Best South African Fast Bowlers In ODIs Featured

Top 10 South African Fast Bowlers In ODIs

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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. Our ratings are dynamic, and as new matches are played, the rating of earlier bowlers may change if current bowlers set new benchmarks. Brief explanation of the ratings is given before each section (Detailed Explanation). So, here are the Top 10 South African Fast bowlers in ODI cricket in all matches.

*Note: All ODI Ratings are updated till 2024-11-28

CONTENTS
1. THE CRITERIA
2. QUALIFICATION
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 BY WKTS (NWT)
3.5. BEST BOWLING BY ECO (NWT)
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 Outside Asia
4.2.2. Unfavourable Conditions Rating
4.2.2.1. Non Asians In Asia
4.3. CONDITIONS RATING
5. SECONDARY CRITERIA
5.1. WORLD CUP
5.2. TOP FORM
5.3. IMPACT INNINGS
5.4. SECONDARY RATING
6. OVERALL RATING
7. NON WEAK TEAMS
8. TOP TEAMS
Nations Filter

The Nations Rating filters the OVERALL Rating to show players only from South Africa.

  • The Rating of the players from South Africa remains the same as in the original OVERALL Rating.
  • Thus the Trend Setter can be from any nation and is not necessarily from South Africa.

THE CRITERIA

CRITERIA CONSTITUENTS
Primary Wickets, Average, Economy, BBI (Wkts & Eco)
Conditions Home, Away, In Asia, Outside Asia
Secondary World Cup, Top Form, Impact Inns
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) and Non Weak Teams (NWT)

Some sections consider performances only against the top teams and non weak teams. Here is some information:-

  • Win/Loss Ratio is used to determine TT and NWT.
  • They are calculated by decades.
  • A bowler’s performace is counted in TT or NWT if it comes against that team in the specific decade.
  • Knock Out and Super Six matches of ODI World Cup are also counted.
  • TT & NWT may be found in the last section.

QUALIFICATION

Min Innings (TT) 40

PRIMARY CRITERIA

The Primary Rating is divided into 5 main sections:-

CRITERIA STAT POINTS
Prolific Wickets Taken 200.00
Consistent Average 250.00
Economic Strike Rate 250.00
Best Bowling Top Inns (Wkts) 150.00
Economic Bowling Top Inns (Eco) 150.00

PROLIFIC

The Eras

The time period of ODI cricket is divided into eras for this section. This is because less cricket was played earlier. To make it fair for earlier players they are compared with players of the same period with a slight reduction in points. Know More About Eras.

Era 1 MP before 1991
Era 2 MP between 1990 And 2011
Era 3 MP greater than 2010

Criteria: Points For Wickets Taken

RANK ERA 1 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS N Kapil Dev IND 1978 1994 1986 221 253 150.00
RANK ERA 2 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS Wasim Akram PAK 1984 2003 1993.5 351 502 200.00
1 SM Pollock SA 1996 2008 2002 297 393 156.57
2 JH Kallis SA 1996 2013 2004.5 283 273 108.76
3 AA Donald SA 1991 2003 1997 162 272 108.37
4 M Ntini SA 1998 2009 2003.5 171 266 105.98
5 L Klusener SA 1996 2004 2000 164 192 76.49
6 PS de Villiers SA 1992 1997 1994.5 82 95 37.85
RANK ERA 3 NAT FP LP MP INNS WKTS RAT
TS SL Malinga SL 2004 2019 2011.5 220 338 170.00
1 DW Steyn SA 2005 2019 2012 124 196 98.58
2 M Morkel SA 2007 2018 2012.5 114 188 94.56
3 K Rabada SA 2015 2023 2019 99 157 78.96
4 LL Tsotsobe SA 2009 2013 2011 60 94 47.28

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

Min Qualification For TS
Min Wickets 100
Min Wickets (TT) 50

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS J Garner 98 2752 146 18.85 20.69 100.00
1 AA Donald 162 5926 272 21.79 22.08 93.73
2 LL Tsotsobe 60 2347 94 24.97 24.62 84.06
3 M Morkel 114 4761 188 25.32 24.67 83.90
4 SM Pollock 297 9631 393 24.51 25.10 82.44
5 M Ntini 171 6559 266 24.66 25.14 82.31
6 DW Steyn 124 5087 196 25.95 25.32 81.74
7 K Rabada 99 4361 157 27.78 26.74 77.39
8 PS de Villiers 82 2636 95 27.75 27.50 75.25
9 L Klusener 164 5751 192 29.95 30.96 66.85
10 JH Kallis 283 8680 273 31.79 32.26 64.15

