Top 10 Asian Spin Bowlers In ODIs In Asia

Our One Day International (ODI) ratings take into account all matches from the first ODI match on January 5, 1971 till the below mentioned last update date. The Ratings are divided into 5 sections which take into account the number of wickets taken; the average of bowlers; their economy rate; their best performances by wickets and their top most economic spells. How the rating works is explained in highlighted sections. So, here are the Top 10 Asian Spin bowlers in matches In Asia

*Note: All ODI Ratings are updated till 2023-01-08

A IN A Rating

This rating only includes stats of Asian Spin bowlers in matches In Asia. The rating is divided into sections to make it easy to understand how it is calculated. Before each section, its criteria is highlighted in bold. Our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier bowlers may change if current bowlers set new benchmarks.

Top Teams (TT)

Top Teams play an integral part in our ODI Rating. The Average (Con) and Economy (Eco) sections are divided into overall stats as well as stats against the top teams. Moreover, the best (BBW) and most economic (BBE) performances only include performances against the top teams. Here is how the Top Teams are calculated:-

  • Win/Loss Ratio is used to determine top teams.
  • The top teams are calculated by decades.
  • To be a top team, the team should be among the top teams of the decade overall.
  • A team is also included in top teams if it is a World Cup winner in that decade.
  • A bowler’s performace is counted in TT if he played against that team in that decade.
  • Knock Out and Super Six matches of ICC World Cup and Champions Trophy are also included in TT.
  • The Top Teams may be found in the last section of the rating.
The Trend Setter

The Trend Setter (TS) is the player which does the best in a criteria. The rating of all other players are calculated as percentage points of TS. Let’s taken an example to understand it:-

  • Let’s assume that Glenn McGrath has taken 500 wkts, which is the highest. This makes him the TS.
  • Another player, say Jason Gillespie, has taken 250 wkts.
  • If the rating is out of 250, McGrath will get the full points (pts), that is 250.
  • The points of Gillespie are calculated as His Wkts/McGrath’s Wkts*250. This comes out to be 125.
  • Thus the formula is (Wkts Taken/Wkts Taken By TS)*Max Points.
  • All ratings are calculated similarly with Wkts being replaced by the Criteria Stat.
  • Obviously, for average the formula is reverased as lower average is better for a bowler.
  • For Average, a bowler is eligible to be TS only if he has taken a minimum number of wickets.
  • For Economy, a bowler is eligible to be TS only if he has bowled a minimum number of balls.
  • If a bowler doesn’t fulfill the criteria of TS but has done better, he gets the max points but his stat is not taken as benchmark.
  • Lastly, it is to be noted that it is not necessary for a TS to be part of the rating as he might have topped in a criteria but not done well in others.

QUALIFICATION


Min Innings 20
Min Innings (TT) 20
Min Wickets (TS AVE) 50
Min Balls (TS ECO) 1000
The Eras

The first criteria Prolific gives points for wkts taken. We have divided ODI cricket into 3 broad eras. This has been done to make it fair for players from earlier era, when less cricket was played, and also for current players, who are in the middle of their careers. Let’s take an example:-

  • Let’s assume Murlidharan has taken 500 wickets, which is the maximum and gives him 250 points.
  • Now, say Ravi Shastri in earlier times took 250 wkts, which was the max for his era.
  • If there are no eras, he would get 50% of the pts, that is 125.
  • Instead of that, we reduced 50 pts (according to %age) from the max to arrive at the figure of 200 pts for Shastri.
  • Now, everyone in his era is compared to Shastri and not Murlidharan.
  • So a player who has taken 50 Wkts in Shastri’s era will get (50/250)*200 pts or 40pts.
  • Eras are calculated by MP, which is the mean of the years a player: First Played (FP) and Last Played (LP).

