Top 5 fastest bowlers to pick 200 wickets in ODI cricket

Australian fast bowler holds the record of being fastest to pick 200 wickets in ODI cricket.

ODI cricket comes with different challenges for the players. With a number of rules coming into this format, it has become more difficult for a bowler to perform. However, some bowlers like to take on challenges, and over the years, we have seen some incredible performers in the ODI cricket.

In this article, we will talk about the top five bowlers, who are among the fastest to take 200 wickets in ODI cricket. There have been many best bowlers in this format, but to take 200 wickets, one needs longevity, which is pretty tough. So this list includes some elite performers.

Here are the top 5 fastest bowlers to pick 200 wickets in ODI cricket:

5. Allan Donald (SA) - 117 matches:

Allan Donald was the backbone of the South African bowling attack in the 1990s. He was their most destructive bowler across formats. Donald completed 200 ODI wickets in just 117 ODIs. Overall, he played 164 ODIs and took 272 wickets at 21.78 with a best of 6.23. He is also the third-fastest to 250 ODI wickets and completed it in the 148th ODI.

4. Brett Lee (AUS) - 112 matches:

Pace and swing are very rare combinations, but Brett Lee had them both, and he dominated the opposition batters with them. Lee was one of the most impactful bowlers on his team and won numerous games for his country. He was one of the reasons that Australia dominated the world between 2000 and 2010. Lee reached 200 ODI wickets in his 112th game. He played 221 ODIs and took 380 wickets at 23.36 with nine five-wicket hauls.

3. Trent Boult (NZ) - 107 matches:

The Kiwi left-arm pacer Trent Boult is the third fastest on this list. He has been New Zealand's go-through bowler across formats. But his numbers in ODIs are just remarkable. Boult reached 200 wickets in his 107th ODI during a game against Bangladesh in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. He was one of the key members of the New Zealand team that qualified for the finals of the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

2. Saqlain Mushtaq (PAK) - 104 matches:

Being a spinner, it becomes hard sometimes to bowl in the white-ball format. But Saqlain Mushtaq had all the ingredients to be the best. He was the previous record-holder on this list. Saqlain was the one who introduced "doosra" in this game. He took 200 wickets in just 104 games. During his ODI career, he played 169 games and took 288 wickets at an average of 21.78, including six fifers.

1. Mitchell Starc (AUS) - 102 matches:

Mitchell Starc broke Saqlain Mushtaq's 15-year-long record when he reached 200 ODI wickets in his 102nd game in 2022, in a game against Zimbabwe. Starc is the fastest bowler to reach the 200-wicket mark in ODIs. The left-arm pacer is among the best modern-day bowlers and has taken 223 wickets in 113 ODIs so far, with nine five-wicket hauls.