5 fast bowlers who are also handy with the bat

In the past decade or so, the demands of being an International cricketer has risen a few notches higher. With the game being heavily tilted in the favour of batsmen, a good team is often credited for the firepower present in its bowling ranks.

However, captains are always on the look out for bowlers who can give them ten quality overs and also contribute with the bat from lower down the order. In the last few years, many teams have profited hugely because of the vital runs contributed by their lower order batsmen.

Let us take a look at five world-class fast bowlerwho have also developed a penchant for batting in recent times. This list does not include bowling all-rounders and only current players have been taken into account.

---

#5 Liam Plunkett

Liam Plunkett's career can be divided in two contrasting halves. When he burst onto the scene as a bustling pace bowler, he was no mug with the bat either. He made both his Test and ODI debuts back in 2005 and his good performances were few and fair in between. Consequently, he was soon dropped from the England team.

Since earning a recall through strong performances in the County circuit, Plunkett has performed consistently with the ball over the last few years. He has also developed into a handy lower order batsman. The right-hander possesses a reasonably good technique and can muscle the ball a long way. His batting skills were evident when he smashed a last ball six against Sri Lanka in an ODI at Trent Bridge to help England register a thrilling tie.

Batting Numbers

Tests - 238 runs from 13 matches at an average of 15.87 with one fifty

ODIs - 516 runs from 62 matches at an average of 20.64 with one fifty

#4 Tim Southee

Southee has the ability to clear the ropes with ease

Tim Southee is currently one of the mainstays of New Zealand's bowling attack, along with Trent Boult. He has the uncanny knack of picking up wickets at regular intervals and is one of the best exponents of swing bowling in world cricket today.

Initially, Southee's performances with the bat did not inspire much confidence as he was primarily a bowler who could just swing the bat. However, after nearly 9 years in the international circuit, he has evolved into a useful batsman lower down the order. He strikes the ball a long way and also plays according to the match situation with comfortable ease. The right-hander has the capacity to develop into a genuine all-rounder, provided he takes his batting more seriously.

Batting Numbers

Tests - 1331 runs from 57 matches at an average of 16.64 with three fifties

ODIs - 565 runs from 122 matches at an average of 12.02 with one fifty

#3 Kagiso Rabada

Rabada is one of the most talented young cricketers in the South Africa team

Kagiso Rabada came into prominence during South Africa's tour of India in 2015 wherein he grabbed headlines with his raw pace and accuracy. Fast forward two years, Rabada has become a regular across all formats of the game. With age on his side, he could end up as one of the modern-day greats.

Rabada yields the willow with comfortable ease and has a sturdy defense. The left-hander has played quite a few crucial knocks in his short career. During his stint with the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, he transformed himself into a promising batsman lower down the order.

Batting Numbers

Tests - 259 runs from 22 matches at an average of 14.39

ODIs - 160 runs from 43 matches at an average of 20

#2 Mitchell Starc

Starc has the skills to cause serious damage with the bat

The fiery Mitchell Starc is often known for his lethal yorkers and pacy bouncers. However, he is also quite a capable batsman down the order for Australia. The left-hander already has ten fifties to his name at the international level. Nine of those have come in Test cricket.

Starc's highest score of 99 came against India at Mohali in 2013. Against an in-form spin attack, this was an innings of sublime quality. He played proper shots and was unlucky to miss out on what could have been a well deserved hundred. Faced with the prospect of playing his first Ashes series on home soil, Starc will be looking to contribute with both bat and ball.

Batting Numbers

Tests - 1067 runs from 36 matches at an average of 24.81 with nine fifties

ODIs - 259 runs from 68 matches at an average of 15.24 with one fifty

#1 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar's solid technique helps him contribute with valuable knocks

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has to be the most improved lower order batsman in recent times. During the last couple of years, he has contributed to the team's cause on a number of occasions. One of those came during India's trip to Sri Lanka earlier this year. He scored an unbeaten 53 and formed a game-changing partnership with MS Dhoni to help India win the second ODI in Pallekele.

Bhuvneshwar has become an integral component of India's pace bowling attack in the shorter formats. He also made a mark in the recently concluded Test against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. His admirable recent form with the bat certainly augurs well for the team as he could potentially develop into a seam bowling all rounder in the near future.

Batting Numbers

Tests - 451 runs from 19 matches at an average of 20.5 with three fifties

ODIs - 339 runs from 78 matches at an average of 14.12 with one fifty