Shaun Pollock untouchable at the top of the list for most maiden overs in ODI cricket

Former South Africa cricketer Shaun Pollock has bowled the most maiden overs in ODI cricket.

Having made his one-day international (ODI) debut against England in 1996, the right-arm pacer bowled 313 maiden overs in 303 ODIs. 

Interestingly, Pollock is the only cricketer to have bowled more than 300 maiden overs in ODI history.

Considered to be one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, Pollock picked 393 wickets at an impressive economy of 3.68 and an average of 24.51.

The former Proteas captain played his last ODI match against West Indies in 2008 as he ended with five five-wicket hauls in his scintillating career.

Apart from Pollock, former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath and Sri Lanka left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas have bowled the second most maiden overs in ODI cricket.

Both McGrath and Vaas registered 279 maidens in their respective ODI careers. While McGrath bagged 381 ODI wickets in 250 matches at an average of 22.02, Vaas claimed 400 wickets in 322 ODI matches at an economy of 4.18.

Former Pakistan left-arm speedster Wasim Akram features next on the list. Often regarded as one of the most lethal pacers of all time, Akram bowled 237 maidens in his ODI career, scalping 502 ODI wickets in 356 matches at an average of 23.52 and an economy of 3.89.

India 1983-World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev is also among the best, with 235 maiden overs in ODIs. In his 16-year-old ODI career, Dev scalped 253 wickets in 225 matches at an average of 27.45 and an economy of 3.72

Former Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bowled 198 maiden overs in ODI cricket while former West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose registered 192 maiden overs in his ODI career.

New Zealand cricketer Richard Hadlee, West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh and New Zealand’s Ewen Chatfield complete the top 10 list.

While Richard Hadlee and Courtney Walsh bowled 185 maiden overs each, Ewen Chatfield registered 155 maidens in the ODI format.

Meanwhile, India’s Jhulan Goswami holds the record for the most maiden overs in women’s ODI cricket. Goswami has bowled 260 maidens in 199 matches.

The India women’s cricket team pacer broke the record held by former England cricketer Clare Taylor, who had bowled 205 maiden overs in her career. 

India’s Neetu David (189), Australia cricketer Cathryn Fitzpatrick (188) and Katherine Brunt of England are the other three players to have bowled more than 150 maiden overs in women’s ODI cricket.

Most maiden overs in ODI

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Featured photo: Saeed Khan / AFP