Throughout the years, we have seen players with great class in international cricket. Also, there have been many impactful bowlers who bowled tremendously well and kept on imposing pressure on the opposition in a consistent manner. Some of them have been so impactful that they started their spells with a wicket. Here is the list of the bowlers who have struck with a wicket right in the first ball of an ODI match the most number of times.
- Chaminda Vaas, 5 Times: The former left arm swing bowler of Sri Lanka was one of the prime strengths of the Sri Lankan bowling for quite a long time. He is also one of the leading wicket takers in the international cricket for Sri Lanka. He succeeded in striking a wicket for his team right in the first ball of the match for 5 times.
- Zaheer Khan, 4 Times: Another left arm seamer in the list. Zaheer Khan has been India’s powerhouse right in the start of the innings for a prolonged period of time. In the Champions Trophy of 2002, Zaheer Khan struck right in the first delivery of the match twice and on both the occasions, he dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya.
- Wasim Akram, 4 Times: The legendary former left arm swing bowler of Pakistan also makes himself in the list. He was a brilliant bowler with sheer class and he achieved this feat of striking right in the first delivery of the match 4 times. Akram is the leading wicket taker for Pakistan in ODIs with 502 ODI wickets.
- Shaun Pollock, 3 Times: The right arm fast bowler of South Africa has been one of the prime strengths for them in the 1999 World Cup. He also captained the South African side in the 2003 World Cup. With his straight and simple bowling action, he did create troubles for batsmen for a number of occasions. .
- Nuwan Kulasekara, 3 Times: The steady medium pacer from Sri Lanka also makes his name in the list. He has achieved this feat of taking a wicket right in the first delivery of an ODI for 3 times. He is indeed a brilliant all-rounder for the Sri Lankan side.
