This Rating takes into account only the matches played in the 2000s. Brief explanation of the ratings is given before each section (Detailed Explanation). It is to be noted that U.A.E. is considered as a second Home for Pakistan and Afghanistan. All home and away stats of Pakistani and Afghani bowlers are calculated accordingly. So, here are the Top 10 Spin bowlers in ODI cricket in the 2000s.

*Note: All ODI Ratings are updated till 2023-08-09

CONTENTS

3. PRIMARY CRITERIA

3.1. PROLIFIC

3.2. CONSISTENT

3.2.1. Against All Teams

3.2.2. Against Top Teams

3.3. ECONOMIC

3.3.1. Against All Teams

3.3.2. Against Top Teams

3.4. BEST BOWLING (WKTS)

3.5. BEST BOWLING (ECO)

3.6. PRIMARY RATING

4. CONDITIONS CRITERIA

4.1. HOME/AWAY

4.1.1. At Home

4.1.2. Away From Home

4.2. FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

4.2.1. Favourable Conditions Rating

4.2.1.1. Non Asians In Asia

4.2.1.2. Asians In Asia

4.2.2. Unfavourable Conditions Rating

4.2.2.1. Non Asians Outside Asia

4.2.2.2. Asians Outside Asia

4.3. CONDITIONS RATING

5. SECONDARY CRITERIA

5.1. TOP FORM AT HOME

5.2. TOP FORM AWAY

5.3. WORLD CUP

5.4. SECONDARY RATING

6. DECADES RATING

7. TOP TEAMS

THE CRITERIA

CRITERIA	CONSTITUENTS
Primary	Wickets, Average, Economy, BBI (Wkts), BBI (Eco)
Conditions	Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia
Secondary	Top Form Home, Top Form Away, World Cup

The Trend Setter (TS)

TS is the player which does the best in a criteria. The rating of all other players are calculated taking the TS as the benchmark. Know All About TS. Here is an example:-

TS Ave: 25.00; Player X Ave: 30.00; Section Points: 300.00
TS Points: 300.00(Max); Player X Points: TS Ave/Ave X 300 = 25.00/30.00 X 300 = 250.00
Ratings of all sections are calculated similarly with Ave being replaced by the Criteria Stat.

Top Teams (TT)

Some sections consider performances only against the top teams. Here is some information about the Top Teams:-

Win/Loss Ratio is used to determine top teams.
The top teams are calculated by decades.
A bowler’s performace is counted in TT if it comes against the team in the specific decade.
Knock Out and Super Six matches of ICC World Cup and Champions Trophy are also counted in TT.

QUALIFICATION

Min Innings (TT)	25
Min Wickets (TS AVE)	50
Min Balls (TS ECO)	2000

PRIMARY CRITERIA

PROLIFIC

Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

RANK	BOWLER	NAT	INNS	WKTS	RAT
TS	M Muralitharan	SL	200	335	200.00
1	M Muralitharan	SL	200	335	200.00
2	DL Vettori	NZ	196	223	133.13
3	Harbhajan Singh	IND	184	215	128.36
4	Shahid Afridi	PAK	182	213	127.16
5	GB Hogg	AUS	106	153	91.34
6	CH Gayle	WI	162	148	88.36
7	SK Warne	AUS	60	81	48.36
8	Saqlain Mushtaq	PAK	57	78	46.57
9	BAW Mendis	SL	37	72	42.99
10	NM Hauritz	AUS	37	44	26.27

CONSISTENT

R Ave

Relative Average (R Ave) is a more accurate type of average. Know How It Is Calculated. Briefly it takes into account:-

Strength of Opposition.
Venues at which a bowler has played.
Time Period in which he has been active

Criteria: Points For Relative Average

Against All Teams

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	RUNS	WKTS	AVE	R AVE	RAT
TS	BAW Mendis	37	1286	72	17.86	19.52	150.00
1	BAW Mendis	37	1286	72	17.86	19.52	150.00
2	M Muralitharan	200	6885	335	20.55	21.89	133.75
3	GB Hogg	106	3970	153	25.95	26.23	111.59
4	Saqlain Mushtaq	57	2198	78	28.18	28.55	102.54
5	NM Hauritz	37	1333	44	30.30	28.95	101.12
6	SK Warne	60	2394	81	29.56	29.46	99.39
7	DL Vettori	196	6775	223	30.38	30.15	97.12
8	Shahid Afridi	182	6456	213	30.31	30.58	95.75
9	Harbhajan Singh	184	7206	215	33.52	33.46	87.50
10	CH Gayle	162	4950	148	33.45	33.89	86.39

