2016 witnessed some amazing bowling performances and looking at the form of the current crop of bowlers, 2017 is going to be no different. 2017 is an extravaganza of limited-over fixtures. Expect these 8 bowlers to play key roles and put up an excellent display in 2017!
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN (India):
No player has been as instrumental to India’s unbeaten Test streak as this man! He has been the most dependable player and the go-to man for the captain in all formats of the game. He did a double with the ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year! And no other player deserved it more.
He was the best bowler by quite a margin in Tests with 72 wickets in 12 matches. He was also the life-jacket of the Indian batting whenever the middle order failed. He scored 612 runs in 12 Tests. He also recorded his best figures of 7/59 this year. He didn’t get much limited overs action this year. However, in the 17 T20s he did play, he took 23 wickets.
Critics have always doubted Ashwin’s ability to perform overseas. Thus, the Champions Trophy in England is a perfect platform for him to prove them wrong.
MITCHELL STARC (Australia):
Starc, on his day, is the best bowler in the world. His ability to play the pitch, swing the ball both ways and reverse the old ball is second to none.
Though he missed a lot of action due to injury in 2016, Starc has 50 wickets in 8 Tests this year. He averages more wickets per match than R Ashwin himself! In ODIs too, he performed great with 26 wickets in 13 matches. He also became the fastest bowler to 100 ODI wickets. Also, in the 2 T20s he played, he struck 4 times!
Starc is the biggest obstacle standing between England and the Ashes. He is also going to trouble every team in the Champions Trophy. But, all of this is possible only if he is fit! Expect Starc to strike this year!
BEN STOKES (England):
A true all-rounder, he is one of England’s best finds in the recent years.
His Test performance last year is a testament to his all-round skills. He contributed 904 runs with the bat and 33 wickets with the ball in just 12 Tests. He also had a good year in ODIs with 490 runs at an average of 49 and 7 wickets. He might have had a good T20 stint in 2016; however the World T20 final will surely be a bitter memory for him.
In the coming Ashes, he will be a major concern for the Aussies. Also, expect him to be a differentiating factor for England in the Champions Trophy.
RANGANA HERATH (Sri Lanka):
Rangana Herath was second to only R Ashwin in terms of bowling in Tests this year.
He has been the go-to bowler for Sri Lanka ever since Murali has retired. It looks like he has aged gracefully. The 38-year old had probably the best year of his career with 57 wickets in just 9 matches. Being one of the most experienced players in the current Sri Lankan roster, he has surely set an example for the youngsters to follow.
He hasn’t played an ODI for the past 22 months. Can 2017 stage an ODI comeback for the veteran left-arm spinner?
KAGISO RABADA (South Africa):
Just imagine the pressure on the man who has to fill in Dale Steyn’s position as an opening bowler! 21-year old Rabada has however made it look like a piece of cake!
With 46 wickets and 4 five-fors in the last year and that too in just 9 matches, Rabada shows that the next generation of fast bowlers is pure gold! His performance in ODIs (22 wickets in 15 matches) is decent as well.
With the Champions Trophy and Basil D’Oliveira Trophy both to be played on the fast English pitches, expect some scorching hot bowling from this young star!
TRENT BOULT (New Zealand):
The New Zealander failed to deliver up to the mark in 2016. Trent Boult is a left-arm quick who presents a significant threat to batsmen around the world with an ability to move the ball both ways even in unresponsive conditions.
The number 1 ODI bowler had a modest 31 scalps in 10 Tests and 27 scalps off 14 ODIs in 2016. He might be a little disappointed with his game as there has been a massive drop in the number of wickets he has picked. However, those who have watched him play or have even seen the havoc he wreaks on the batsmen in IPL surely know that he is better than these performances of shun.
New Zealand is playing a lot of cricket at home this year. Expect the ‘Thunder-Boult’ to strike this year!
MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN (Bangladesh):
How often do you see a Bangladeshi fast bowler being picked over the likes of Trent Boult as the first choice overseas bowler in an IPL team? Another 21-year old fast bowling prodigy, Mustafizur joins Rabada in showing the class of the next-gen pacers.
Though he hasn’t played any matches in the longest format this year, he has 16 wickets in just 8 T20s. That is an average of two wickets every game. He is the best find for Bangladesh in the recent years. He can swing the ball both ways and bowls at a decent pace as well. He was named ICC Emerging Player of the Year 2016.
Bangladesh has a lot of hopes from the young pacer and he is surely going to fulfill all of them the next year. “The Fizz’s” cutters are going to whiz past the batsmen!
MOHAMMAD AMIR (Pakistan):
Let’s face it, he has had his share of controversies, but no one can deny that Amir is one of the most talented fast bowlers in the current Pakistani squad.
He made one of the most sensational comebacks. However, the highlight of his year has to be his face-off against Virat Kohli in the Asia Cup. Nobody expected Amir to be this good after such a long break. He proved everyone wrong and has been bowling beautifully ever since.
He picked up 30 wickets in 10 Tests this year. His ODI and T20 performance were not bad as well. Expect him to trouble teams with his swing and pace this year!