We’ve seen Australian batters dominate the world with their strong batting lineup but when it comes to bat against Pakistan it was more the tough for Kangaroos to handle Pakistani seamers. Australia was the champion in 2015 world cup but everyone remembers the game of the champions against Pakistan and the epic battle between Wahab Riaz and Shane Watson. Pakistani seamers are so aggressive that if they can’t win the game they dominate the opponent by their aggression.   

It has been so many years since both teams have started this rivalry and still the bowlers from both teams haven’t changed yet. Currently both teams are packed with extraordinary bowlers which makes us more excited for today’s game. Bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mitchell Starc are extremely talented and give a strong and healthy competition to each other’s team but still they are very far to reach at the level of some legendary bowler. Today where both teams will face each other at the 18th match of the world cup, let’s take a look at the top three bowlers with most wickets in the history of this rivalry. 

Wasim Akram 

One of the greatest bowlers of all time Wasim Akram hold the record of picking the most wickets against Australia in ODI history. He has 67 dismissals in 49 innings which is the overall highest against Australia. He bowled with the economy of 4.22 and average of 27.43. He has 1 five wicket haul and 3 four wicket haul against the Kangaroos. Wasim was too deadly to handle for Australian batters. While playing the first game against Aussies Wasim has destroyed Australian Batting lineup and took five for 21 which is best figures for him against the opponent. Wasim Akram(502 wickets) is the highest wicket-taking bowler for Pakistan and the second in the world after Sri Lankan Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (534 wickets). It has been 20 years since he left the field but still we haven’t seen a bowler like him in the whole world.

Glenn McGrath

Australian legendary seamer Glenn McGrath holds the second position in this list with 57 wickets in 32 innings. He was the cheapest bowler in history with the economy of 3.76 and the average of 19.10. He has three five wickets haul in which at Sidney in 2005 he took 5/27 was the best figures. This was his last game against Pakistan. Like Wasim Akram he has picked the most wickets for Australia in ODIs which is 381 wickets in 249 games. No other Australian bowler has surpassed him yet. We’ve seen many great bowlers from Australia but the way McGrath has dominated his competition in between ‘94’ to ‘05’. 

Shahid Afridi 

Shahid Afridi is the only spinner present in the top three. He sits at number three with 49 wickets in 41 innings. In his 19 years long career he has been the most consistent performer and being an all rounder he was a great leg spinner and led the Pakistan team for many years. He has only one five wicket haul in this state which came in  2009 at Dubai where he took 6 for 38. Shahid Afridi is the fifth highest wicket taker bowler in ODIs and third for Pakistan.  

Also read: Shahid Afridi’s Daughter Was Waving The Indian Flag During The India-Pakistan Match In The Asia Cup 2022