Taking a wicket on the first ball of an ODI innings is the perfect way for a bowling team to start the innings. It means that one of the openers has been dismissed. The batting team automatically goes on the backfoot and plays counter-attacking cricket to get back in the match.
Generally, fast bowlers start an innings for the bowling team because they can get swing and seam from the wicket. In this listicle now, we will look at the top seven bowlers who took a wicket on the first ball of an ODI innings for the most times.
7. Nuwan Kulasekara – 4 times
Former Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara was known for his accuracy. The right-arm pacer gave the opposition team a scorecard of 0-1 after 0.1 overs four times.
6. Zaheer Khan – 4 times
Zaheer Khan is probably the greatest left-arm fast bowler to have played for India. The left-arm pacer also accounted for a wicket on the first ball of an ODI innings for four times.
5. Brett Lee – 4 times
Famous for his aggression, pace and celebrations, Brett Lee dealt the opposition team with a blow on the first ball four times. Lee did it the most times by an Australian right-arm pacer.
4. Shaun Pollock – 4 times
The record for the most times wicket on first ball of an ODI inning for a South African belongs to Shaun Pollock. The former Proteas skipper accomplished the feat four times in the 50-over format.
3. Wasim Akram – 4 times
Former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram also accomplished this unique feat four times during his ODI career. Pakistan had many great pacers, but Akram did this thing the highest times.
2. Mitchell Starc – 5 times
Current Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is one of the two bowlers to have accomplished the feat more than four times. Starc has done it five times, the most by any non-Asian bowler.
1. Chaminda Vaas – 8 times
Most Wickets in 1st ball of an ODI Team Inng
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) January 27, 2024
(0.1 Over)
8 times – Chaminda Vaas
5 times – Mitchell Starc
4 times – Wasim Akram
4 times – Shaun Pollock
4 times – Brett Lee
4 times – Zaheer Khan
4 times – N Kulasekara
Happy birthday 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗩𝗮𝗮𝘀 💙 pic.twitter.com/EnYCxQQUFx
Birthday boy Chaminda Vaas owns the world record for taking a wicket on the first ball of a one-day international for the most times. The former Sri Lankan pacer did it for an astonishing eight times in his career.