Against Top Teams

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	RUNS	WKTS	AVE	R AVE	RAT
TS	M Muralitharan	160	5849	251	23.30	24.82	150.00
1	M Muralitharan	160	5849	251	23.30	24.82	150.00
2	BAW Mendis	26	996	43	23.16	25.31	147.08
3	GB Hogg	90	3470	122	28.44	28.76	129.45
4	Saqlain Mushtaq	48	1918	65	29.51	29.90	124.52
5	SK Warne	53	2159	70	30.84	30.74	121.10
6	NM Hauritz	35	1281	39	32.85	31.39	118.59
7	DL Vettori	175	6120	184	33.26	33.00	112.80
8	Harbhajan Singh	161	6429	186	34.56	34.51	107.88
9	Shahid Afridi	148	5365	156	34.39	34.69	107.30
10	CH Gayle	127	4123	111	37.14	37.63	98.92

ECONOMIC

R ER

Relative Economy Rate (R ER) for bowlers is calculated using the same method as R Ave with average being replaced with ER.

Criteria: Points For R ER

Against All Teams

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	BLS	RUNS	ER	R ER	RAT
TS	M Muralitharan	200	11017	6885	3.75	3.69	150.00
1	M Muralitharan	200	11017	6885	3.75	3.69	150.00
2	DL Vettori	196	10032	6775	4.05	3.93	140.69
3	Harbhajan Singh	184	10067	7206	4.29	4.11	134.53
4	SK Warne	60	3270	2394	4.39	4.17	132.66
5	BAW Mendis	37	1797	1286	4.29	4.19	132.03
6	NM Hauritz	37	1788	1333	4.47	4.21	131.43
7	Saqlain Mushtaq	57	2975	2198	4.43	4.33	127.86
8	GB Hogg	106	5269	3970	4.52	4.35	127.20
9	Shahid Afridi	182	8493	6456	4.56	4.43	124.83
10	CH Gayle	162	6244	4950	4.76	4.60	120.30

Against Top Teams

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	BLS	RUNS	ER	R ER	RAT
TS	M Muralitharan	160	9053	5849	3.88	3.81	150.00
1	M Muralitharan	160	9053	5849	3.88	3.81	150.00
2	DL Vettori	175	8938	6120	4.11	3.99	143.46
3	Harbhajan Singh	161	8842	6429	4.36	4.18	136.92
4	SK Warne	53	2922	2159	4.43	4.21	135.89
5	NM Hauritz	35	1698	1281	4.53	4.26	134.28
6	Saqlain Mushtaq	48	2540	1918	4.53	4.42	129.33
7	BAW Mendis	26	1306	996	4.58	4.47	128.09
8	GB Hogg	90	4472	3470	4.66	4.48	127.70
9	Shahid Afridi	148	6884	5365	4.68	4.54	125.88
10	CH Gayle	127	4903	4123	5.05	4.88	117.25

BEST BOWLING (WKTS)

BBW

In this criteria, we have taken the top 7 bowling performances by Wkts of a bowler against top teams in the 2000s. Best Bowling By Wickets (BBW) is simply the total wickets taken in the 7 innings divided by 7.

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	5/30	5/44	4/23	4/27	7.00	100.00
1	M Muralitharan	7/30	5/9	5/23	5/30	5/44	4/23	4/27	7.00	100.00
2	DL Vettori	5/30	4/14	4/20	4/24	4/24	4/33	3/17	5.60	80.00
2	Harbhajan Singh	5/31	5/43	5/56	4/46	3/27	3/27	3/27	5.60	80.00
2	Shahid Afridi	6/38	5/40	4/20	4/38	3/15	3/16	3/25	5.60	80.00
5	GB Hogg	5/32	5/41	4/29	4/49	3/32	3/37	3/40	5.40	77.14
6	BAW Mendis	6/13	4/10	4/47	3/21	3/29	3/30	3/39	5.20	74.29
7	CH Gayle	5/46	4/19	4/54	3/20	3/22	3/26	3/27	5.00	71.43
8	Saqlain Mushtaq	5/20	4/17	4/68	3/26	3/26	3/54	2/20	4.80	68.57
9	SK Warne	4/48	3/38	3/41	3/50	3/52	3/56	3/62	4.40	62.86
10	NM Hauritz	4/29	3/37	3/41	2/23	2/23	2/25	2/31	3.60	51.43

BEST BOWLING (ECO)

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.

