Records · Men's ODI
Men's ODI best bowling average
Data through 14 October 2026Last updated 14 October 2026
The best bowling average list for Men's ODI cricket in the data is led by Shakeel Ahmed with 14.77. Minimum wickets: 50 in Tests and ODIs, 30 in T20s. The list covers matches in the Cricsheet data only (from the early 2000s), so older records are not included.
Top 10
Top 50
| # | Average | Player | Team | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14.77 | Shakeel Ahmed | Oman | 57 wkts, econ 3.50 · 2024–2026 |
| 2 | 19.18 | Sandeep Lamichhane | Nepal | 157 wkts, econ 4.32 · 2018–2026 |
| 3 | 20.34 | Bernard Scholtz | Namibia | 107 wkts, econ 3.42 · 2019–2026 |
| 4 | 20.78 | Bilal Khan | Oman | 98 wkts, econ 5.05 · 2019–2024 |
| 5 | 21.02 | Glenn McGrath | Australia | 98 wkts, econ 3.85 · 2003–2007 |
| 6 | 21.59 | Shane Bond | New Zealand | 107 wkts, econ 4.22 · 2003–2010 |
| 7 | 21.87 | BJ McMullen | Scotland | 68 wkts, econ 4.55 · 2022–2026 |
| 8 | 22.04 | Saurabh Netravalkar | United States of America | 115 wkts, econ 4.03 · 2019–2026 |
| 9 | 22.46 | JJ Smit | Namibia | 69 wkts, econ 4.22 · 2019–2026 |
| 10 | 22.49 | Andrew Flintoff | England | 119 wkts, econ 4.26 · 2002–2009 |
| 11 | 22.79 | CB Sole | Scotland | 52 wkts, econ 5.01 · 2016–2024 |
| 12 | 22.95 | Jason Gillespie | Australia | 56 wkts, econ 3.95 · 2003–2005 |
| 13 | 23.13 | Saeed Ajmal | Pakistan | 175 wkts, econ 4.23 · 2008–2015 |
| 14 | 23.33 | Amit Mishra | India | 61 wkts, econ 4.82 · 2009–2016 |
| 15 | 23.44 | Kaleem Sana | Canada | 50 wkts, econ 4.47 · 2023–2026 |
| 16 | 23.56 | Shaun Tait | Australia | 62 wkts, econ 5.19 · 2007–2011 |
| 17 | 23.68 | Ajantha Mendis | Sri Lanka | 136 wkts, econ 4.93 · 2008–2015 |
| 18 | 23.76 | T Lungameni | Namibia | 50 wkts, econ 4.54 · 2022–2025 |
| 19 | 23.89 | Brett Lee | Australia | 257 wkts, econ 4.77 · 2003–2012 |
| 20 | 23.90 | Doug Bollinger | Australia | 62 wkts, econ 4.58 · 2009–2011 |
| 21 | 24.06 | Nathan Bracken | Australia | 154 wkts, econ 4.44 · 2003–2009 |
| 22 | 24.08 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 239 wkts, econ 5.27 · 2010–2026 |
| 23 | 24.10 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 190 wkts, econ 4.09 · 2003–2011 |
| 24 | 24.12 | D Madushanka | Sri Lanka | 50 wkts, econ 6.06 · 2023–2026 |
| 25 | 24.19 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 145 wkts, econ 4.60 · 2016–2026 |
| 26 | 24.32 | Mohammed Shami | India | 200 wkts, econ 5.59 · 2013–2025 |
| 27 | 24.44 | Clinton McKay | Australia | 96 wkts, econ 4.84 · 2009–2014 |
| 28 | 24.47 | Maheesh Theekshana | Sri Lanka | 75 wkts, econ 4.40 · 2021–2026 |
| 29 | 24.55 | Brad Hogg | Australia | 129 wkts, econ 4.48 · 2003–2008 |
| 30 | 24.56 | Trent Boult | New Zealand | 206 wkts, econ 5.04 · 2012–2023 |
| 31 | 24.62 | Lonwabo Tsotsobe | South Africa | 94 wkts, econ 4.77 · 2009–2013 |
| 32 | 24.69 | Mohammed Siraj | India | 77 wkts, econ 5.08 · 2019–2026 |
| 33 | 24.75 | Matthew Henry | New Zealand | 171 wkts, econ 5.22 · 2014–2025 |
| 34 | 24.77 | Karan KC | Nepal | 109 wkts, econ 5.01 · 2018–2026 |
| 35 | 24.97 | Makhaya Ntini | South Africa | 141 wkts, econ 4.76 · 2003–2009 |
| 36 | 25.01 | Craig Young | Ireland | 73 wkts, econ 5.43 · 2014–2024 |
| 37 | 25.09 | Shaheen Afridi | Pakistan | 133 wkts, econ 5.66 · 2018–2026 |
| 38 | 25.13 | Morne Morkel | South Africa | 187 wkts, econ 4.95 · 2007–2018 |
| 39 | 25.24 | Corey Anderson | New Zealand | 58 wkts, econ 6.08 · 2013–2017 |
| 40 | 25.25 | Imran Tahir | South Africa | 169 wkts, econ 4.66 · 2011–2019 |
| 41 | 25.44 | LN Rajbanshi | Nepal | 62 wkts, econ 3.93 · 2019–2026 |
| 42 | 25.62 | Mitchell Johnson | Australia | 226 wkts, econ 4.83 · 2006–2015 |
| 43 | 25.68 | Andrew Hall | South Africa | 76 wkts, econ 4.60 · 2003–2007 |
| 44 | 25.78 | Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 98 wkts, econ 5.15 · 2017–2026 |
| 45 | 25.78 | Zahoor Khan | United Arab Emirates | 90 wkts, econ 4.99 · 2017–2024 |
| 46 | 25.79 | Haris Rauf | Pakistan | 102 wkts, econ 5.80 · 2020–2026 |
| 47 | 25.83 | Naseem Shah | Pakistan | 58 wkts, econ 5.56 · 2022–2025 |
| 48 | 26.02 | Paul van Meekeren | Netherlands | 59 wkts, econ 5.39 · 2014–2025 |
| 49 | 26.11 | Dale Steyn | South Africa | 193 wkts, econ 4.88 · 2005–2019 |
| 50 | 26.15 | Sunil Narine | West Indies | 91 wkts, econ 4.10 · 2011–2016 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Men's ODI record for best bowling average?
Shakeel Ahmed: 14.77, in the Cricsheet data. Minimum wickets: 50 in Tests and ODIs, 30 in T20s.
Who is second on the Men's ODI best bowling average list?
Sandeep Lamichhane with 19.18.
More Men's ODI records
Highest team totalsLowest team totalsHighest individual scoresBest bowling figures in an inningsMost runsMost wicketsMost hundredsMost fiftiesMost sixesMost sixes in an inningsBest batting averageHighest batting strike rateBest economy rateBiggest wins by runsBiggest wins by wicketsHighest successful run chasesMost runs in a calendar yearMost wickets in a calendar yearMost runs in a series or tournamentMost wickets in a series or tournamentFastest fiftiesFastest hundredsHighest partnershipsMost ducksMost catches (fielders)
Coverage: matches in the Cricsheet data only (from the early 2000s; matches involving the Afghanistan men's team are withheld). These are not all-time records.
Source: computed by CricketWise from Cricsheet ball-by-ball data (ODC-BY). Definitions: methodology.