Quickest to 50 Wickets in ODI Cricket by a Bowler
August 18, 2024
August 18, 2024
Throughout history, many outstanding bowlers have made their mark in cricket records. However, only a select few have managed to capture the audience’s attention and gain widespread admiration from the very start of their careers.
In white ball cricket, several bowlers have made a significant impact on the international stage. Their success is often measured by the number of wickets they take and the speed with which they achieve them. Some of these bowlers reached impressive milestones early in their careers, such as taking the fastest 50 Wickets in ODI.
Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 bowlers who have achieved this remarkable feat.
Here are the top 10 bowlers who have accomplished this achievement:
| 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 |
Ajantha Mendis, a former right-arm off-break bowler from Sri Lanka, set a record by becoming the fastest player to reach 50 wickets in ODI history. He made his ODI debut in 2008 against the West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval. Mendis achieved this milestone in his 19th ODI match against Zimbabwe in Mirpur in 2009.
In that game, Mendis reached 50 wickets in ODIs. Over his Wickets in ODI career, he took a total of 152 wickets in 87 matches. His statistics included an economy rate of 4.8 and a best bowling performance of 6/13.
Sandeep Lamichhane, a skilled right-arm leg-spin bowler from Nepal, is currently second in the record for the fastest to reach 50 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He made his Wickets in ODI debut at just 17 years old, facing the Netherlands in 2018.
Lamichhane achieved this impressive milestone in a 2022 match against Papua New Guinea. His achievement highlights his significant potential in cricket, reaching this mark in only 22 games. To date, he has played 51 ODIs and taken 112 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 4.3.
Ajit Agarkar was one of the most overlooked bowlers of his time, delivering strong performances but often not getting the recognition he deserved. He made his debut in 1998 and played 30 ODIs in that year alone. During this impressive debut year, he reached the milestone of 50 ODI wickets in just 23 matches, achieving this in a game against Zimbabwe.
Agarkar’s skill was clear from the beginning, as he took at least one wicket in each of his first 13 matches. Over his career, he played in 191 matches and ended with a total of 288 wickets, making him the third-highest ODI wicket-taker among Indian bowlers.
Mitchell McClenaghan, the talented left-arm fast-medium bowler from New Zealand, is recognized as the fourth-fastest player to reach 50 wickets in ODI history. He began his ODI career in 2013 with a match against South Africa.
He reached this milestone in his 23rd ODI match against South Africa in October 2014. Since then, McClenaghan has taken 82 wickets in 48 matches. His bowling statistics include an economy rate of 5.94 and his best bowling figures of 5/58.
Dennis Lillee is celebrated as one of the greatest fast bowlers ever. The legendary Australian player made history by being the first to take 50 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs), achieving this feat in just 24 matches—a record that stood for almost 20 years.
Lillee made his ODI debut against England in 1972. It was during his 24th ODI match against India in 1980 that he reached the milestone of his 50th wicket. Additionally, Lillee remains at the top of the Australian records for the fastest to achieve 50 ODI wickets.
Hassan Ali is ranked 6th for the fastest 50 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He made his ODI debut in 2016 against Ireland, showing promise with 11 wickets in 8 matches during his first year. However, 2017 was when he truly excelled, taking 45 wickets in just 18 games.
His impressive performance that year earned him the Player of the Tournament title at the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, where he captured 13 wickets in five matches. By the end of 2017, Hasan Ali had reached the milestone of 50 ODI wickets in just 24 games.
In recent years, wrist spin has become a crucial part of India’s white-ball cricket strategy. Since his debut in 2017, Kuldeep Yadav has been key in unsettling opposing batters. In his first year, he demonstrated his skills by taking 22 wickets in 14 matches.
By 2018, Kuldeep took his performance to the next level, claiming an impressive 45 wickets in just 19 games. His exceptional performance also made him the second-fastest Indian to reach 50 wickets in ODI cricket, achieving this milestone in only 24 matches.
Shane Warne, the legendary Australian cricketer, holds a prominent place in cricket’s bowling records. Over his career, he played 194 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Australia and took an impressive 293 wickets. His best bowling performance in an innings was 5/33, and he maintained an economy rate of 4.25.
Warne’s ODI career started in 1993 with his debut against New Zealand. He reached the milestone of 50 wickets in just 25 matches, achieving this record during a match against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1994.
In the 2019 World Cup, Matt Henry gained lasting fame for his impressive performance against India in the semifinal. What’s less known is that he is also the fastest New Zealand bowler to reach 50 wickets in ODI cricket. Henry began his ODI career against India in 2014.
He hit a major milestone in his 25th ODI match, becoming one of the fastest bowlers to achieve 50 wickets in ODI history. This achievement occurred in Hamilton during a New Zealand vs. Australia game in 2016. To date, he has played 82 ODI matches and taken 141 wickets.
Barry McCarthy, a right-arm medium bowler for the Ireland men’s cricket team, began his ODI career against Sri Lanka at The Village on June 16, 2016. He made a notable mark in his 25th ODI match against the West Indies in Dublin in 2019, becoming the fastest Irish player to reach 50 wickets in ODI cricket.
Globally, McCarthy ranks tenth in this category. Over 44 ODI matches, he has taken 70 wickets, with his best bowling performance being 5/46 and an economy rate of 5.82.
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Several bowlers have made their mark in cricket history by achieving the fastest 50 wickets in ODI cricket. The record for the quickest to reach this milestone belongs to a talented spin bowler from Sri Lanka, who achieved it in just 22 matches. Sandeep Lamichhane also reached 50 wickets in 22 matches, while Ajit Agarkar and McClenaghan accomplished the same feat in 23 matches each.
Lillee, Hassan Ali, and Kuldeep Yadav achieved 50 wickets in 24 games, while Shane Warne, Henry, and McCarthy reached the same milestone in 25 games. Out of the top 10 bowlers, 4 are spin bowlers and 6 are fast bowlers.
