One-day international cricket is fast and exciting. England has had many great bowlers who have taken lots of wickets in ODI matches. These bowlers help England win games by getting the other team’s batsmen out.
ODI cricket has only 50 overs per side, so bowlers need to be smart and quick. The best England bowlers have taken hundreds of wickets in ODI games over many years.
This list shows the top 10 England bowlers who have taken the most ODI wickets. These players are heroes of English cricket.
Top 10 England Bowlers with Most ODI Wickets
Here are England’s best ODI wicket-takers:
| Player | Years | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Anderson | 2002-2015 | 194 | 269 | 5/23 | 29.22 |
| Darren Gough | 1994-2006 | 158 | 234 | 5/44 | 26.29 |
| Adil Rashid | 2009-2023 | 155 | 232 | 5/27 | 31.39 |
| Stuart Broad | 2006-2016 | 121 | 178 | 5/23 | 30.13 |
| Chris Woakes | 2011-2023 | 122 | 173 | 6/45 | 30.01 |
| Andre Flintoff | 1999-2009 | 138 | 168 | 5/19 | 23.61 |
| Ian Botham | 1976-1992 | 116 | 145 | 4/31 | 28.54 |
| Liam Plunkett | 2005-2019 | 89 | 135 | 5/52 | 29.70 |
| Phillip DeFreitas | 1987-1997 | 103 | 115 | 4/35 | 32.82 |
| Paul Collingwood | 2001-2011 | 197 | 111 | 6/31 | 38.68 |
1. James Anderson – 269 Wickets
James Anderson is England’s top ODI wicket-taker with 269 wickets in 194 matches. He played ODI cricket from 2002 to 2015. His best bowling was 5/23, which means he took 5 wickets while giving away only 23 runs.
Anderson was great at making the ball swing in the air. This made it hard for batsmen to hit the ball well. He could bowl fast and accurately for many overs. Anderson was one of the best bowlers in the world during his time.
2. Darren Gough – 234 Wickets
Darren Gough took 234 wickets in 158 ODI matches between 1994 and 2006. His best performance was 5/44. Gough was a fast bowler who could bowl very quickly.
Gough came from Yorkshire and was known for his energy and passion. He could reverse swing the old ball, which means he made it move in tricky ways. This skill helped him get many wickets. Batsmen found it very difficult to predict which way his ball would move.
3. Adil Rashid – 232 Wickets
Adil Rashid has taken 232 wickets in 155 matches from 2009 to 2025. His best bowling figures are 5/27. Rashid is a spin bowler who turns the ball with his wrist and fingers.
Unlike fast bowlers, Rashid bowls slowly but spins the ball to confuse batsmen. He can make the ball turn in different ways, which keeps batsmen guessing. Rashid has been very important for England in recent years, especially in big tournaments.
4. Stuart Broad – 178 Wickets
Stuart Broad took 178 wickets in 121 ODI matches between 2006 and 2016. His best bowling was 5/23. Broad is very tall, which helps him bowl the ball from a good height.
Broad could bowl fast and make the ball bounce high. This made it tough for batsmen to play comfortable shots. He was always trying to attack and get wickets rather than just stop runs. His aggressive style often broke important partnerships.
5. Chris Woakes – 173 Wickets
Chris Woakes has taken 173 wickets in 122 matches from 2011 to 2023. His best performance was an amazing 6/45. Woakes can both bat and bowl well, making him very valuable to the team.
Woakes bowls at a medium-fast pace and can move the ball both ways. He is very accurate and rarely bowls bad balls. Batsmen find it hard to score quickly against him. His ability to take wickets and score runs makes him a complete player.
6. Andrew Flintoff – 168 Wickets
Andrew Flintoff took 168 wickets in 138 matches between 1999 and 2009. His best bowling was 5/19. Flintoff was one of cricket’s greatest all-round players who could bat, bowl, and field brilliantly.
Flintoff bowled fast and was very strong physically. He could bowl for long periods without getting tired. His pace and bounce troubled many world-class batsmen. Flintoff was also excellent in pressure situations and big matches.
7. Ian Botham – 145 Wickets
Ian Botham took 145 wickets in 116 ODI matches from 1976 to 1992. His best bowling was 4/31. Botham was famous for being great at both batting and bowling.
Botham bowled at medium pace and could swing the ball naturally. He had a special ability to take important wickets when England needed them most. Even though he played in earlier times when ODI cricket was still developing, his skills were outstanding.
8. Liam Plunkett – 135 Wickets
Liam Plunkett took 135 wickets in 89 matches between 2005 and 2019. His best performance was 5/52. Plunkett was a fast bowler who became very important for England later in his career.
Plunkett could bowl very fast, sometimes over 90 miles per hour. He was particularly good at bowling at the end of ODI matches when batsmen were trying to score quickly. His pace and smart bowling helped England win the 2019 World Cup.
9. Philip DeFreitas – 115 Wickets
Philip DeFreitas took 115 wickets in 103 matches from 1987 to 1997. His best bowling was 4/35. DeFreitas was a skilled fast-medium bowler who served England well for many years.
DeFreitas was good at changing his pace and moving the ball around. He could bowl different types of deliveries to surprise batsmen. His experience and cricket knowledge made him a reliable bowler who could perform in different conditions around the world.
10. Paul Collingwood – 111 Wickets
Paul Collingwood took 111 wickets in 197 matches between 2001 and 2011. His best bowling was an excellent 6/31. Collingwood was mainly a batsman who could also bowl useful medium pace.
Collingwood was not very fast but was extremely accurate and clever. He understood how to bowl to different batsmen and could change his style as needed. His 6/31 remains one of the best bowling performances by an England player in ODI cricket.
Related Read:
Conclusion: James Anderson Has Taken the Most Wickets for England in ODI
England has been lucky to have so many great ODI bowlers over the years. From fast bowlers like Anderson and Gough to spinners like Rashid, different types of bowling have worked well for England.
These bowlers have helped England become one of the best ODI teams in the world. They have won important matches and tournaments with their excellent bowling. Their hard work and skill have made English cricket fans very proud.
The tradition of great ODI bowling continues today, with players like Rashid and Woakes still taking wickets for England. Future bowlers will try to follow in the footsteps of these legends.
FAQs
James Anderson leads with 269 wickets. He played ODI cricket for 13 years and was consistently excellent throughout his career.
Reece Topley achieved the best figures with 6/24. Taking six wickets in one ODI match is a fantastic achievement.
Three bowlers have reached this number: James Anderson (269), Darren Gough (234), and Adil Rashid (232).
All types have been successful – fast bowling, swing bowling, spin bowling, and medium pace. The key is being accurate and smart about when to attack or defend.
English bowlers succeed because of good training, understanding of game situations, ability to use English weather conditions, and strong mental preparation for pressure moments.
