Most wickets in ODI World Cup history
The 13th edition of the Cricket World Cup will get underway in India from October 05. In the past 12 editions of the cricketing extravaganza, several top cricketers have graced the field with their remarkable performances. The Cricket World Cup has witnessed several legendary bowlers accounting for some of the top batters in the world with their marvellous bowling display. Out of the many bowlers who have played in the ODI World Cup, a few have left an indelible mark with their performances and have become a part of the tournament’s folklore. On that note, let’s take a look at the top three bowlers with the most wickets in the ODI World Cup:
3. Lasith Malinga (56 Wickets)
The Sri Lankan legend ranks third on the list having 56 wickets to his name from 28 innings at an average of 22.87 and an economy of 5.51. Malinga rose to the limelight with his sensational four-wickets off four balls against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup and went on to pick another hat trick in the 2011 World Cup. The right-arm seamer troubled many great batters of his generation with pin-point Yorkers delivered through his slingy action.
2. Muttiah Muralitharan (68 wickets)
The legendary off-spinner is omnipresent on almost all bowling records list, which is a testament to his illustrious career on the pitch spanning over 18 years. Muralitharan sits second on the spot of the most wickets taken in World Cup history with 68 scalps to his name from 39 innings at an average of 19.63 and an economy of 3.88. The Kandy-born spinner was a nightmare to face due to his numerous variations and was a part of his nation’s 1996 World Cup triumph.
1. Glenn McGrath (71 Wickets)
Arguably the greatest seam bowler to have graced the game, Glenn McGrath etched his name in record books despite not having a searing pace. The towering bowler was known for bowling in the corridor of uncertainty with immaculate accuracy and inducing batters into committing a mistake. McGrath reigns supreme in the list of the leading wicket-takers in the World Cup with 71 scalps to his name from 39 innings at an average of 18.19 and a miserly economy of 3.96.
McGrath led Australia’s bowling attack in their three consecutive World Cup triumphs from 1999-2007. He was even bestowed with the Player of the Tournament award in the 2007 edition for registering the most number of wickets in a single edition of the tournament (26).