PROLIFIC


Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

Era 1 MP before 1991
Era 2 MP between 1990 and 2013
Era 3 MP greater than 2012
RANK ERA 1 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS Abdul Qadir PAK 1983 1993 1988 70 98 130.00
1 Abdul Qadir PAK 1983 1993 1988 70 98 130.00
RANK ERA 2 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS M Muralitharan SL 1993 2011 2002 206 319 200.00
1 M Muralitharan SL 1993 2011 2002 206 319 200.00
2 Shahid Afridi PAK 1996 2015 2005.5 226 249 156.11
3 ST Jayasuriya SL 1990 2011 2000.5 234 225 141.07
4 A Kumble IND 1990 2007 1998.5 171 222 139.18
5 Harbhajan Singh IND 1998 2015 2006.5 150 189 118.50
6 Saqlain Mushtaq PAK 1995 2003 1999 87 167 104.70
7 Saeed Ajmal PAK 2008 2015 2011.5 69 116 72.73
8 Ajantha Mendis SL 2008 2015 2011.5 61 114 71.47
RANK ERA 3 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS Shakib Al Hasan BAN 2006 2022 2014 131 194 160.00
1 Shakib Al Hasan BAN 2006 2022 2014 131 194 160.00
C Ave

The Comparative Average (C Ave) for bowlers is calculated by taken into account two factors:-

  • First is the average of batsmen in the decades the bowler played.
  • Second is the average of the opposition batsmen at Home, in Asia or outside Asia; whichever is applicable.
  • The average of the opposing team’s batsmen is also calculated by decades.
  • Higher C Ave suggest that more runs were scored by the batsmen in the above mentioned factors.
  • Thus it was difficult to get Wkts and the bowler will benefit from this.
  • Lower C Ave means the opposite.
R Ave

The Relative Average (R Ave) is calculated using the C Ave. Its formula is (Bowler Ave/C Ave)*A Constant Factor. This constant doesn’t affect the rating as it is the same for everone. If your C Ave is comparatively high, your R Ave will be low; which is better for bowlers. Broadly speaking, the following bowlers will benefit from this system:-

  • Bowlers who have played more in unfavourable conditions.
  • Asian fast bowlers and Non-Asian spin bowlers whereever applicable.
  • Bowlers who have played in an era where the batsmen dominated, like the present era
  • Bowlers who have played more against top opposition than weaker teams.

CONSISTENT


Criteria: Points For R Ave

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE C AVE R AVE RAT
TS Saqlain Mushtaq 87 3437 167 20.58 34.96 22.08 150.00
1 Saqlain Mushtaq 87 3437 167 20.58 34.96 22.08 150.00
2 Ajantha Mendis 61 2418 114 21.21 34.56 23.01 143.91
3 Saeed Ajmal 69 2545 116 21.94 35.42 23.23 142.57
4 M Muralitharan 206 7302 319 22.89 35.02 24.51 135.11
5 Abdul Qadir 70 2381 98 24.30 33.20 27.44 120.68
6 Shakib Al Hasan 131 4753 194 24.50 33.28 27.60 119.97
7 A Kumble 171 6856 222 30.88 34.83 33.25 99.60
8 Harbhajan Singh 150 6031 189 31.91 34.57 34.62 95.66
9 ST Jayasuriya 234 7633 225 33.92 35.35 35.98 92.03
10 Shahid Afridi 226 8469 249 34.01 34.66 36.80 90.00

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE C AVE R AVE RAT
TS Saeed Ajmal 65 2438 111 21.96 35.42 23.25 150.00
1 Saeed Ajmal 65 2438 111 21.96 35.42 23.25 150.00
2 Saqlain Mushtaq 73 2988 133 22.47 34.96 24.10 144.73
3 Ajantha Mendis 47 1968 88 22.36 34.56 24.26 143.76
4 M Muralitharan 167 6096 249 24.48 35.02 26.22 133.05
5 Abdul Qadir 68 2339 93 25.15 33.20 28.41 122.79
6 Harbhajan Singh 134 5446 171 31.85 34.57 34.55 100.95
7 A Kumble 149 6126 185 33.11 34.83 35.65 97.83
8 Shakib Al Hasan 79 3117 97 32.13 33.28 36.20 96.34
9 ST Jayasuriya 201 6549 191 34.29 35.35 36.37 95.91
10 Shahid Afridi 191 7387 186 39.72 34.66 42.97 81.18
C ER And R ER

