The ODI World Cup 2023 started on October 5, 2023, in India. Indian surfaces are known for being batting-friendly, and the warm-up games have been no exception. With batters dominating the proceedings, it is essential for every team to have a bowler who can showcase their efficiency in the death overs.
Death bowling is one of the most challenging aspects of ODI cricket, and it requires a bowler to have a variety of skills and experience. They need to be able to bowl accurately at high speeds, and they need to have a variety of deliveries that they can use to deceive the batsmen. They also need to be able to handle the pressure of bowling in the final overs of a match, when the batsmen are looking to score big and the stakes are at their highest.
Here is a ranking of some of the best death bowlers in the world, who are likely to play a key role in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023:
1. Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Jasprit Bumrah is arguably the best death bowler in the world right now. He is able to bowl consistently at high speeds, and he has a variety of deliveries that he can use to deceive the batsmen. He is also able to handle the pressure of bowling in the final overs of a match with ease.
Bumrah has been in excellent form in recent months, and he will be looking to lead India’s bowling attack at the World Cup. He is a key asset for the Indian team, and his performances in the death overs will be crucial to their success.
2. Trent Boult (New Zealand)
Trent Boult is another bowler who is renowned for his death bowling skills. He is a left-arm pacer who can swing the ball both ways, and he is also able to bowl yorkers at will. Boult is a very difficult bowler to face in the death overs, and he is often able to pick up wickets under pressure.
Boult will be playing in his third World Cup in 2023, and he will be looking to add to his tally of 21 wickets in the tournament. He is a key member of the New Zealand bowling attack, and his performances in the death overs will be crucial to their chances of winning the World Cup.
3. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Mitchell Starc is another Australian bowler who is renowned for his death bowling skills. He is a left-arm pacer who can swing the ball both ways, and he is also able to bowl yorkers at will. Starc is a very difficult bowler to face in the death overs, and he is often able to pick up wickets under pressure.
Starc has been in and out of form in recent months, but he is still one of the most dangerous bowlers in the world. He will be looking to play a key role in Australia’s bowling attack at the World Cup, and his performances in the death overs will be crucial to their success.
4. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
Kagiso Rabada is a right-arm pacer who is known for his speed and aggression. He is able to bowl consistently at high speeds, and he has a variety of deliveries that he can use to deceive the batsmen. Rabada is also able to handle the pressure of bowling in the final overs of a match with ease.
Rabada has been in excellent form in recent months, and he will be looking to lead South Africa’s bowling attack at the World Cup. He is a key asset for the South African team, and his performances in the death overs will be crucial to their success. These are just a few of the many talented death bowlers who will be on display at the 2023 ODI World Cup. It will be interesting to see which bowlers can step up to the plate and deliver
5. Haris Rauf (Pakistan)
After failing to advance to the knockout stages in the previous two World Cup tournaments, Pakistan is determined to establish a strong presence in the upcoming World Cup edition to be held in India. The Pakistan cricket team boasts a lineup of fast bowlers, including the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali, renowned for their speed and precision.
Haris Rauf enjoyed a stellar performance in the 2023 Asia Cup before sustaining an injury. During the tournament, he secured an impressive nine wickets in just four matches with an economy rate of 4.80. Given that the World Cup will be played on Indian pitches, which tend to favour batsmen, Haris faces the challenge of proving his mettle as a bowler in these demanding conditions.
Statistical records indicate that Haris excels as Pakistan’s primary death bowler in the 2023 World Cup squad, particularly in the final overs of innings. In death overs, the 29-year-old has amassed an impressive tally of 22 wickets in 19 innings with an economy rate of 6.87. Rauf is determined to validate his role and contribution in the upcoming World Cup 2023.
6. Sam Curran (England)
Sam Curran is one of the most exciting all-rounders in the world right now, and he has the potential to be a great death bowler in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Curran has all the attributes of a successful death bowler. He has a good yorker, a slower ball, and a bouncer. He can also bowl at a good pace, which is important in the death overs.
In addition, Curran is a very intelligent bowler. He knows how to set batsmen up and how to use the dimensions of the ground to his advantage. He is also very good at changing his pace and rhythm, which makes it difficult for batsmen to read him.
7. Matheesa Pathirana (Sri Lanka)
Matheesa Pathirana is a young and talented Sri Lankan fast bowler who has the potential to be a great death-over bowler in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He is quick, skilful, and has a knack for picking up wickets at crucial moments.
One of the most important qualities for a death-over bowler is the ability to bowl yorkers and slower balls consistently. Pathirana has a good yorker, and he is also able to bowl a variety of slower balls, including the knuckleball and the off-cutter. This makes him difficult for batsmen to read, and it gives him a good chance of picking up wickets.
Another important quality for a death-over bowler is the ability to handle pressure. Pathirana has shown that he can handle pressure well. He has already performed well in big matches, including the 2022 Asia Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
8. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Rashid Khan is set to lead Afghanistan’s spin bowling attack in the upcoming tournament. Presently, Rashid stands as the most formidable bowler for the Afghan team, consistently taking wickets in challenging matches while also effectively containing opposing batsmen.
On the spinning tracks of India, Rashid is poised to pose a significant challenge to batsmen. The leg-spin maestro is well-acquainted with Indian conditions, having participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) annually since 2017. Leveraging his experience on these pitches, the 25-year-old aims to make a significant impact.
In the crucial death overs, Rashid becomes an even more menacing presence against batsmen. Among his impressive tally of 172 ODI wickets, the young Afghan spinner has snatched 57 wickets during the death overs, maintaining an economical bowling rate of 5.33 in these critical phases. Afghanistan’s team will be counting on their star bowler to step up and deliver his best performance in the upcoming tournament.
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