4 of Australia’s top 15 wicket-takers in 50 years of ODI cricket are still playing

Australia have been playing ODI cricket for more than 50 years.
They have produced several prolific wicket-takers in this format of the international game.
Four of Australia’s top 15 wicket-takers in ODI cricket have not retired yet.
15. Damien Fleming – 134 ODI wickets
Fleming’s haul included a single five-wicket haul – against India at the Wankhede Stadium during the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
14. Josh Hazlewood – 138 ODI wickets
Hazlewood is one of four cricketers on this list still playing ODI cricket. He should soon overtake Gillespie’s total.
13. Jason Gillespie – 142 ODI wickets
Gillespie collected three ODI five-fors. Two of them came in 2002 – both against Pakistan in Kenya.
12. Pat Cummins – 143 ODI wickets
Cummins is another of the four on this list still playing ODI cricket. He will likely overtake Hogg, Watson and perhaps Bracken’s totals this year.
11. Brad Hogg – 156 ODI wickets
Hogg is one of three leg-spinners on this list and played ODI cricket for 12 years.
Also read: Most ODI wickets by a seamer in ODI cricket since 2023
10. Shane Watson – 168 ODI wickets
Arguably the only genuine all-rounder on this list, Watson never took an ODI five-wicket haul. On occasion, he opened the batting and bowling.
9. Nathan Bracken – 174 ODI wickets
Five of Bracken’s top 10 ODI figures came against Sri Lanka, including a career-best five-for in Sydney.
8. Adam Zampa – 180 ODI wickets
Zampa is also still playing, but won’t likely overtake Warne to be Australia’s most prolific wicket-taker in ODI cricket.
7. Steve Waugh – 195 ODI wickets
Waugh, like Watson, never took an ODI five-for – and 23 of Waugh’s 195 wickets were taken as captain.
6. Craig McDermott – 203 ODI wickets
McDermott is one of only three men to take 200 or more ODI wickets for Australia. He has since worked with the national team as a bowling coach.
5. Mitchell Johnson – 239 ODI wickets
Before Starc, Johnson was Australia’s most prolific left-arm fast bowler in ODI cricket. Johnson bowled with a lot of aggression.
4. Mitchell Starc – 244 ODI wickets
Starc is now Australia’s most successful left-arm fast bowler in ODI cricket. He can add to this tally during the 2025 Champions Trophy.
3. Shane Warne – 291 ODI wickets
Warne is Australia’s highest wicket-taker in ODI and Test cricket. He only took one five-for in ODI cricket – against the West Indies in Sydney in 1996.
2. Brett Lee – 380 ODI wickets
Lee collected the same number of ODI wickets as McGrath, but did it in 30 fewer innings. Lee took nine five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket.
1. Glenn McGrath – 380 ODI wickets
McGrath’s seven for 15 against Namibia in South Africa during the 2003 Cricket World Cup are the best figures for Australia in ODI cricket.