Best ODI XI of the 21st century

Bowlers

#9 Lasith Malinga

With a slingy action, Malinga made his ODI debut against the United Arab Emirates in 2004 and since then he became a regular feature in the Sri Lankan ODI side. During the peak of his career, Malinga was lethal with his yorkers and slower deliveries.

Malinga has 338 wickets to his name in 226 matches including 8 5 wicket hauls. He is the 2nd highest leading wicket-taker in the 21st century only 8 wickets behind Australia's Brett Lee.

"Slinga Malinga", as he is nicknamed, was a part of the Sri Lankan side which finished as Runners up in 2007 and 2011 editions of the ICC World Cup. Malinga took a record 4 wickets in 4 balls against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup. He also completed a hat-trick against Kenya, in the 2011 World Cup and is the only bowler till date to complete 2 World Cup hat-tricks. With another hattrick against Australia in 2011 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, he is the only bowler with 3 hattricks in ODI history.

#10 Muttiah Muralitharan

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Muralitharan, the leading wicket-taker ODI Cricket, had single-handedly won a lot of matches for Sri Lanka over the course of his ODI career.

In the 350 matches in which Murali represented Sri Lanka, he had 534 wickets to his credit. In February 2009, he surpassed Wasim Akram as the leading wicket-taker in ODIs.

In the 21st century, Murali is the leading wicket-taker among spinners with 323 wickets at an economy rate 3.83 and a bowling average of 21.01. His economy rate is the best among spinners in this century and the 3rd best overall among bowlers with at least 50 wickets only behind Pollock and McGrath.

Murali was often regarded by many as the greatest spin bowler of all time. Though he was accused of illegal bowling in his career, the allegations never affected his performances. He was part of the Sri Lankan side which finished runners-up in the 2007 and 2011 editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The spin wizard played his last ODI for Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup Final against India but unfortunately ended on the losing side.

#11 Brett Lee

Lee is the leading wicket-taker in the 21st century

The last spot is taken by Australia's fast bowler Brett Lee. Regarded as one of the fastest bowlers of all time, Brett Lee was a threat to every opposition in the world. Throughout his career in Australian colours, Lee clocked above 150 KPH. In 221 ODI matches, Lee picked 380 wickets.

Out of 380 ODI wickets, 346 scalps came in the current century and Lee is the leading wicket-taker in the 21st century. With 131 maiden overs in this century, he is 4th on the list of most maidens.

He made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 2000 and immediately cemented his place in the Australian side. Along with Glenn McGrath, he formed a lethal bowling partnership rattling the best batting line-ups in the world with his terrifying pace. He was a part of Australia's title-winning World Cup squads in 2003 and 2007 and the 2011 World Cup squad, in which they reached the quarter-finals, eventually losing to home side India. Lee played his last ODI against England in July 2012