Spin bowling is a delicate art, and whenever discussions about spin bowling arise, it is mandatory to mention the Australian great, Shane Warne. Throughout his ODI career, Warne was one of the most impactful bowlers for Australia, and his records in One-Day cricket reflect the same. In this article, we will take a look at his top three performances in ODI cricket.
1. 5/33 vs West Indies, 1996
Interestingly, Shane Warne registered only one 5-wicket haul in his ODI career, and that came against West Indies in 1996 at Sydney. Courtney Walsh won the toss for West Indies and opted to bat first, but the decision proved to be wrong as they could not weather the storm of Shane Warne. After initial blows to the West Indies, Warne took charge and swiftly wrapped up the first innings. He completed his 5-wicket haul with the dismissal of the opposition captain, Courtney Walsh, playing a crucial role in Australia’s victory.
2. 4/19 vs New Zealand, 1993
An absolute match-winning performance from Shane Warne, where he picked up 4 wickets to secure a narrow 3-run victory for Australia. The Kangaroos had set 203 runs as a target for the Kiwis in the second innings, but that target proved to be both too close and too far for New Zealand. In his quota of 10 overs, the leg-spinner conceded only 19 runs and dismissed four important Kiwi batters, including Chris Cairns, to emerge as the player of the match.
3. 4/25 vs New Zealand, 1993
Shane Warne loved performing against the Trans-Tasman rivals, and he had immense success against New Zealand. Australia bowled New Zealand out for 135 runs in the first innings, courtesy of the young leg-spinner’s brilliant show with the ball. He partnered with Glenn McGrath to dismantle the New Zealand batting order, putting the Kangaroos in a winning position. Eventually, Australia won the match by 8 wickets, and Warne was awarded the player of the match for his decisive contribution.