After going through the most successful bowling pairs in Test Cricket, It is time to look at ODI Cricket. ODI Cricket is a format that has been around for 50 years but still the bowling pairs that are in this list are some of the best bowlers of all time. There have been the likes of Wasim Akram, Muttiah Muralidharan, Anil Kumble, Brett Lee, Shane Warne and so many others that have been in iconic partnerships. Let’s look at the Top 10 Most Successful Bowling Pairs in ODI Cricket

List of top 10 most successful bowling pairs in ODI Cricket

1) Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas – 708 Wickets

The number 1 most successful bowling pair in ODI Cricket is none other than the Iconic duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, the best spinner and fast bowler that Sri Lankan cricket has ever seen. Muralitharan and Vaas have taken 708 Wickets as a pair together, which is also the most wickets by a pair in odi cricket. Muttiah Muralidharan took 388 Wickets and Chaminda Vaas took 320 Wickets in this partnership. They bowled in 252 innings together and they took 2.52 Wickets per ODI.

2) Muttiah Muralidharan and Sanath Jayasuriya- 702 Wickets

This is the second Sri Lankan pair in the Top 2 and both these pairs have Muttiah Muralidharan in it. This pair with Sanath Jayasuriya was for a longer period of time. They took 702 Wickets in which Muttiah Muralidharan took 467 Wickets and Sanath Jayasuriya took 235 Wickets in this partnership. They bowled in 307 innings together and they took 2.29 Wickets per ODI. They are one of the most successful spin bowling pairs in international cricket. Both are no doubt Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketers of all time.

3) Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis – 588 Wickets

The first out and out fast bowling pair in this list and this is the most Deadly fast bowling pair in this list. The great Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis took 588 ODI Wickets as a pair in 198 Matches. They took 2.98 Wickets per ODI Match. Wasim Akram took 295 Wickets and Waqar Younis took 293 Wickets. They had an equal contribution in this historic wicket taking partnership.

4) Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya- 586 Wickets

Yet another Sri Lankan bowling pair and this is the 3rd such pair in the Top 4 in this list. This time it is Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya. They are also featuring in this list for the second time. They have taken 586 Wickets as a pair in the 304 Innings they have bowled together in. They took 1.93 Wickets per ODI. Chaminda Vaas took 375 Wickets and Sanath Jayasuriya took 211 Wickets in this partnership.

5) Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis – 562  Wickets

At number 5 is the great pair of Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis. They are one of the many pairs in this list that have become equally successful in both Test Cricket and ODIs. They played 259 Innings together and they took 2.17 Wickets per ODI. Shaun Pollock took 337 Wickets in this partnership and Jacques Kallis took 225 Wickets. The difference between the two in Wickets is similar in both formats.

6) Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble – 454 Wickets

The first Indian pair In this list and it is the greatest spin bowler of Indian history and oms if the best fast bowlers that India ever saw. The pair of Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble took 454 Wickets in 165 Innings that they Bowled together. They took a good 2.65 Wickets pet ODI Match. Javagal Srinath took 230 Wickets and Anil Kumble took 224 Wickets in this partnership thus putting in Equal contribution for the team.

7) Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock – 444 Wickets

This was one of the most lethal pace duos in the history of South African cricket. They were fearsome together and it showed in their Iconic partnership. In 157 innings that they bowled together they took 444 Wickets. They took an impressive 2.83 Wickets pet ODI. Makhaya Ntini took 247 Wickets and Shaun Pollock took 197 Wickets in this duo when they would knock out the opposition and win Matches for South Africa.

• 8) Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath – 420 Wickets

At number 8 is the great Australia pair of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. They are also the number 2 pair in test cricket. They have played 139 innings together and they took 420 Wickets as a pair. They took 3.02 Wickets per ODI. Shane Warne took 211 Wickets and Glenn McGrath took 209 Wickets. They contributed equally to the dominating success for Australia for many years.

9) Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener- 389 Wickets

Shaun Pollock has the unique distinction that he is in this list 3 times and all 3 are with different types of bowlers. He truly could bowl well with anybody. This was also a truly great bowling partnership. They played for 161 Innings together and they took 389 Wickets as a pair. They took 2.42 Wickets per match. Shaun Pollock took 216 Wickets and Lance Klusener took 173 Wickets as a part of this partnership.

10) Mashrafe Murtaza and Shakib Al Hasan – 386 Wickets

At number 10, it is the most successful Bangladesh bowling pair in ODIs. It is their best fast bowler and the best spinner. They have taken 386 Wickets as a pair in 146 Matches. They have taken a very good 2.61 Wickets per ODI Match. Mashrafe Murtaza took 199 Wickets and Shakib Al Hasan took 187 wickets in this bowling partnership.

Table Representing Most Successful Bowling Pairs in ODI Cricket

Also Read: Top 10 Most Successful Batting Pairs in Test Cricket history

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