Over the past two decades Cricket has undergone so many changes, most of them favouring the batsmen – be it bigger bats, smaller grounds or flatter pitches. Though this has given a big boost in terms of the entertainment factor and growth in stadium attendance, the rift between batting and bowling has widened.
Fast bowlers are on the verge of becoming an endangered species. Recurring injuries and heavy workload across formats have witnessed early retirements by pace bowlers. They travel from tour to tour with minimal breaks giving the body very little time to recuperate from niggles. This has significantly contributed to a decline of threatening pace bowlers in the world stage.
With some sensational modern pace bowlers - Dale Steyn, James Anderson and Morne Morkel - nearing their twilight years and the young crop of fast bowlers - Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammad Shami and Steven Finn – frequently down with injuries, it is up to some super young talents from across the globe to keep the art of fast bowling alive.
Let us glance through a list of some fearsome upcoming pace bowlers in world cricket:
#1 Alzarri Joseph – West Indies
Alzarri Joseph created quite a stir in the 2016 U-19 World Cup, where he took 13 wickets in six games at an average of 13.76 for West Indies U-19, thus helping the team to a title triumph.
He had already made an impression with his pace and control, since his first class debut for the Leeward Islands during the 2014–15 Regional Four Day Competition.
For someone of his age, consistently hitting the 145kmph mark is quite a feat. He made people sit up and take notice every single time he bowled in the U-19 tournament in Bangladesh.
In July 2016, he was called up to the West Indian Test squad after continuing his impressive show in the Caribbean Premier League. In just his 15th ball in Test cricket, he had the Indian Test captain, Virat Kohli, nicking behind off a fiery ball that took off from the surface.
Joseph is yet to play another Test, but there is no doubting the fact that this young sensation is bound to create waves in the international circuit.
#2 Matt Henry – New Zealand
Henry is a promising right-arm seamer who plies his trade with Canterbury in New Zealand. His impressive pace earned him a place in the New Zealand XI for the fifth ODI against India in January 2014.
He immediately repaid the selectors faith in him with a four-wicket haul on debut. He followed that up with another exciting performance, including a five-wicket haul, in Sharjah against Pakistan.
Though he was initially not considered for the ODI World Cup at home, he came in as a replacement for the injured Adam Milne in the semi-final and recorded figures of 2/46 in the final against Australia.
He also plays first-class cricket in England for Worcestershire and has recorded his best figures in first-class for them against Surrey, where he took a 5/18. His exploits with the ball also helped Canterbury to the final of the Ford Trophy in 2012/13.
Henry made his Test debut in 2015 against England and has to date played in 4 Tests picking up 10 wickets. Despite being in and out of the Test team due to the abundance of talent on offer for New Zealand, there is no doubting the potential of this seamer.
The New Zealander has been called up to the Test team for the series against India as a replacement for the injured Tim Southee.
#3 Shardul Thakur - India
The young Mumbai pace bowler made his first-class debut against Rajasthan in Jaipur in November 2012. In the 2012-13 Ranji season, he finished with 27 wickets in six matches at an impressive average of 26.25.
The following season turned out to be his breakthrough season, as he took 48 wickets at an average of 20.81 from ten matches with five five-wicket hauls.
This performance made the selectors take notice of the Mumbaikar. He was picked up by IPL franchise, Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 IPL Auctions for INR 20 lakhs.
In 2015-16 Ranji Trophy final, he took eight wickets against Saurashtra, a performance that led Mumbai to its 41st Ranji Trophy title. He was also picked in the Indian Test team for the tour of West Indies but did not get a chance to showcase his talent.
Considering the shortage of pace bowlers coming through the system, it is certain that this talented pacer would soon be donning the Indian Test cap. His pace, bounce and control of line and length have been his key strengths.
#4 Mustafizur Rahman - Bangladesh
The Fizz. A product of the prestigious MRF Pace Academy, this Bangladeshi left-arm fast bowlers has already turned heads. He has taken the most wickets (13) in a debut one-day international series, and is also the first player to win the ‘Man of the Match’ award in both Test and ODI debut.
The 2014 Under-19 World Cup created an ideal launching platform for this talented pace bowler. Rahman made his International debut against Pakistan in a T20 match in April, 2015.
Later in the same year, he made his ODI and Test debuts against India and South Africa respectively, grabbing the Man of the Match award in both matches.
In the 2016 IPL auctions, Rahman was picked by the Hyderabad-based franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite an abundance of experienced talent in the side, he played most of the games for the franchise. His 17 wickets in 16 games was a vital factor in Hyderabad’s race to the title.
He was named as ‘Emerging Player of the Tournament’, becoming the first overseas player to receive this award in the IPL.
He has played just 2 Test matches to date but is sure to play many more matches for his country. His famous off-cutter has bamboozled batsmen from across the globe in all formats.
#5 Kagiso Rabada – South Africa
Rabada was chosen to represent South Africa's Under-19 side for the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where South Africa won the tournament, courtesy Rabada, who recorded the best figures of the tournament of 6/25 against Australia in the final.
He was the standout bowler of the tournament claiming the 2nd most wickets (14 at an economy rate of 3.10.)
The performance fast-tracked him into the South African limited overs setup and he made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in July, 2015, recording a hat-trick, en route to a six-wicket haul and the best figures by a debutant.
His exploits in the limited overs setup earned him a Test Debut for South Africa against India on 5 November 2015. He had an impressive outing in India despite his team’s lackluster show. In the following series against England, in the fourth Test, he finished with figures of 13/144, helping his team win the match.
In the process, he became the youngest South African to register a ten-wicket haul in a Test. The 13-wicket haul in the match also turned out to be the second best figures ever by a bowler for South Africa.
In July 2016, young Rabada became the first cricketer to win six awards (previous best being five) at Cricket South Africa's prestigious annual dinner, including the coveted prize for Cricketer of the Year.
He also has the most international wickets across formats in this year (57). He has played 8 Tests so far taking 29 wickets at an average of 24.44.
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