ICC World Cup 2019 has been done and dusted. All though it was expected that the tournament would go after batsmen’s names, it went to bowlers’ names. The pace bowlers showed their talent and class throughout the tournament. Where Australia pace-spearhead Mitchell Starc broke Glenn McGrath’s record by taking the highest number of wickets in a single season, young gun Shaheen Afridi took the limelight with his left-arm pace.
Here are the top 5 debutant bowlers:
Jofra Archer
After becoming eligible for playing his side, England, Jofra Archer didn’t leave any batsman to create trouble in their way. With accurate pace, line, and length he has become the key bowler of captain Eoin Morgan. He even bowled the Supr Over in the final against New Zealand and helped England quite a few times by providing crucial wickets. He can well execute in-swinger, out-swinger, cutter, Yorker, slower yorker, slower bouncer etc. He took 17 wickets and ended the highest wicket-taker for England along with Mark Wood. His 17 wickets came at an average of 22.76 and an economy rate of just 4.78. With this immense talent, he becomes the obvious choice for the list.
Shaheen Afridi
Although he was overlooked in the beginning, he ended up as the second-highest wicket-taker for Pakistan. The teenager scalped 16 wickets in 5 matches, including a four-fer and a fifer. Surprisingly his 13 wickets out of 16 came in the final three games. He has certainly impressed everyone with his bowling and has the ability to become a great pace bowler in the future.
Lockie Ferguson
Although New Zealand’s pace spearhead Trent Boult did a fabulous job in the recently concluded ICC World cup, it was Lockie Ferguson who took the limelight. With the ability of bowling more than 150kmph, he ended the season as the leading wicket-taker for the Kiwis with 17 wickets in seven matches. He gave away runs at a rate of 4.96 and proved beneficial in the middle orders as well.
Sheldon Cottrell
West Indies pace bowler Sheldon Cottrell got people’s attention with his typical style of celebration after taking wickets. He used to provide early breakthroughs to his side and ended as the highest wicket-taker for his side. His 12 wickets in 9 matches came at an average of 32.67. Moreover, his brilliant catches and a stunning run out which dismissed Tamim Iqbal was equally praiseworthy.
Jasprit Bumrah
Virat Kohli’s go-to bowler Jasprit Bumrah had a brilliant season in the recently concluded ICC World Cup. His rise to the top helped his side pretty well as he proved a threat to the opponents. His deadly Yorkers had dismissed many players as well. He bagged 18 wickets in 9 matches and ended the season as the highest wicket-taker. He has proved that with his exceptional skill, he can be Match-winner for India any day.