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS RUNS WKTS AVE R AVE RAT
TS J Garner 91 2615 139 18.81 20.65 150.00
1 M Morkel 65 2706 111 24.38 23.75 130.48
2 AA Donald 117 4322 184 23.49 23.80 130.16
3 DW Steyn 80 3441 136 25.30 24.68 125.53
4 LL Tsotsobe 41 1642 65 25.26 24.91 124.38
5 M Ntini 112 4497 176 25.55 26.05 118.92
6 PS de Villiers 67 2205 81 27.22 26.98 114.82
7 SM Pollock 189 6537 247 26.47 27.11 114.28
8 K Rabada 59 2725 95 28.68 27.61 112.20
9 L Klusener 114 4081 140 29.15 30.13 102.83
10 JH Kallis 186 6116 184 33.24 33.72 91.87

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

Min Qualification For TS
Min Balls 2000

Against All Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS RUNS ER R ER RAT
TS J Garner 98 5330 2752 3.10 3.51 100.00
1 SM Pollock 297 15712 9631 3.68 3.53 99.45
2 PS de Villiers 82 4422 2636 3.58 3.64 96.35
3 LL Tsotsobe 60 2964 2347 4.75 4.01 87.47
4 K Rabada 99 5171 4361 5.06 4.10 85.59
5 DW Steyn 124 6256 5087 4.88 4.14 84.74
6 M Morkel 114 5760 4761 4.96 4.18 83.92
7 AA Donald 162 8561 5926 4.15 4.19 83.65
8 M Ntini 171 8687 6559 4.53 4.24 82.80
9 JH Kallis 283 10750 8680 4.84 4.56 76.95
10 L Klusener 164 7336 5751 4.70 4.59 76.51

Against Top Teams

RANK BOWLER INNS BLS RUNS ER R ER RAT
TS J Garner 91 4970 2615 3.16 3.58 150.00
1 PS de Villiers 67 3654 2205 3.62 3.69 145.49
2 SM Pollock 189 10071 6537 3.89 3.74 143.56
3 LL Tsotsobe 41 2093 1642 4.71 3.97 134.95
4 DW Steyn 80 4236 3441 4.87 4.14 129.65
5 M Morkel 65 3307 2706 4.91 4.14 129.57
6 K Rabada 59 3120 2725 5.24 4.25 126.33
7 AA Donald 117 6118 4322 4.24 4.28 125.29
8 M Ntini 112 5724 4497 4.71 4.41 121.63
9 JH Kallis 186 7337 6116 5.00 4.71 113.94
10 L Klusener 114 5069 4081 4.83 4.71 113.88

BEST BOWLING BY WKTS (NWT)

BBW

In this criteria, we have taken the top 5 bowling performances by Wkts of a bowler against Non Weak Teams in all matches. Best Bowling By Wickets (BBW) is simply the total wickets taken in the 5 innings divided by 5.

Criteria: Points For Wkts Taken In Top 5 Inns

RANK BOWLER 1 2 3 4 5 BBW RAT
TS Waqar Younis 7/36 6/26 6/30 6/44 6/59 6.20 150.00
1 L Klusener 6/49 5/24 5/25 5/42 5/47 5.20 125.81
1 SM Pollock 6/35 5/20 5/23 5/36 5/37 5.20 125.81
3 M Ntini 6/22 5/21 5/31 5/37 4/24 5.00 120.97
4 DW Steyn 6/39 5/25 5/50 4/16 4/27 4.80 116.13
5 K Rabada 6/16 5/39 4/39 4/41 4/41 4.60 111.29
6 M Morkel 5/21 5/38 4/10 4/21 4/22 4.40 106.45
7 JH Kallis 5/30 5/41 4/22 4/33 3/3 4.20 101.61
7 AA Donald 5/29 4/17 4/29 4/31 4/32 4.20 101.61
9 LL Tsotsobe 4/22 4/22 4/25 4/27 4/31 4.00 96.77
10 PS de Villiers 4/27 4/32 3/15 3/19 3/21 3.40 82.26

BEST BOWLING BY ECO (NWT)