Criteria: Points For Economy In Top 5 Inns

RANK	BOWLER	1	2	3	4	5	BBE	RAT
TS	M Muralitharan	10.0/9	10.0/9	6.0/6	9.0/11	8.0/12	1.08	100.00
1	M Muralitharan	10.0/9	10.0/9	6.0/6	9.0/11	8.0/12	1.08	100.00
2	DL Vettori	5.2/7	10.0/14	9.0/18	10.0/20	10.0/20	1.73	62.17
3	Harbhajan Singh	10.0/14	8.0/14	10.0/23	8.0/19	10.0/24	1.96	54.95
4	Saqlain Mushtaq	8.0/12	10.0/20	7.3/17	7.2/17	8.0/20	2.06	52.30
5	SK Warne	10.0/19	10.0/21	6.0/13	7.0/16	8.0/20	2.06	52.17
6	BAW Mendis	8.0/13	7.0/14	10.0/22	9.0/21	9.0/35	2.38	45.12
7	NM Hauritz	9.0/19	10.0/23	10.0/25	7.5/23	10.0/31	2.43	44.22
8	Shahid Afridi	7.2/15	10.0/24	8.0/21	8.0/22	9.0/25	2.46	43.78
9	GB Hogg	10.0/24	6.3/16	10.0/27	10.0/28	6.0/17	2.54	42.41
10	CH Gayle	5.3/13	9.4/27	10.0/28	10.0/28	6.5/21	2.69	39.92

PRIMARY RATING

The total of the above five criteria comes out to be 1,000.00 points. The Primary Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the five criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is half of the DECADES Rating, i.e. 500 pts.

RANK	BOWLER	PRO	CON	ECO	BBW	BBE	RAT	PRI PTS
1	M Muralitharan	200.00	283.75	300.00	100.00	100.00	983.75	491.88
2	DL Vettori	133.13	209.91	284.14	80.00	62.17	769.36	384.68
3	Harbhajan Singh	128.36	195.38	271.45	80.00	54.95	730.14	365.07
4	BAW Mendis	42.99	297.08	260.12	74.29	45.12	719.59	359.79
5	GB Hogg	91.34	241.04	254.90	77.14	42.41	706.83	353.42
6	Shahid Afridi	127.16	203.05	250.71	80.00	43.78	704.70	352.35
7	SK Warne	48.36	220.49	268.55	62.86	52.17	652.42	326.21
8	Saqlain Mushtaq	46.57	227.06	257.19	68.57	52.30	651.69	325.84
9	CH Gayle	88.36	185.31	237.55	71.43	39.92	622.57	311.28
10	NM Hauritz	26.27	219.72	265.71	51.43	44.22	607.34	303.67

CONDITIONS CRITERIA

The Conditions

The Conditions Ratings are calculated by applying the five criteria of the Primary Rating to diffirent conditions. Unfavourable Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for spin bowlers and In Asia for pacers. Favourable Conditions (FC) is the opposite. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Here are those conditions and their weightage:-

HOME – 250 PTS
AWAY – 1,000 PTS
FC – 250 PTS
UC – 1,000 PTS

HOME/AWAY

At Home

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	M Muralitharan	62	105	20.41	3.62	983.89	245.97
2	DL Vettori	78	82	31.35	3.94	839.81	209.95
3	Harbhajan Singh	81	96	34.63	4.41	835.60	208.90
4	Shahid Afridi	75	88	31.50	4.55	779.34	194.83
5	GB Hogg	41	57	28.61	4.57	744.36	186.09
6	CH Gayle	72	65	32.49	4.54	723.89	180.97
7	Saqlain Mushtaq	19	30	25.83	4.52	717.21	179.30
8	SK Warne	31	41	30.66	4.28	716.33	179.08
9	BAW Mendis	14	22	25.36	4.47	691.81	172.95
10	NM Hauritz	1	2	30.00	6.67	500.00	125.00

Away From Home

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 15

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	M Muralitharan	138	230	20.62	3.81	1,000.00	1,000.00
2	DL Vettori	118	141	29.82	4.12	760.43	760.43
3	GB Hogg	65	96	24.36	4.49	719.67	719.67
4	Harbhajan Singh	103	119	32.62	4.20	697.32	697.32
5	Shahid Afridi	107	125	29.47	4.57	693.17	693.17
6	SK Warne	29	40	28.43	4.52	644.81	644.81
7	NM Hauritz	36	42	30.31	4.40	634.22	634.22
8	Saqlain Mushtaq	38	48	29.65	4.39	626.02	626.02
9	CH Gayle	90	83	34.19	4.93	590.63	590.63
10	BAW Mendis	23	50	14.56	4.17	500.00	500.00

