As India and Australia prepare to lock horns with each other in what promises to be a thriller of a series, the focus remains on the batting lineups of both the teams. While the two star studded outfits have an array of world dominating batsmen in their ranks, one cannot simply discount what the bowlers bring to the table.
It is often reiterated that in a battle of two batting giants, it is often one miserly spell from either sides, which ultimately dictates the outcome of the match. Even one good spell, which rattles the opposition for a while, can be enough to change the outcome of the match.
With the series commencing tomorrow at Chennai, below, we have a look at the top 5 wicket takers in India and Australia ODI’s.
- Ajit Agarkar:
Agarkar, among the leading wicket takers for India in ODI’s, surely enjoyed bowlinf against the then best ODI side around. The lanky pacer boasted of a more than a decent record against the mighty Aussies, picking up 36 wickets in just 21 games. Among those 36 wickets, was a fine six wicket haul which the pacer hailing from Mumbai took. Agarkar was simply lethal against Australia during the 2003/04 VB Series Down Under, which also featured Zimbabwe as the third team. The only issue with Agarkar though, was that his economy rate at 5.84 was a bit on the higher side for a bowler bowling in his era.
- Steve Waugh:
Well, to be honest, Waugh’s name in this elite list of bowlers does raise a few eyebrows. The 1999 World Cup winning captain was more than just a handy medium pacer for his side. Apart from being a rock with the bat for the Kangaroos, this gentle and humble individual could also chip in with a few overs, which could turn out to be quite crucial, just like his spell in the final of the 1987 World Cup. Against India, Waugh had 43 wickets to his name in a total of 53 ODI’s. With best figures of 4/40 against the men in blue, Waugh indeed was a genuine all rounder for Australia.
- Mitchell Johnson:
On Johnson’s day, hardly any other bowler would look as menacing as this Western Australian. Johnson didnt just bowl vicious, unplayable deliveries, but he did bowl thunderbolts, which would strike fear in the hearts of the batsmen. Against India, Johnson was always on song, as his total of 43 wickets in 27 matches is a proof of that. To go with that, the left arm pacer had a five wicket haul to his name against the reputed Indian batting lineup. Johnson’s best performance against India though, came in the semi final of the 2015 World Cup, where he derailed India’s chase. In that spell, he snapped India’s best two batsmen in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
- Kapil Dev:
During the 1980’s, when India began to ascend as an ODI outfit, then skipper and new ball bowlee Kapil Dev was the fulcrum of the bowling department. There was a clear correlation between Dev picking up wickets early and India going on to win matches. Easily among the greatest match winners produced by Team India, Dev stood with 45 wickets against Australia in 41 matches. The brawny pacer, who relied mainly on his swing and accuracy was a nightmare for the top order batsmen with the new ball. During India’a historic campaign in the 1985 Benson and Hedges World Series, Dev was lethal, picking up wickets in each game.
- Brett Lee:
Inarguably, the most devastating pacer of the modern era of cricketers, Brett Lee held an array of glorious bowling records to his name. The New South Wales pace sensation was an absolute terror for a lot of batsmen around the globe, as his sheer fury, pace and accuracy made him a wicket taker, in a league of his own. Against India, Lee has some absolutely unreal numbers to his credit. In the matter of just 32 matches, Lee has a total of 55 wickets against the men in blue, at a bowling average of just 21. Apart from that, Lee also has an unbelievable record of 4 five-wicket hauls against India. Simply outstanding to say the least.