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In spite of One-Day Internationals being considered a batsmen’s game, bowlers play a big role in the outcome of any game. When the opposing side is on top, the bowlers give the crucial breakthrough.
So there is no doubt that bowlers are as much important as batsmen are.
Wasim Akram has captured the maximum number of wickets at the World Cup. In 38 matches, Akram has scalped 55 wickets at an average of 23.83. He also has a tremendous strike rate of 35.4, which means one wicket every six overs. He has taken five wickets in an innings once and four wickets on two occasions. His 5/28 against Namibia at the 2003 World Cup is his best performance in a match.
Australian Glenn McGrath, with 45 wickets, holds the second spot while Javagal Srinath of India occupies the third position with 44 wickets.
Name |
Country |
Matches |
Wickets |
Best Figures |
| W Akram | Pakistan | 38 | 55 | 5/28 |
| Glenn McGrath | Australia | 28 | 45 | 7/15 |
| J Srinath | India | 34 | 44 | 4/30 |
| A Donald | South Africa | 25 | 38 | 4/17 |
| Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 21 | 36 | 6/25 |
| I Khan | Pakistan | 28 | 34 | 4/37 |
| S Warne | Australia | 17 | 32 | 4/27 |
| C Harris | New Zealand | 28 | 32 | 4/7 |
| M Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 21 | 30 | 4/28 |
| I Botham | England | 22 | 30 | 4/31 |
In terms of highest number of wickets in a particular match McGrath holds the No.1 spot. His figure of 7/15 against Namibia in the 2003 World Cup is the best so far in the history of the World Cup. His teammate Andrew Bichel also took seven wickets against England but gave away 20 runs. He also achieved this feat at the 2003 World Cup. Winston Davies completes the top three with figure of 7/51 against England at the 1983 World Cup.