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

Favourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	DL Vettori	39	52	25.27	3.94	918.76	229.69
2	GB Hogg	20	35	20.57	4.36	790.45	197.61
3	CH Gayle	40	36	33.81	4.81	704.00	176.00
4	NM Hauritz	11	12	33.33	4.08	594.35	148.59
5	SK Warne	7	7	40.29	4.83	500.00	125.00

Asians In Asia

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 15

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	M Muralitharan	112	193	18.94	3.50	996.51	249.13
2	Harbhajan Singh	121	152	31.57	4.28	764.49	191.12
3	BAW Mendis	27	51	19.27	4.38	724.61	181.15
4	Shahid Afridi	110	122	32.95	4.63	656.34	164.08
5	Saqlain Mushtaq	22	35	24.71	4.34	628.01	157.00

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 15

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	DL Vettori	157	171	31.94	4.08	937.35	937.35
2	GB Hogg	86	118	27.54	4.56	837.54	837.54
3	SK Warne	53	74	28.54	4.34	807.71	807.71
4	CH Gayle	122	112	33.33	4.74	750.67	750.67
5	NM Hauritz	26	32	29.16	4.67	693.00	693.00

Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	M Muralitharan	88	142	22.74	4.08	1,000.00	1,000.00
2	Shahid Afridi	72	91	26.77	4.46	801.02	801.02
3	Harbhajan Singh	63	63	38.21	4.33	678.12	678.12
4	Saqlain Mushtaq	35	43	31.00	4.50	654.58	654.58
5	BAW Mendis	10	21	14.43	4.04	500.00	500.00

CONDITIONS RATING

The total of the above four criteria comes out to be 2,500.00 points. The Conditions Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is one-fourth of the DECADES Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK	BOWLER	AWAY	HOME	UC	FC	TOT	CON PTS
1	M Muralitharan	1,000.00	245.97	1,000.00	249.13	2,495.10	249.51
2	DL Vettori	760.43	209.95	937.35	229.69	2,137.42	213.74
3	GB Hogg	719.67	186.09	837.54	197.61	1,940.92	194.09
4	Shahid Afridi	693.17	194.83	801.02	164.08	1,853.11	185.31
5	Harbhajan Singh	697.32	208.90	678.12	191.12	1,775.45	177.55
6	SK Warne	644.81	179.08	807.71	125.00	1,756.60	175.66
7	CH Gayle	590.63	180.97	750.67	176.00	1,698.27	169.83
8	Saqlain Mushtaq	626.02	179.30	654.58	157.00	1,616.91	161.69
9	NM Hauritz	634.22	125.00	693.00	148.59	1,600.81	160.08
10	BAW Mendis	500.00	172.95	500.00	181.15	1,354.11	135.41

SECONDARY CRITERIA

Top Form And World Cup

The Secondary Rating consists of three parts. Top Form is calculated by taking the best 25 consecutive innings of a bowlers against Top Teams such that his Rating Points are Maximum. Top Form is calculated seperately for Home and Away innings. World Cup Rating gives points for performances in World Cups. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. The three secondary criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

TOP FORM AT HOME – 500 PTS
TOP FORM AWAY – 1,000 PTS
WORLD CUP – 1,000 PTS

TOP FORM AT HOME

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	M Muralitharan	25	50	15.10	3.09	1,000.00	500.00
2	DL Vettori	25	33	25.39	3.67	746.34	373.17
3	CH Gayle	25	38	23.03	4.63	739.44	369.72
4	Harbhajan Singh	25	32	27.25	3.75	734.02	367.01
5	GB Hogg	25	38	27.16	4.77	713.80	356.90
6	Saqlain Mushtaq	19	30	25.83	4.52	684.53	342.27
7	SK Warne	25	31	31.97	4.21	677.73	338.87
8	Shahid Afridi	25	30	29.30	4.89	619.47	309.74
9	BAW Mendis	14	22	25.36	4.47	612.58	306.29
10	NM Hauritz	1	2	30.00	6.67	500.00	250.00

