In ODI (One Day International) cricket, reaching 200 wickets is a rare feat. But to do it in the fewest number of matches makes the accomplishment even more special. ESPNcricinfo maintains a record titled Fastest to 200 wickets in ODIs, which ranks bowlers by how many ODIs they needed to reach the 200-wicket mark.
Overview
Here, we revisit that list, incorporate the latest update, and present an up-to-date “top ten fastest to 200 ODI wickets” list, highlighting how modern players stack up.
What the ESPNcricinfo record shows
The record is measured by the number of ODI matches a bowler needed from his debut to the match in which he claimed his 200th wicket.
Latest highlights
- Mitchell Starc (Australia) — 102 matches to reach 200 wickets.
- Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) — 104 matches.
- Mohammed Shami (India) — 104 matches and (notably) the fewest balls to 200 (5,126 balls, per sources).
- Trent Boult (New Zealand) — 107 matches.
Top ten list: Updated view
The table below lists the bowlers ordered by the fewest ODI matches taken to reach 200 wickets, with notes and highlights.
| Rank | Bowler | Nation | Matches to 200 wickets | Notes / Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 102 | Holds the record for fewest ODIs to 200 wickets (matches-based metric). |
| =2 | Saqlain Mushtaq | Pakistan | 104 | Legendary off-spinner; did it early in his career. |
| =2 | Mohammed Shami | India | 104 | Joint-second by matches; holds the fewest balls-to-200 metric (5,126 balls per reports). |
| 4 | Trent Boult | New Zealand | 107 | One of the fastest modern bowlers to reach 200. |
| 5 | Brett Lee | Australia | 112 | Among the quickest pace bowlers historically to hit 200. |
| 6 | Allan Donald | South Africa | 117 | "White Lightning"—a lethal fast bowler of his era. |
| 7 | Waqar Younis | Pakistan | 118 | Renowned for reverse swing and toe-crunching yorkers. |
| 8 | Shane Warne | Australia | 125 | One of the few spinners among the fastest to the milestone. |
| 9 | Makhaya Ntini | South Africa | 126 | Key pace figure in South Africa's seam attack. |
| 10 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 127 | Specialist yorkers and an unorthodox action that produced big wickets. |
Balls-bowled note (H4 example)
Why balls-based metrics matter
Matches-based ranking is common and easy to read, but balls-bowled gives a finer measure of how frequently a bowler took wickets. According to reports, Mohammed Shami leads the balls-based metric at 5,126 balls, edging out Mitchell Starc’s ~5,240 balls — a different way to view the same milestone.
Why these records matter
Consistency & longevity
To reach 200 wickets, a bowler must sustain performance over many series and conditions.
Strike effectiveness
Doing it faster means the bowler was striking more frequently — not just surviving matches.
Evolution of cricket
Modern players benefit from improved training, analytics and fitness, but breaking historical records remains significant and demonstrates elite performance.
Conclusion
The top ten fastest 200 ODI wicket-takers (based on ESPNcricinfo & recent updates) highlight elite bowlers across eras. Mitchell Starc leads the matches-based list with 102 matches, while Mohammed Shami holds the balls-based edge. As cricket evolves, these records set benchmarks for the next generation of bowlers.
Source
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. The statistics and rankings are based on public records and ESPNcricinfo’s maintained data at the time of writing. Records may change if cricket boards update figures or active players add to their careers; please consult the primary sources for the latest figures.
Author: Team RA News