We are just days away from the ICC cricket World Cup 2015. The 2015 World Cup will be played in Australia and New Zealand. Tracks in both the countries will be more bowler friendly than they were in the 2011 World Cup. With the new conditions of starting with 2 new balls from each end also applicable in the world Cup, it can be safely said that the team which will bowl better and restrict the opposition will have a chance to go ahead in the Super 8’s, Super 4’s and the finals. In this article we look one bowler from each of the Top 5 side that we think will be the key for the performance of the respective teams. Here are those 5 bowlers:
Dale Steyn:
One of the best bowlers of the current generation, dale Steyn will surely be the bowler for the proteas that will be expected to bowl in the crucial stages of the game and do the work for his captain. Dale Steyn can consistently bowl at 140 plus and in the same channel. With likes of Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel in the team it is expected that Steyn will be asked to bowl first change. He has picked up 151 wickets so far at an average of 25 runs per wicket. Dale Steyn has so far picked up 6 wickets in 3 games in the bilateral series against West Indies. He will be one of the key man that can help the Proteas win their First World Cup.
Mitchell Starc:
This young Australian Fast bowler has a very impressive record in the ODI format of the game. He has so far represented the Aussie team in 30 games and has bagged 59 wickets at an impressive average of just 20 per wicket. He is one of the three left arm Fast bowlers that has picked in the Australian squad. The other two are Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner. So it will be interesting to see if he finds himself in the playing 11. In the triangular series that’s currently going on he has bagged 10 wickets in 2 games and has swung the new ball, and has also bowled Yorkers consistently in the death overs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be one of the key bowlers for the Indian team if they have to defend the World Cup. He will definitely open the bowling for the Indian Team. The Indian Captain will be hopeful that he gets the bowl to swing and make some early in roads in the opposition team. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was Injured and out of action for few months, he is back playing and in the triangular series going on he has picked up 1 wicket in the 2 games that India have played. It has also been reported that the bowling coach has been working with him to bowl Yorkers consistently in the death overs, however it will be interesting to see if Dhoni uses him in the death overs.
Mitchell McClenaghan:
McClenaghan is one of the most impressive among the young bowlers who are currently playing the ODI format of the game. He has just played 31 games and has become the leader New Zealand pace attack. He has picked up 62 wickets so far at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 25. He has already picked up more than 4 wickets in a game, 7 times in his career. He will have the likes of Adam Milne and Matt Henry who will be sharing the bowling attack with him for the Kiwis who are looking to win their First World Cup. He has picked up 6 wickets so far in 3 matches that the black caps are playing with the Lankan Lions.
James Anderson:
Jimmy Anderson would like to make a fresh start this World Cup and try to forget his record in the 2011 World Cup. The conditions and the new regulations will be idle for him to do well in this World Cup and help England to create some sort of an upset by defeating the better teams. He will also have the support of Stuart Broad, Steve Finn and Chris Woakes. Jimmy is the best bowler in the world when the ball swings, he has the best control and can beat the defenses of the best in the world. He has played 186 ODI games and has picked up 263 wickets at an average of 28. In the tri series going on he picked up 4 wickets in his first match after a long break from the game.
