Top 10 spinners in One Day International cricket from 1990-1999

In the 90s, the dynamics of one day cricket witnessed a massive change. The game became high scoring with the concept of pinch-hitting coming into existence in the power plays. With wickets becoming more batting friendly, teams needed to have variations in their bowling attacks to stem the run flow. While most of the top sides had a potent seam attack, they also had some world class tweakers in the ranks to wreak havoc among the opposition. Right from Shane Warne to Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble to Saqlain Mushtaq, spinners have been an integral part in the bowling line-ups of ODI teams.

So let us have a look at the top ten spinners in ODI cricket all through the 90s.

The period considered for selection is 1990-1999. For ranking the top 10 spinners, I have considered their wicket taking ability and economy rate as the main parameters.

I have taken only those spinners who at least took 50 wickets for their sides in ODI cricket during the 90s.

1.Shane Warne (Australia)

Shane Warne could go down as probably the greatest leg-spinner to grace the game. Warne was Australia’s biggest match winners with the ball in the 90s. The handsome blonde could turn the ball like a top on any surface and bamboozle the batsman with his big spinning leg spinners.

A master at his trait, Warne also had the googly in his repertoire to unsettle the best of batsmen. 'Warnie' got a lot of drift through the air and often outfoxed batsman with his flight. In a pace dominated Aussie attack spearheaded by Glen McGrath, Warne held his own with some exceptional performances with the red cherry.

Warne brought out his best at World Cups and his match winning spells against West Indies and South Africa in the semis of the 1996 and 1999 World Cups respectively turned around the match in Australia’s favor and helped the Kangaroos reach the summit clash.

ODI Record (1990-1999)

Matches 133 Wickets 212 Avg 24.7 Eco 4.18

2. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN

Muttiah Muralitharan was arguably the greatest off spinner in international cricket all through the 90s. Muralitharan could turn the ball square by giving his off spinners a real rip through the air. 'Murali' was Sri Lanka’s trump card with ball in the middle overs where he cast a web around the batsman. He went past the defences of the best batsmen on the spin friendly tracks of the subcontinent.

Muralitharan's spells were miserly and often choked the opposition for runs. Those big eyes lighten up at the point of delivery and the 'smiling assassin' was out to get batsman with his never ending hunger to pick up wickets. The 'wily old fox' spearheaded the Sri Lankan spin attack which boasted of quality spinners like Kumara Dharmasena, Upul Chandana, Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda De Silva.

ODI Record 1990-1999

Matches 129 Wickets 177 Avg 27.44 Eco 4.17

3. Anil Kumble (India)

Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble would go down as one of the best leg spinners to have graced international cricket. Anil led the Indian spin attack with distinction all through the 90s. Anil wasn’t a great turner of the ball but had a bagful of variations to clean up batting orders. He mixed up his flippers and top spinner with his stock leg spinners to outfox the batsman.

Kumble was deceptively quick off the air and his deliveries hurried onto the batsman. India won many a matched at the back of Kumble’s heroics on spin friendly Indian wickets. A hard core competitor on the field , Kumble proved that a bowler did not have to be a big turner of the ball to be a great spinner.

ODI Record 1990-1999

Matches 184 Wickets 224 Avg 28.11 Eco 4.16

4. Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan)

Saqlain Mushtaq

Saqlain Mustaq was one of the greatest off spinners in the limited overs arena. Saqlain Mushtaq is credited to have invested the 'Doosra', the off-spinner's delivery that turns the other way.The off spinner bowled an immaculate line and turned the ball just enough to trouble the batsman. Saqlain formed a lethal spin attack for Pakistan by playing the perfect foil to his leg spinning partner Mushtaq Ahmed.

He was Pakistan’s go to man at the death overs where he cramped the opposition for runs. He picked up a bagful of wickets and added an extra edge to Pakistan’s lethal pace attack comprising of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoiab Akhtar.

ODI Record 1990-1999

Matches 111 Wickets 210 Avg 19.41 Eco 4.22

5. Mushtaq Ahmed (Pakistan)

Mushtaq Ahmed

Mushtaq Ahmed was a classical spinner in the true sense. Ahmed had a high arm action and used his supple wrists to get good flight in the air. ‘Mushi’ was spot on with his leg spinners and mixed up his googlies to cast a web around opposition. For most of the 90s, Ahmed formed a potent spin attack with Saqlain Mushtaq.

