving this feat in 24 matches.
8. Shane Warne
The legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne is a vital part of numerous bowling record lists in cricket. Having played a total of 194 ODI matches for Team Australia, he left a remarkable mark by claiming 293 wickets. He had boasted a best bowling innings of 5/33 and an economy rate of 4.25.
Warne’s ODI journey began with his debut against New Zealand in 1993. It took him just 25 matches to achieve the milestone of securing the fastest 50 wickets in ODI cricket. This noteworthy feat occurred during a game against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1994.
9. Matt Henry
In the 2019 World Cup, Matt Henry earned everlasting recognition for his remarkable opening spell against India in the semifinal. However, a lesser-known fact is that Matt Henry holds the distinction of being the fastest New Zealand bowler to reach 50 wickets in ODI cricket history. Matt Henry started his one-day international career against India in 2014.
His fantastic journey in ODIs reached a significant milestone during his 25th match, where he earned the distinction of being one of the bowlers to achieve the fastest 50 wickets in ODI history. The momentous occasion took place in Hamilton during the New Zealand vs. Australia match in 2016. He has participated in a total of 82 ODI matches and has claimed 141 wickets.
10. Barry McCarthy
Barry McCarthy, the right-arm medium bowler for the Ireland men’s cricket team, embarked on his ODI career against Sri Lanka at The Village on June 16th, 2016. In his 25th ODI match against West Indies in Dublin in 2019, McCarthy etched his name in the record books by achieving the distinction of the fastest 50 wickets in ODI cricket for Ireland.
Internationally, he holds the tenth position on the list. Throughout his ODI career spanning 44 matches, McCarthy has showcased his bowling prowess by securing a total of 70 wickets. His impressive stats include a best bowling figures of 5/46 and an economy rate of 5.82.
Wind Up
Certain bowlers have carved their names in the history of cricket by securing the fastest 50 wickets in ODI format. The magical spin bowler from Sri Lanka has the record for the quickest bowler to achieve this milestone. He claimed 50 wickets in just 22 matches. Sandeep Lamichhane took 22 matches to complete 50 wickets, while Ajit Agarkar and McClenaghan reached this feat in 23 matches.
Lillee, Hassan Ali, and Kuldeep Yadav took the 50 wickets in 24 matches. On the other hand, Shane Warne, Henry, and McCarthy accomplished this landmark in 25 matches. Among the top 10 bowlers, 4 bowlers are spinners, and 6 are fast bowlers.
