Cricket is popularly known as the gentleman game. The West Indies cricket team had a significant role in making this a reality. Talking about their cricket journey, they were known as the powerhouses of the 1970s and 1980s. The Caribbean nation gave us many brilliant cricketing minds, but their bowling was the most feared. Nowadays, their bowling standards are not up to the level that their old countrymen set, but still, many players are coming out who look very promising. We will look at the top 10 West Indies bowlers with the most ODI wickets below.
1. Courtney Walsh
Courtney Walsh, full name Courtney Andrew Walsh, is a former West Indies great. He was a right-arm fast pacer who was known for his quick speed. He is considered one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history. He started his ODI cricket journey in 1985 and played on for 15 more years. In the 205 ODIs that he represented, he took 227 wickets, which included a five-wicket haul.
2. Curtly Ambrose
Curtly Ambrose is a former West Indies cricketer known for his fast bowling abilities. He was a right-arm quick known for his lethal bowling. Ambrose made his One Day International debut in 1988, and his cricket career progressed nicely from there. Before hanging up his boots, he was able to take 225 ODI wickets in 176 matches, which included four five-wicket hauls.
3. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo, also known as DJ Bravo, is a former West Indies all-rounder who made his ODI debut in 2004. He was called up by the captain whenever a wicket was required. He was known to break huge partnerships. His medium-pace bowling fetched him 199 ODI wickets in 164 matches, along with a five-wicket haul.
4. Carl Hooper
Carl Hooper is a former West Indies cricket player who represented his nation for 16 years in ODI cricket. He made his One Day International debut in 1987 and was able to play 227 ODIs, in which he took 193 wickets. He played in the team as an all-rounder and bowled right-arm off-spin.
5. Chris Gayle
As we all know, Chris Gayle is primarily known for his batting exploits. But he is no stranger to bowling. The Universe Boss has taken 167 ODI wickets, which is a large number in comparison to many great bowlers. Gayle also bagged a five-wicket haul in his ODI career, which is something many great bowling minds hadn't got in their career.
6. Malcolm Marshall
Malcolm Marshall was a former West Indies legend known for his exceptional bowling. He is known as one of the greatest fast bowlers that the Caribbean nation ever produced. He represented the West Indies side in 136 One Day International matches, in which he took 157 wickets. He had started his ODI career in 1980 and played until 1992. Unfortunately, he left the world in 1999 to cancer.
7. Joel Garner
Joel Garner is a former West Indies quick who represented his country in 98 One Day Internationals. He was a right-arm pacer who was considered one of the most devastating ones of his generation. In those 98 One Day Internationals, Big Bird took 146 wickets. It included three five-wicket hauls, and his ODI career lasted nearly ten years.
8. Michael Holding
Michael Holding, the former fast bowler of the West Indies team, now serves as a commentator. In his playing days, only a few people could match his bowling. In the ODI career that lasted 11 years, the right-arm quick took 142 ODI wickets, which included a five-wicket haul too. Those wickets came in the 102 ODIs that he played.
9. Jason Holder
Jason Holder is a promising right-arm fast bowler known for his all-rounder abilities. The tall all-rounder has also captained the West Indies ODI team and the test matches. Holder has played 121 ODIs till now in a career that started in 2013. He has taken 140 wickets in those ODIs, including two five-wicket hauls.
10. Mervyn Dillon
Mervyn Dillon represented the West Indies cricket team, and his primary role was as a fast bowler. The right-arm medium-fast bowler made his ODI debut in 1997 and played his last ODI in 2005. Between this, he took 130 ODI wickets in the 108 matches, which included three five-wicket hauls too.
