6 bowlers to watch out for in World Cup 2015

            

"Make 'em hard and fast." This is the simple message that has been given to the Australian pitch curators. Going by this, one can expect feisty and spirited efforts by some world class bowlers in the midst to shape their teams’ fortunes. Apart from the ground conditions, use of two new balls from each end will surely encourage captains to prioritize quicker bowlers. So it did not come as a surprise when most teams (Including ones who usually depend on spinners) decided to pack their squads with pacers. Let’s have a look at the 6 bowlers who are more likely to inch their team closer to winning the ultimate prize, the CRICKET WORLD CUP 2015.

    1. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

The dream destroyer and menace creator, Mitchell Johnson, is expected to repeat the havoc that he has wrecked in the last 18 months. Possessing such a champion bowler who more often than not takes a wicket in his first spell and returns with fruitful result even in the middle and slog overs is likely to prove a vital cog in boosting home team’s chances. Early wickets are the key in any format and Johnson’s exploits along with Mitchell Starc would provide an added advantage to already talent rich side. Apart from his fiery pace and control of line and length, the tension that he creates in the opposition’s mind does most of the damage. Johnson, the spearhead of the bowling attack, might very well inspire his team to lift their 5^th title and 1^st on the home turf.  

    2. Trent Boult (New Zealand)

Trent Boult has become a major asset for the co-hosts in recent times and along with his new ball partner Tim Southee, the pair is likely to wreck havoc and create the same kind of impact which is expected from the Australian pair of Johnson and Starc. Bolt, who idolizes Wasim Akram, can swing the ball both ways and the very fact that he gets rid of the batsmen with strong technical aspects with his late swing makes him even a bigger threat going into the world cup. With New Zealand being touted as a major title contender, Boult’s performances will surely put the co-hosts on right path.

    3.  Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)

Now this might come as a surprise. Guys, don’t be bewildered by my choice. Of late, Herath has been a mainstay of the Sri Lankan bowling line up and more importantly, a genuine wicket taker.  The possession of ‘carrom ball’, where he flicks the ball through his fingers, makes him even more potent. Herath has the uncanny ability of breaking crucial partnerships as well as drying up the runs in the middle overs with his precise and immaculate line and length. The common worry among all Sub Continent teams would be defending totals on the huge Australian grounds. This is where, Herath, in tandem with Malinga, can see Sri Lanka through difficult times and enable smooth progress at least to the semis.

    4. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

No team would have ever been as relieved as would be Sri Lanka after Lasith Malinga was declared fit for the mega event. The impact that he creates with his deadly yorkers and clever change of pace is second to none. He is arguably the best death bowler ever to play the game and his ability to change the course of the match on its head in a space of few deliveries is unparallel. I am sure his spell against South Africa in 2007 World Cup where he took 4 wickets in as many balls is still fresh in our minds. Even with their batting prowess, Sri Lanka would have been the half the side in absence of their spearhead. On the other side, it should be duly noted that Malinga is returning from a long layoff and expecting him to set the stage on fire immediately would be too harsh. However, if he performs to even half of his abilities, Sri Lanka would be tough nut to crack given their remarkable run in ICC tournaments.

    5.  Morne Morkel (South Africa)

The 6’5’’ lanky pacer hailing from the rainbow nation is being touted to change the misfortune of his team’s consistent failure to win ICC tournaments. The pace and bounce on Aus and NZ pitches will ideally assist Morkel to devastate opposition’s batting line up in company of Steyn, Parnell and Abbott. Most batsmen find it very difficult to gauge the bounce he extracts from that height and would take some skill to counter him if he finds the right rhythm. Morkel has often been accused of bowling too short and as most people believe, Morkel is yet to showcase the impact that a 6’5’’ bowling at 145 case can create and this might be opportunity for him to make himself count and spoken in the same breath as his champion compatriot Dale Steyn.

6.  Mohammad Irfan (Pakistan)

Mohammad Irfan, at a towering height of 7’1’’, is the tallest player to play international cricket and has not been shy in taking every possible advantage of this feature. Barring his fitness concerns, Irfan is almost unplayable at times when he is at his peak. The loss of key compatriots Umar Gul and Junaid Khan has shifted the burden of getting off Pakistan to good starts with the ball entirely on him. In a recent interview, Irfan said that he wants to emulate what the great Wasim Akram did for the nation in 1992 edition. In order to achieve that feat, he will have to bowl out of his skins with prominent support from the other end and more importantly, stay fit across the whole tournament.