TOP FORM AWAY

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 10

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	M Muralitharan	25	49	16.29	3.37	1,000.00	1,000.00
2	DL Vettori	25	38	20.58	3.93	783.28	783.28
3	GB Hogg	25	38	22.55	4.67	697.77	697.77
4	Harbhajan Singh	25	37	26.38	4.04	687.39	687.39
5	SK Warne	25	35	29.31	4.61	656.10	656.10
6	NM Hauritz	25	32	27.81	4.24	645.81	645.81
7	Shahid Afridi	25	32	29.03	4.55	626.07	626.07
8	Saqlain Mushtaq	25	32	31.31	4.61	610.54	610.54
9	BAW Mendis	12	21	20.86	4.72	593.27	593.27
10	CH Gayle	25	24	33.63	5.53	512.50	512.50

WORLD CUP

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 5

RANK	BOWLER	INNS	WKTS	AVE	ECO	RAT	WTG
1	M Muralitharan	20	40	16.75	3.89	976.81	976.81
2	GB Hogg	20	34	19.24	4.13	929.86	929.86
3	DL Vettori	17	18	39.22	4.34	573.79	573.79
4	Harbhajan Singh	11	11	38.00	3.97	526.88	526.88
5	NM Hauritz	0	0	NA	NA	500.00	500.00
5	BAW Mendis	0	0	NA	NA	500.00	500.00
5	SK Warne	0	0	NA	NA	500.00	500.00
5	Saqlain Mushtaq	3	4	19.25	4.13	500.00	500.00
5	Shahid Afridi	4	6	27.33	5.38	500.00	500.00
10	CH Gayle	12	9	49.89	4.82	403.04	403.04

SECONDARY RATING

The total of the above three criteria comes out to be 2,500.00 points. Secondary Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the three criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is one-fourth of the DECADES Rating, i.e. 250 pts.

RANK	BOWLER	TF HM	TF AW	WC	TOT	SEC RAT
1	M Muralitharan	500.00	1,000.00	976.81	2,476.81	247.68
2	GB Hogg	356.90	697.77	929.86	1,984.53	198.45
3	DL Vettori	373.17	783.28	573.79	1,730.23	173.02
4	Harbhajan Singh	367.01	687.39	526.88	1,581.28	158.13
5	SK Warne	338.87	656.10	500.00	1,494.96	149.50
6	Saqlain Mushtaq	342.27	610.54	500.00	1,452.81	145.28
7	Shahid Afridi	309.74	626.07	500.00	1,435.80	143.58
8	BAW Mendis	306.29	593.27	500.00	1,399.56	139.96
9	NM Hauritz	250.00	645.81	500.00	1,395.81	139.58
10	CH Gayle	369.72	512.50	403.04	1,285.25	128.53

DECADES RATING

DECADES Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000 Pts. Half the points are for Primary Criteria; one-fourth for Conditions; and one-fourth for Secondary Criteria.

RANK	BOWLER	NAT	PRI RAT	CON RAT	SEC RAT	FIN RAT
1	M Muralitharan	SL	491.88	249.51	247.68	989.07
2	DL Vettori	NZ	384.68	213.74	173.02	771.45
3	GB Hogg	AUS	353.42	194.09	198.45	745.96
4	Harbhajan Singh	IND	365.07	177.55	158.13	700.74
5	Shahid Afridi	PAK	352.35	185.31	143.58	681.24
6	SK Warne	AUS	326.21	175.66	149.50	651.36
7	BAW Mendis	SL	359.79	135.41	139.96	635.16
8	Saqlain Mushtaq	PAK	325.84	161.69	145.28	632.81
9	CH Gayle	WI	311.28	169.83	128.53	609.64
10	NM Hauritz	AUS	303.67	160.08	139.58	603.33

TOP TEAMS

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

THE CRITERIA

The Trend Setter (TS)

Top Teams (TT)

QUALIFICATION

PRIMARY CRITERIA

PROLIFIC

CONSISTENT

R Ave

Against All Teams

Against Top Teams

ECONOMIC

R ER

Against All Teams

Against Top Teams

BEST BOWLING (WKTS)

BBW

BEST BOWLING (ECO)

BBE

PRIMARY RATING

CONDITIONS CRITERIA

The Conditions

HOME/AWAY

At Home

Away From Home

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

Favourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

Asians In Asia

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Asians Outside Asia

CONDITIONS RATING

SECONDARY CRITERIA

Top Form And World Cup

TOP FORM AT HOME

TOP FORM AWAY

WORLD CUP

SECONDARY RATING

DECADES RATING

TOP TEAMS

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