The sight of Mushtaq approaching the crease with his hip hop action is still fresh in cricket lovers mind. Mushtaq along with Australia's Shane Warne are credited for having revived the dying art of leg spin in ODI cricket.

ODI Record 1990-1999

Matches 119 Wickets 135 Avg 32.72 Eco 4.28

6. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya was more than a handy spinner in the limited over arena. Sanath wasn’t a great turner of the ball but relied on his guile to mix up the pace of his deliveries. In the slog overs, he bowled quickly through the air and darted the ball into the batsmen cramping them for room.

He had the knack of picking up wickets and was often used effectively by the Sri Lankans as a partnership breaker. Sri Lanka could have not asked for more from Jayasuriya who added value to the Islanders as an explosive opener.

ODI Record (1990-1999)

Matches 195 Wickets 174 Avg 34.17 Eco 4.86

7. Paul Strang (Zimbabwe)

PAUL STRANG

Paul Strang was Zimbabwe’s front line spinner all through the 90s. Strang was a good exponent of the leg spin and had many variations in his armoury to trouble quality batsmen. Strang could bowl the googly and flipper as well as anyone in the game.

He was pretty economical with his bowling and often scalped a wicket or two in the middle overs. Along with seamers Heath Streak and Eddo Brandes, he was Zimbabwe’s best one day bowler in the 90s. Strang was well supported by Andy Whittall and Grant Flower, who were decent spinners in their own ranks.

ODI Record 1990-1999

Matches 81 Wickets 83 Avg 32 Eco 4.33

8. Venkatapathy Raju (India)

Venkatapathy Raju

Venkatapathy Raju was one of the best exponents of left arm spin in the 90s. Under Mohammad Azharuddin's captaincy, Raju became the spin twin to India's spin wizard Anil Kumble. Raju bowled slowly through the air and used his flight to deceive the batsman in the air. While Kumble struck from one end, Raju maintained the pressure from the other choking the run flow.

'Muscles' as he was popularly known had a heart of a lion and never backed off from flighting the ball, temping the batsman to make mistakes.

ODI Record 1990-1999

Matches 53 Wickets 63 Avg 31.96 Eco 4.36

9. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid Afridi

'Boom Boom' Afridi just dint pack a punch with his power hitting but was quite a potent leg spinner for Pakistan in the late 90s. Afridi was different from the conventional leg spinner as he was quick through the air and bowled a flatter trajectory.

Afridi who bowled with a high arm action got good bounce off the surface which made him difficult to play. The 'Karachi Pathan' provided a good support cast to his more illustrious spinning counterparts - Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq.

ODI Record 1990-1999

Matches 93 Wickets 56 Avg 50.55 Eco 4.74

Pat Symcox (South Africa)

Pat Symcox

Pat Symcox was South Africa’s best spinner by a mile in ODIs. In a seam pronged Proteas attack, Symcox was a rare breed with his tidy off spin. Symcox bowled within himself and had good control over his bowling.

The tall and burly spinner wasn’t a big turner but used his height to great advantage to get some flight going his way. Considering he was a late entrant into the limited overs arena, Pat did more than a handy job as South Africa's leading spinner in the 90s.

ODI Record 1990-1999

Matches 80 Wickets 72 Avg 38.18 Eco 4.15

Before i conclude, there were some other decent spinners who did considerably well playing ODI cricket for their national teams in the 90s. They dint make the cut as they generally played the role of defensive spinners and lent support to the front line spinners who were used as strike bowlers.

Honorable Mentions

India – Sunil Joshi, Nikhil Chopra, Rajesh Chauhan

Pakistan - Aamer Sohail, Arshad Khan, Akram Raza

Sri Lanka - Upul Chandana, Kumara Dharmasena, Aravinda De Silva

West Indies - Keith Arthurton, Roger Harper, Jimmy Adams

New Zealand – Shane Thompson, Daniel Vettori

Australia – Mark Waugh, Allan Border

South Africa – Paul Adams, Nicky Boje, Derek Crookes

England - Robert Croft, Ray Illingworth

Zimbabwe - Andy Whittal, Grant Flower