BBE

In this criteria, we have taken the top 5 bowling performances by Economy of a bowler against Non Weak 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 CEL Ambrose 10.0/5 5.0/4 8.4/9 6.0/8 8.5/13 1.05 150.00
1 SM Pollock 10.0/9 5.0/6 9.5/12 8.0/10 7.0/9 1.11 141.99
2 PS de Villiers 5.0/5 8.0/10 10.0/15 8.0/15 10.0/19 1.59 98.97
3 M Ntini 7.0/12 10.0/18 7.0/13 10.0/20 9.0/19 1.78 88.18
4 M Morkel 6.0/10 6.0/13 10.0/22 7.0/16 5.0/12 1.81 86.89
5 AA Donald 10.0/17 8.2/15 10.0/18 6.0/11 6.4/13 1.82 86.29
6 K Rabada 7.0/13 8.0/16 6.0/16 6.0/16 6.0/18 1.94 81.10
7 DW Steyn 8.0/16 8.0/19 7.0/17 10.0/25 7.0/18 2.02 78.03
8 JH Kallis 8.0/17 5.0/11 8.0/18 6.0/14 10.0/24 2.14 73.62
9 LL Tsotsobe 10.0/22 9.0/23 10.0/27 5.0/14 10.0/28 2.19 71.90
10 L Klusener 5.2/9 10.0/21 8.0/17 9.0/23 9.0/23 2.19 71.70

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 OVERALL Rating, i.e. 500 pts.

RANK BOWLER PRO CON ECO BBW BBE RAT PRI PTS
1 SM Pollock 156.57 196.72 243.01 125.81 141.99 864.10 432.05
2 AA Donald 108.37 223.89 208.94 101.61 86.29 729.10 364.55
3 M Ntini 105.98 201.24 204.43 120.97 88.18 720.79 360.39
4 M Morkel 94.56 214.37 213.49 106.45 86.89 715.77 357.88
5 DW Steyn 98.58 207.28 214.39 116.13 78.03 714.41 357.20
6 K Rabada 78.96 189.59 211.92 111.29 81.10 672.86 336.43
7 PS de Villiers 37.85 190.07 241.85 82.26 98.97 650.99 325.50
8 LL Tsotsobe 47.28 208.44 222.41 96.77 71.90 646.81 323.40
9 L Klusener 76.49 169.68 190.40 125.81 71.70 634.08 317.04
10 JH Kallis 108.76 156.02 190.89 101.61 73.62 630.91 315.46

CONDITIONS CRITERIA

The Conditions Rating is calculated by applying the five criteria of Primary Rating to various conditions. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Click on the Rating Titles to see how they were calculated.

The four conditions criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

CRITERIA POINTS
Home 200.00
Away 800.00
Favourable Conditions 200.00
Unfavourable Conditions 800.00

HOME/AWAY

HOME/AWAY RATING

Points to note:-

  • 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.

At Home

Min Innings Vs Non Weak Teams: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 SM Pollock 125 193 20.24 3.51 927.15 185.43
2 M Ntini 76 122 23.98 4.42 717.53 143.51
3 DW Steyn 55 89 25.25 4.73 674.46 134.89
4 M Morkel 40 61 26.87 4.91 633.36 126.67
5 AA Donald 62 88 26.35 4.24 630.14 126.03
6 LL Tsotsobe 29 49 23.63 4.81 622.88 124.58
7 JH Kallis 121 116 32.61 4.96 598.67 119.73
8 K Rabada 45 69 29.64 5.16 588.05 117.61
9 L Klusener 70 77 30.84 4.60 571.03 114.21
10 PS de Villiers 31 34 28.50 3.45 569.49 113.90

Away From Home

Min Innings Vs Non Weak Teams: 20

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 SM Pollock 172 200 28.63 3.80 779.11 623.29
2 AA Donald 100 184 19.60 4.10 773.57 618.85
3 M Morkel 74 127 24.58 4.99 713.00 570.40
4 K Rabada 54 88 26.32 4.97 698.33 558.67
5 M Ntini 95 144 25.23 4.62 681.80 545.44
6 DW Steyn 69 107 26.54 5.01 673.94 539.15
7 PS de Villiers 51 61 27.33 3.66 650.86 520.69
8 LL Tsotsobe 31 45 26.42 4.70 621.51 497.21
9 JH Kallis 162 157 31.19 4.76 619.74 495.80
10 L Klusener 94 115 29.36 4.78 607.89 486.31

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS

FAVOURABLE/UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS RATING

Points to note:-

  • Unfavourable Conditions (UC) is Outside Asia for Spinners and In Asia for Pacers.
  • Favourable Conditions (FC) are the opposite.

Favourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians Outside Asia

Min Innings Vs Non Weak Teams: 20

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 SM Pollock 236 309 24.21 3.60 927.81 185.56
2 AA Donald 136 222 22.28 4.12 765.57 153.11
3 M Ntini 135 207 25.12 4.48 758.76 151.75
4 DW Steyn 102 160 25.89 4.81 742.26 148.45
5 M Morkel 82 136 25.04 4.98 739.06 147.81
6 K Rabada 73 113 28.86 5.06 669.79 133.96
7 LL Tsotsobe 46 70 26.20 4.94 652.15 130.43
8 JH Kallis 226 211 32.68 4.87 651.88 130.38
9 L Klusener 134 154 30.27 4.68 631.98 126.40
10 PS de Villiers 52 59 28.08 3.54 621.39 124.28

Unfavourable Conditions Rating

Non Asians In Asia

Min Innings Vs Non Weak Teams: 10

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 SM Pollock 61 84 25.58 3.96 831.31 665.05
2 K Rabada 26 44 25.00 5.07 722.39 577.91
3 M Morkel 32 52 26.06 4.91 715.66 572.53
4 M Ntini 36 59 23.05 4.75 706.72 565.38
5 AA Donald 26 50 19.60 4.33 703.91 563.13
6 JH Kallis 57 62 28.79 4.74 672.95 538.36
7 DW Steyn 22 36 26.22 5.19 667.23 533.78
8 PS de Villiers 30 36 27.19 3.65 656.17 524.94
9 LL Tsotsobe 14 24 21.38 4.19 640.41 512.33
10 L Klusener 30 38 28.66 4.80 596.72 477.37

CONDITIONS RATING

The total of the above four criteria comes out to be 2,000.00 points. The Conditions Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the four criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is 200 pts.

RANK BOWLER AW HM UC FC TOT CON PTS
1 SM Pollock 623.29 185.43 665.05 185.56 1,659.33 165.93
2 AA Donald 618.85 126.03 563.13 153.11 1,461.13 146.11
3 M Morkel 570.40 126.67 572.53 147.81 1,417.41 141.74
4 M Ntini 545.44 143.51 565.38 151.75 1,406.08 140.61
5 K Rabada 558.67 117.61 577.91 133.96 1,388.14 138.81
6 DW Steyn 539.15 134.89 533.78 148.45 1,356.28 135.63
7 JH Kallis 495.80 119.73 538.36 130.38 1,284.27 128.43
8 PS de Villiers 520.69 113.90 524.94 124.28 1,283.80 128.38
9 LL Tsotsobe 497.21 124.58 512.33 130.43 1,264.55 126.45
10 L Klusener 486.31 114.21 477.37 126.40 1,204.29 120.43

SECONDARY CRITERIA

The Secondary Rating consists of three parts. If Innings are less than the Qualification than the Player gets 50% of the Points. Click on the Rating Titles to see how they were calculated.

The three secondary criteria and thier weightage is as follows:-

CRITERIA POINTS
World Cup 1,000.00
Top Form 1,000.00
Impact Innings 1,000.00

WORLD CUP

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 5

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 SM Pollock 31 31 31.29 3.61 592.75 592.75
2 AA Donald 25 38 24.03 4.17 587.00 587.00
3 M Morkel 14 26 19.46 4.66 562.59 562.59
4 DW Steyn 14 23 23.39 4.68 552.93 552.93
5 K Rabada 17 24 31.71 5.05 510.96 510.96
6 PS de Villiers 1 2 13.50 3.86 500.00 500.00
6 LL Tsotsobe 1 3 4.67 2.80 500.00 500.00
8 JH Kallis 32 21 43.05 4.28 459.09 459.09
9 L Klusener 13 22 22.14 4.83 428.64 428.64
10 M Ntini 13 16 29.31 4.07 419.88 419.88
TOP FORM RATING

Points to note:-

  • Top Form is calculated by taking the best 50 consecutive innings of a bowler.
  • Only Inns against Non Weak Teams are considered in the rating.
  • Non Weak Teams may be found in the last section.

