Bowling in One Day International (ODI) cricket is one of the toughest jobs in the modern game. With batting-friendly pitches, shorter boundaries, and aggressive batting strategies, bowlers are often forced to defend even the biggest totals. While wickets are the primary measure of a bowler’s success, the economy rate is equally important because it reflects how effectively a bowler controls the flow of runs. A high economy rate can completely change the momentum of a match and put immense pressure on the bowling side.
Some of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings have come against the strongest batting line-ups in world cricket. Whether it was England’s explosive hitters, Australia’s aggressive approach, or New Zealand’s fearless batting, these bowlers found themselves under relentless attack. Even experienced international cricketers have occasionally suffered difficult outings, proving that one bad day can happen to anyone in ODI cricket.
List of 5 Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings
5. Bas de Leede
Bas de Leede takes the fifth position on the list of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings after enduring a difficult outing against England in June 2022. England’s batting line-up produced one of the greatest ODI innings ever played, attacking every Netherlands bowler from the beginning. De Leede was introduced in an attempt to slow the scoring rate, but England’s batters continued to find boundaries with remarkable consistency.
The Dutch all-rounder bowled five overs and was unable to take a wicket as the English batters dominated throughout his spell. He conceded 65 runs at an economy rate of 13.00, making it one of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings. Although this performance remains an unwanted record, Bas de Leede has continued to develop into one of the Netherlands’ most reliable all-rounders in international cricket.
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bas de Leede | 5.0 | 65 | 0 | 13.00 |
4. Wiaan Mulder
South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder occupies fourth place among the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings after his costly spell against Australia in 2025. Australia’s aggressive batting approach placed constant pressure on every South African bowler, and Mulder found it difficult to contain the flow of runs. The Australian batters attacked both pace and length, ensuring that the scoring rate remained exceptionally high throughout his spell.
Mulder completed seven overs but failed to claim a wicket while conceding 93 runs. His economy rate of 13.28 ranks among the highest ever recorded in ODI cricket and secures his place on the list of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings. Despite this expensive performance, Mulder remains an important all-round option for South Africa across all formats.
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiaan Mulder | 7.0 | 93 | 0 | 13.28 |
3. Salman Agha
Pakistan’s Salman Agha features third on the list of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings following his expensive outing against New Zealand in 2025. Brought into the attack during the middle overs, Salman was expected to provide control, but New Zealand’s batters maintained their attacking intent and scored freely against him.
He bowled five overs and finished without taking a wicket while conceding 67 runs. His economy rate of 13.40 makes this one of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings in ODI history. Although the figures were disappointing, Salman Agha continues to play a valuable role as a batting all-rounder for Pakistan.
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salman Agha | 5.0 | 67 | 0 | 13.40 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Worst Career Bowling Averages in ODIs
2. Kevin O’Brien
Kevin O’Brien is best remembered for his explosive batting, but he also appears on the list of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings because of his costly spell during the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Facing a powerful South African batting line-up, O’Brien struggled to limit the scoring despite bowling a full spell.
He delivered seven overs, picked up one wicket, but conceded 95 runs at an economy rate of 13.57. The South African batters attacked consistently, making this one of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings ever recorded. Even though this performance remains an unwanted statistic, O’Brien is still regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest all-round cricketers.
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin O’Brien | 7.0 | 95 | 1 | 13.57 |
1. Josh Little
Josh Little holds the unwanted record for the highest economy rate among the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings. His difficult spell came against England in 2023, when England’s aggressive batting line-up dominated from the first over and never allowed Ireland’s bowlers to settle into a rhythm.
Little bowled five overs and was unable to claim a wicket while conceding 69 runs. His economy rate of 13.80 remains the highest for a completed bowling spell in ODI history, making it the most expensive entry among the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings. Despite this difficult day, Josh Little continues to be one of Ireland’s leading fast bowlers and has produced several match-winning performances in international cricket.
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Little | 5.0 | 69 | 0 | 13.80 |
The Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings remind cricket fans that even elite international bowlers can have extremely difficult days against aggressive batting line-ups. Modern ODI cricket continues to favour batters, making it increasingly challenging for bowlers to maintain a low economy rate. While these records are not ones any bowler wants to hold, they remain a fascinating part of ODI history and highlight the incredible evolution of attacking batting in the 50-over format.
FAQs
1. What are the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings?
The Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings are bowling performances where a bowler concedes runs at an exceptionally high economy rate during a completed spell in a One Day International match. These spells usually occur when batters dominate and score freely throughout the innings.
2. Who has the most expensive completed bowling spell in ODI history?
Ireland fast bowler Josh Little holds the record for the most expensive completed bowling spell in ODI history. He conceded 69 runs in five overs against England in Bristol on 26 September 2023, finishing with an economy rate of 13.80.
3. How is the economy rate calculated in ODI cricket?
A bowler’s economy rate is calculated by dividing the total runs conceded by the number of overs bowled. For example, if a bowler gives away 60 runs in five overs, the economy rate is 12.00.
4. Why do bowlers record such expensive spells in ODI cricket?
Many of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings happen because of aggressive batting, flat batting pitches, short boundaries, fielding restrictions, and the modern attacking approach adopted by ODI teams, especially during the final overs.
5. Can a bowler recover after recording one of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings?
Yes. Many bowlers who appear on the list of the Most Expensive Bowling Spells in ODI Innings have continued to enjoy successful international careers. One expensive spell does not define a bowler’s overall ability, as even the best bowlers can have difficult days against world-class batting line-ups.