Sport throws up many paradoxes. One of the most common ones is the way players are stereotyped or branded. Once an image is created, it is very difficult to shrug away the impression of a player among the audience. Given how much modern day sports is driven by statistics, it is surprising that impressions play such a massive role. After all, the worth of the bowler can easily be decided by looking at his numbers over a decent period of time – numbers like economy rate in ODIs and bowling average in Tests.
Nevertheless, some bowlers go under the radar for some weird reason. This could be because of several reasons. Some of these underrated bowlers often play in the shadow of a superstar, who takes away all the attention. That is not very different from what happened to selfless batsmen like Rahul Dravid, sandwiched between players like Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.
Another reason is the bowler’s style of bowling which could be in contrast to his team’s most dominant style – a workhorse pace bowler like Ishant Sharma in a spin-heavy bowling attack, for example. It could also be because of the team’s fortunes in international cricket. Here, we look at some of world cricket’s most underrated bowlers – bowlers who deserve mentions more often than they get!
#1 Josh Hazlewood
All of 26 years, Hazelwood is already an important cog in the new-look Australia team. The New South Wales bowler is a Glenn McGrath clone - consistent, accurate and hit-the-deck-let-the-seam-do-the-rest type of bowler. Hazlewood is generally overshadowed by the fast, left-arm quick Mitchell Starc and generally doesn’t get his due.
Nevertheless, Hazlewood is seventh on the list of the most prolific wicket-takers in Test cricket in the last three years. He has 109 wickets in 26 Tests at an incredible 24.78 with four five wicket-hauls. During the same time, Starc has 102 wickets in 22 Tests at 26.15.
Another man just as underrated is Hazlewood’s teammate Nathan Lyon who has 122 wickets in 32 Tests, sixth highest in the last three years. Yet, Lyon’s place in the team is perpetually under threat. Hazlewood has 42 wickets in 10 Tests at 25.9 in the last 12 months, seventh highest, showing his consistency in the whites.
Lyon has 36 wickets in 10 Tests albeit at a much higher average. Hazlewood also has 54 wickets in 33 ODI matches in the last three years at an average of 24.77 and a measly economy of 4.64, with 28 wickets in 18 games in the last 12 months at the same economy, 0.1 less than Starc’s 4.74. Impressed already?
#2 Chris Woakes
It is difficult to be at your best when you are on and off the game, when your presence in the team depends on how injury-free or injury-prone other teammates of yours are. Such has been the story of England’s talented fast-bowler – Chris Woakes. Woakes, who was impressive during England’s wretched tour of India in recent times, has 47 wickets in 16 Tests at 27.91 with 2 five-wicket hauls in the last three years.
Woakes’ place is always under contention given Stuart Broad and James Anderson average 25.29 and 22.48, respectively, for their 130 and 124 wickets during the same time. However, their place in the team isn’t as uncertain as Woakes. In the last 12 months, the Warwickshire bowler has been England’s highest wicket-taker with 40 wickets in 11 Tests at 22.45. Woakes is also the fourth highest wicket-taker in the last three years in ODIs, with 63 wickets at 33.73 in 45 games with an economy of 5.73.
England’s second best is Adil Rashid, way behind with 48 wickets in 33 games. Woakes is garnering greater attention in recent times, having picked up 22 wickets in 15 ODIs in the last 12 months but the man clearly deserves a better deal and more opportunities; his performances on the flat tracks of India being a testimony of his talent!
#3 Imran Tahir
37-year old Tahir hasn’t really been in the thick of things in Test cricket, lately, having played his last game in December 2015. But he is South Africa’s best bowler in ODI cricket. Tahir is the highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket in the last 3 years. He has 95 wickets in 56 ODIs at 24.86 at a miserly average of 4.67 – that despite being a leg-spinner.
To put things into perspective, third-placed Boult on the same list has just 75 wickets in 35 games. South Africa’s next highest wicket-taker during the same period is Morne Morkel with 57 wickets in 35 ODIs. Such is the gap.
In the last 12 months, Tahir has been equally impressive with 29 wickets in 15 ODIs at an average of 20.31, the lowest amongst the top 20 wicket-takers, at an economy rate of 4.49.
Tahir is equally valuable in T20Is, picking up 24 wickets in 14 games, with an economy of just 6.58 and average of 14.54. That is way ahead of the young, pace-bowling rookie sensation Kagiso Rabada, who has 21 wickets in 13 T20Is but an economy of 8.1.
#4 Mashrafe Mortaza
Mortaza is less of a cricketer, more of a warrior. With a rickety knee perpetually threatening his career, one of Bangladesh’s earliest sensations and their talismanic skipper has dragged his team in his own style, punching above their weight, gutsing it out and crossing one milestone after another.
The skipper who helmed Bangladesh’s turnaround in ODIs, with excellent series wins at home against top teams is also one of their wiliest and most consistent bowlers in the short-format. Mortaza is Bangladesh’s fourth highest wicket-taker in T20I in the last two years.
But, it is in ODIs that he is invaluable. A good lower-order hitter, Mortaza has shown his worth with the ball, new and old, with 15 wickets in 9 games at 24.40 with an economy rate of 4.48.
In the last three years, the Bangladesh bowler has 54 wickets in 38 ODIs at 28.09 with an economy of 4.79. Only Shakib al Hasan has more amongst all Bangladesh bowlers – 59 in 37 games. Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain are way behind with 35 and 32 wickets respectively.
#5 Neil Wagner
Neil Wagner is rarely spoken about in the same breath as his more illustrious teammates – the talismanic captain Kane Williamson, or the ever-consistent Trent Boult. However, Wagner is indomitable and the 30-year old workhorse has been impressive in recent times. The Kiwi bowler has 68 wickets in 15 Tests at 23.86 with three five-wicket hauls.
Boult averages 30.92 during the same time and Tim Southee averages 32.41 showing how Wagner helps to keep the pressure on, giving nothing away. In the last 12 months, Wagner’s stock has risen further as he picked up 51 wickets in 11 Tests at 22.33, fourth highest among all bowlers.
During the same time, Boult has 41 wickets in 11 Tests at 30.46. Wagner doesn’t play much in the shorter formats, part of the reason why he isn’t noticed as often or as much as he deserves to be.
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