TOP FORM

Min Innings Vs Non Weak Teams: 20

RANK BOWLER INNS WKTS AVE ECO RAT WTG
1 AA Donald 50 99 19.14 4.26 801.69 801.69
2 M Morkel 50 92 21.45 4.74 797.13 797.13
3 SM Pollock 50 76 21.61 3.78 795.78 795.78
4 DW Steyn 50 87 21.16 4.39 788.70 788.70
5 M Ntini 50 89 21.09 4.38 773.47 773.47
6 LL Tsotsobe 50 84 23.79 4.82 731.35 731.35
7 K Rabada 50 80 27.70 5.09 709.04 709.04
8 L Klusener 50 76 25.67 4.84 679.43 679.43
9 PS de Villiers 50 60 27.03 3.58 679.31 679.31
10 JH Kallis 50 66 25.50 4.52 640.73 640.73
IMPACT INNINGS (II)

Impact Innings are those innings which have an impact either in terms of wickets or economy rate. Know All About II. These are the criteria for an inning to be included in II:-

  • A Bowler takes equal to or more wickets than 3.
  • A Bowler bowls more than 30 balls and has a low ER.
  • The ER should be less than 90% of the ER of the better team.

IMPACT INNINGS

Min Innings Vs Top Teams: 30

RANK BOWLER INNS II II Perc RAT WTG
1 SM Pollock 297 198 66.67 910.72 910.72
2 DW Steyn 124 54 43.55 604.73 604.73
3 AA Donald 162 82 50.62 604.33 604.33
4 K Rabada 99 46 46.46 595.45 595.45
5 M Morkel 114 50 43.86 571.50 571.50
6 PS de Villiers 82 42 51.22 560.89 560.89
7 M Ntini 171 73 42.69 506.51 506.51
8 LL Tsotsobe 60 26 43.33 495.17 495.17
9 JH Kallis 283 77 27.21 378.99 378.99
10 L Klusener 164 43 26.22 317.35 317.35

SECONDARY RATING

The total of the above three criteria comes out to be 3,000.00 points. Secondary Rating is the addition of the points a bowler scored in the three criteria. The Weightage of the Rating is 300 pts.

RANK BOWLER WC TF II TOT SEC RAT
1 SM Pollock 592.75 795.78 910.72 2,299.25 229.92
2 AA Donald 587.00 801.69 604.33 1,993.02 199.30
3 DW Steyn 552.93 788.70 604.73 1,946.37 194.64
4 M Morkel 562.59 797.13 571.50 1,931.21 193.12
5 K Rabada 510.96 709.04 595.45 1,815.44 181.54
6 PS de Villiers 500.00 679.31 560.89 1,740.20 174.02
7 LL Tsotsobe 500.00 731.35 495.17 1,726.52 172.65
8 M Ntini 419.88 773.47 506.51 1,699.87 169.99
9 JH Kallis 459.09 640.73 378.99 1,478.82 147.88
10 L Klusener 428.64 679.43 317.35 1,425.42 142.54

OVERALL RATING

OVERALL Rating is the addition of the points of all the above criteria. The rating is out of 1,000 Pts.

RANK OV RANK BOWLER NAT PRI PTS CON PTS SEC PTS FIN RAT
1 3 SM Pollock SA 432.05 165.93 229.92 827.91
2 16 AA Donald SA 364.55 146.11 199.30 709.97
3 21 M Morkel SA 357.88 141.74 193.12 692.75
4 23 DW Steyn SA 357.20 135.63 194.64 687.47
5 29 M Ntini SA 360.39 140.61 169.99 670.99
6 34 K Rabada SA 336.43 138.81 181.54 656.79
7 50 PS de Villiers SA 325.50 128.38 174.02 627.90
8 54 LL Tsotsobe SA 323.40 126.45 172.65 622.51
9 67 JH Kallis SA 315.46 128.43 147.88 591.76
10 72 L Klusener SA 317.04 120.43 142.54 580.01

NON WEAK TEAMS

DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1970s WI ENG AUS NZ PAK SL IND
1980s WI ENG AUS PAK IND NZ SL ZIM
1990s SA AUS PAK WI IND SL ENG NZ ZIM
2000s AUS SA SL PAK IND NZ ENG WI BAN
2010s IND SA AUS ENG NZ PAK SL BAN WI
2020s IND PAK AUS SA NZ SL BAN ENG WI AFG

TOP TEAMS

DECADE OF MAT 1 2 3 4 5 6
1970s WI ENG AUS NZ PAK SL
1980s WI ENG AUS PAK IND NZ
1990s SA AUS PAK WI IND SL
2000s AUS SA SL PAK IND NZ
2010s IND SA AUS ENG NZ PAK
2020s IND PAK AUS SA NZ SL
FULL RATING WITH ALL NATIONS

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