Top 10 ODI bowlers with the best economy rate of all time
When only Test matches were played, economy rates of bowlers didn’t really count. However, with the advent of limited-overs cricket, economy rates of bowlers started to become significant.
Containing the run-flow started to become as important as picking up wickets. Hence, the bowling attack of various teams began to comprise of bowlers who attacked from the outset and bowlers who could keep the run-rate down.
In this article, we look at 10 bowlers who had the best economy rate in ODI history.
Criteria - Minimum 100 ODIs
#10 Glenn McGrath – 3.88
Glenn McGrath is probably the best fast bowler Australia has ever produced. He is the 4th highest wicket-taker of all time in Test cricket and sits at the top of the list if only fast bowlers are considered.
His One-Day record is brilliant as well. In 250 ODIs, he took 381 wickets at a superb average of 22.02. His career economy rate of 3.88 is one of the best. His strength was the impeccable line and length he bowled. He seldom offered any loose deliveries was generally regarded as one of the most economical bowlers of the game.
His career-best figures of 7/15 is the third-best bowling performance in ODI history. He is also 5th on the list of highest 5-wicket hauls in ODIs. He was the leader of the mighty Australian attack for nearly 14 years.
#9 Courtney Walsh – 3.83
Courtney Walsh was an integral part of the fearsome and great West Indian pace quartet, which took West Indies to great heights in world cricket. Walsh made his ODI debut in 1985 (a year after he made his Test debut).
However, his first year in ODI cricket wasn’t great as he finished with 7 wickets in 10 games. However, the year 1986 saw things turn drastically for him. He took 20 wickets in 11 ODIs at an average of 16.40. This included a mind-boggling spell of 4.4-3-1-5 against Sri Lanka, which was his only 5-wicket haul in the 50-over format.
He took 227 wickets in 205 ODIs in his career which spanned 15 years. His economy of 3.83 was excellent as well.