Cricket World Cup History: Top 3 bowling figures of all time

The most coveted trophy in the sport of cricket, the World Cup has, for a long time now provided unmatched entertainment as countries build up their best team over four years to claim the top honors.

One of the most notable changes to the sport as such is the fact that the game has gradually shifted towards the batsmen. Flat pitches, smaller boundaries and fielding restrictions, all of these have together contributed immensely in this gradual shift.

However, there have been some remarkable bowling performances which have gone on to turn matches and won games as well. Here are the top three best bowling performances in World Cup history.

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#3 Tim Southee (7-33 against England, 2015)

Tim Southee celebrates the fall of a wicket

Tim Southee made his debut for the Kiwis back in 2008 on the back of his phenomenal performances in the domestic circuit and since then, he has been a regular feature in the New Zealand side.

It was in the 2015 edition of the ICC World Cup when Southee blew away the star-studded England side with his ability to swing the ball at a lively pace that troubled the best of batsmen.

The Kiwi pacer finished with the figures of 7/33 in his 9 overs, restricting England to a score of merely 123 runs. His skillfull bowling ripped apart the renowned English batting unit comprising of Ian Bell, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan.

New Zealand managed to chase the target in just 74 balls and Southee was adjudged the player of the match for his outstanding performance. Tim Southee finished with 15 wickets from nine matches at the end of the tournament.

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#2 Andy Bichel (7-20 against England, 2003)

Andy Bichel of Australia celebrates the wicket of Michael Vaughan of England

Andy Bichel made his debut for the Australia in the year 1997 against West indies and grabbed his first wicket in the third over of his first spell. However, he failed to cement his place in the Australian team. He made a comeback in the year 2002 and became a vital asset for the Kangaroos owing to of his all-round abilities.

It was in the 37th match of the 2003 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup when he deceived the English batsmen with his pace and seam movement. The England innings collapsed from 66/0 to 87/5 in just eight overs.

Bichel finished with the figures of 7/20 in his 10 overs, restricting England to a below par score of 204. However, the English bowler bowled superbly and Aussies were reeling at 135/8 before Bichel stitched an unbeaten partnership of 73 runs for the 9th wicket, guiding his team to an impossible win.

#1 Glenn Mcgrath (7-15 against Namibia, 2003)

Glenn McGrath of Australia claims the wicket of Morne Karg of Namibia

Glenn McGrath is one of the best fast bowlers to ever play the game. Since his debut in 1993, McGrath became a regular feature in the Australian Side and led the pace bowling attack for the Kangaroos for a decade.

McGrath with his impeccable line and length was one of the most difficult bowlers to negotiate. In the 31st match of the 2003 cricket World Cup, he grabbed a 7-wicket haul against Namibia and clinched a new record to his name.

He finished the match with figures of 7/15 in 7 overs and the opposition was all-out for merely 45 runs in 14 overs. This is the best figures by a bowler in the history of the World Cup.

Glenn McGrath, post his retirement still holds the record for the best figures in World Cup history and is also the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 71 wickets from 39 matches.