The Comparative Economy Rate (C ER) and Relative Economy Rate (R ER) for bowlers is calculated using the same method as in C Ave and R Ave with average replaced with ER. Points to note are:-

  • Modern day bowlers benefit from R ER.
  • This is because scoring rates have increased with time and it has become more difficult to be economic.
  • Rest of the factors are the same as in R Ave

ECONOMIC


Criteria: Points For R ER

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS RUNS ER C ER R ER RAT
TS M Muralitharan 206 11450 7302 3.83 4.59 3.75 150.00
1 M Muralitharan 206 11450 7302 3.83 4.59 3.75 150.00
2 Saeed Ajmal 69 3750 2545 4.07 4.75 3.85 145.84
3 Shakib Al Hasan 131 6852 4753 4.16 4.72 3.97 141.73
4 Abdul Qadir 70 3537 2381 4.04 4.31 4.22 133.25
5 Harbhajan Singh 150 8326 6031 4.35 4.58 4.27 131.68
6 Saqlain Mushtaq 87 4726 3437 4.36 4.51 4.36 129.07
7 A Kumble 171 9401 6856 4.38 4.52 4.36 128.95
8 Shahid Afridi 226 10952 8469 4.64 4.61 4.53 124.20
9 Ajantha Mendis 61 3021 2418 4.80 4.75 4.55 123.64
10 ST Jayasuriya 234 9805 7633 4.67 4.60 4.57 122.99

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS RUNS ER C ER R ER RAT
TS Mohammad Hafeez 82 3946 2540 3.86 4.71 3.69 150.00
1 M Muralitharan 167 9328 6096 3.92 4.59 3.84 144.03
2 Saeed Ajmal 65 3538 2438 4.13 4.75 3.91 141.33
3 Abdul Qadir 68 3438 2339 4.08 4.31 4.26 129.73
4 Harbhajan Singh 134 7464 5446 4.38 4.58 4.30 128.63
5 Shakib Al Hasan 79 4126 3117 4.53 4.72 4.32 128.06
6 Saqlain Mushtaq 73 4029 2988 4.45 4.51 4.44 124.54
7 A Kumble 149 8199 6126 4.48 4.52 4.47 123.85
8 ST Jayasuriya 201 8367 6549 4.70 4.60 4.60 120.36
9 Ajantha Mendis 47 2375 1968 4.97 4.75 4.71 117.52
10 Shahid Afridi 191 9182 7387 4.83 4.61 4.71 117.47
BBW

In this criteria, we have taken the top 7 bowling performances by Wkts of a bowler against top teams. Best Bowling By Wickets (BBW) is simply the total wickets taken in the 7 innings divided by 7.

BEST BOWLING (WKTS)


Criteria: Points For Wkts Taken In Top 7 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 BBW RAT
TS M Muralitharan 7/30 5/9 5/23 5/44 4/23 4/25 4/29 4.86 100.00
1 M Muralitharan 7/30 5/9 5/23 5/44 4/23 4/25 4/29 4.86 100.00
2 Shahid Afridi 6/38 5/23 5/35 5/40 4/30 4/34 3/26 4.57 94.12
3 ST Jayasuriya 6/29 5/17 5/28 4/18 4/49 4/53 3/12 4.43 91.18
4 Saqlain Mushtaq 5/20 5/44 4/17 4/26 4/41 4/47 4/53 4.29 88.24
5 Saeed Ajmal 5/24 5/43 4/30 4/32 4/33 4/39 3/20 4.14 85.29
5 Ajantha Mendis 6/13 4/10 4/47 4/51 4/60 4/73 3/21 4.14 85.29
7 A Kumble 6/12 4/25 4/50 4/53 3/17 3/24 3/35 3.86 79.41
7 Harbhajan Singh 5/31 5/43 5/56 3/27 3/29 3/30 3/31 3.86 79.41
9 Abdul Qadir 4/9 4/17 4/31 3/23 3/24 3/27 3/27 3.43 70.59
9 Shakib Al Hasan 5/36 4/41 3/27 3/32 3/33 3/47 3/54 3.43 70.59
BBE

In this criteria, we have taken the top 5 bowling performances by Economy of a bowler against top teams. Best Bowling By Economy (BBE) is the Relative Economy of the bowler in the 5 Inns. Only 30+ Balls performaces are counted in this criteria.

BEST BOWLING (ECO)


Criteria: Points For Economy In Top 5 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 BBE RAT
TS M Muralitharan 10.0/9 6.0/6 9.0/11 10.0/15 7.1/12 1.23 100.00
1 M Muralitharan 10.0/9 6.0/6 9.0/11 10.0/15 7.1/12 1.23 100.00
2 Saeed Ajmal 7.0/6 8.0/15 10.0/19 10.0/20 10.0/20 1.68 73.15
3 Abdul Qadir 10.0/9 7.2/13 6.0/13 9.0/21 8.0/19 1.94 63.38
4 A Kumble 9.0/11 6.1/12 8.0/17 10.0/22 10.0/24 1.99 62.02
5 ST Jayasuriya 7.0/12 5.0/9 6.2/13 8.0/17 10.0/23 1.99 61.77
6 Ajantha Mendis 8.0/13 7.0/14 10.0/22 9.0/21 6.1/18 2.07 59.35
7 Shakib Al Hasan 10.0/20 10.0/21 10.0/22 5.0/12 10.0/27 2.16 56.99
8 Saqlain Mushtaq 9.0/13 7.3/17 8.0/20 10.0/26 10.0/26 2.29 53.81
9 Harbhajan Singh 10.0/23 10.0/24 10.0/24 10.0/25 10.0/26 2.40 51.36
10 Shahid Afridi 10.0/21 8.0/21 10.0/28 10.0/28 9.3/27 2.57 47.95
FC Rating

The A IN A (FC) Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000. Unfavourable Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for Spinners and In Asia for Pacers. Favourable Conditions (FC) is the opposite.

RATING


RANK BOWLER PRO CON C TT ECO E TT BBW BBE FC RAT
1 M Muralitharan 200.00 135.11 133.05 150.00 144.03 100.00 100.00 962.19
2 Saeed Ajmal 72.73 142.57 150.00 145.84 141.33 85.29 73.15 810.93
3 Saqlain Mushtaq 104.70 150.00 144.73 129.07 124.54 88.24 53.81 795.08
4 Shakib Al Hasan 160.00 119.97 96.34 141.73 128.06 70.59 56.99 773.69
5 Abdul Qadir 130.00 120.68 122.79 133.25 129.73 70.59 63.38 770.43
6 Ajantha Mendis 71.47 143.91 143.76 123.64 117.52 85.29 59.35 744.94
7 A Kumble 139.18 99.60 97.83 128.95 123.85 79.41 62.02 730.84
8 ST Jayasuriya 141.07 92.03 95.91 122.99 120.36 91.18 61.77 725.31
9 Shahid Afridi 156.11 90.00 81.18 124.20 117.47 94.12 47.95 711.02
10 Harbhajan Singh 118.50 95.66 100.95 131.68 128.63 79.41 51.36 706.19

TOP TEAMS


DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1970s WI ENG AUS NZ PAK
1980s WI ENG AUS PAK NZ IND SL
1990s SA AUS PAK WI IND ENG SL NZ
2000s AUS SA PAK SL IND NZ ENG WI
2010s IND SA AUS ENG NZ SL PAK BAN
2020s BAN PAK AUS NZ IND SA SL ENG


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