ICC World Cup 2019: One player from each team who might be the leading wicket taker of the tournament

ICC Cricket World Cup, the biggest tournament of the game of cricket is scheduled to take place in England from May 30, 2019 to July 14, 2019. The ten teams - India, England, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are all set to participate in the grand tournament.

All the teams would be eyeing to win the coveted trophy. The teams will face each other once with top four qualifying for the semi-finals. At the moment, India and England are arguably the favourites to lift the trophy.

In the previous edition of the pioneer event, Mitchell Starc, the left-arm pacer from Australia was the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets from 8 games at an economy of less than 4 and a strike-rate of about 10.

In the build up to the event, there is a player from each team who has the potential to end up as the leading wicket-taker of the upcoming edition of the tournament. Let us take a look at those bowlers.

#10 Oshane Thomas (West Indies)

Oshane Thomas, the fast bowler from West Indies came into limelight when he troubled the Indian batsmen in their own backyard. The 6 feet bowler has the ability to consistently bowl at a pace of 145 kmph. His bowling brought back the memories of the time when batsmen from around the world feared playing the Windies bowlers.

It was his debut ODI series for his country but he went on to trouble some of the quality batsmen like Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. So far in his career, the right-handed bowler has scalped 6 wickets from 4 games at an average of 34 and an economy of over 7.

It is still early in Thomas' international career, but he has shown a lot of potential in the matches he has played so far. If he continues to put up his hard work, he may well end up as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

#9 Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

Lasith Malinga is one of the successful bowlers in the history of Sri Lanka cricket. He is one of the few bowlers who could bowl slow inswing yorkers. The slingy pacer has had a lot of up and downs in his career. He was out of form for a very long time that kept him out of the Sri Lankan squad.

However, he made a strong comeback during the Asia Cup which was held in 2018 and proved why he is one of the finest limited overs bowlers. Since his return to international cricket in 2018, he has picked up 17 wickets from 9 ODIs at an average of about 25.

So far, Malinga has picked up a total of 318 wickets from 213 games at an average of less than 30 and an economy of about 5. With the kind of experience he is having, he could end up the tournament as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.

#8 Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)

Mustafizur Rahman has been the backbone of Bangladesh's bowling attack since his arrival into the international scene. He has made the oppositions struggle with his inswingers, outswingers, off-cutters and yorkers.

He made his ODI debut against India in 2015 and grabbed the eyeballs when he picked two five-wicket hauls in his first two games. He became the only second bowler to achieve this feat.

The left arm pacer from Bangladesh has been in great touch in the shorter formats, especially in the ODIs. He ended up the Asia Cup 2018 with 10 wickets from just 5 games. Later, he picked up 2 and 5 wickets against Zimbabwe and West Indies respectively.

In 2018, he picked up 29 wickets from 18 matches at an amazing average of 20.51 at an economy of less than 5 and a strike rate of 31. He is expected to continue his good form in England this summer.

#7 Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Rashid Khan, the young leggie from Afghanistan can go on to become one of the successful limited overs spinners of all time in the game of cricket. He is one of the few bowlers who could trouble even the greatest batsmen of all time.

In 2015, the leg-spinner announced his arrival into the international cricket. Since then, he shattered a lot of records in international cricket. He possesses a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

He was the main reason behind Afghanistan's qualification for the 2019 World Cup as he picked up 14 wickets from 7 games in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. Later, he picked up 8 and 10 wickets in the series against Ireland and Asia Cup respectively.

So far, Rashid Khan has scalped 118 wickets from 52 matches at an average of 14.47 including eight 4-wicket-hauls with the best bowling figure of 7 for 18. He has all the potential to pick more wickets than any bowler at the 2019 World Cup.

#6 Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Mitchell Starc is one of the fearsome bowlers in modern day cricket. He has the ability to swing the ball both ways and produces yorkers at a very rapid pace. The left-arm pacer was the main reason behind Australia's World Cup victory in 2015 as he picked up 22 wickets from just 8 games at an average of about 10 and an economy of less than 4.

Since the end of last World Cup, he has played 34 ODIs and picked up 62 wickets at an average of less than 25 and an economy close to 5. He has been terrific with the ball in the limited-overs format, especially in ODIs.

In the recently concluded ODI series against India, he was rested to keep him fresh for the upcoming World Cup. It won't be a surprise if he becomes the leading wicket-taker of the 2019 World Cup.

#5 Lungi Ngidi (South Africa)

Lungi Ngidi is the new face of South Africa's fast-bowling attack. Since his debut, he has destroyed a lot of opponents along with Kagiso Rabada. He is capable of bowling in excess of 140 kmph. The tall bowler can create problems for the batsmen with his short-pitched deliveries.

After having a successful debut Test series against India, he made his ODI debut against the same opposition. However, he was expensive with the bowling figures of 0/47. He ended the series with 8 wickets from 4 innings.

In 2018, the right-arm pacer played 13 games and picked up 26 wickets at an outstanding average of 23.04 and an economy of about 5.5. So far in his career, he has 2 four-wicket-haul to his name - one each against India and Sri Lanka.

One of the backbones of South Africa's bowling department, Ngidi might be the leading wicket-taker at the cricket festival.

#4 Tim Southee (New Zealand)

Tim Southee, the right-arm fast bowler is one of the best bowlers for New Zealand across all formats of the game. He has the ability to trouble the opposition with his outswingers.

He played a major role for his country when New Zealand reached the World Cup finals for the first time in 2015. He picked up 15 wickets from 9 matches at an average of about 31 with the best figure of 7 for 33.

Since then, he has played 44 games and picked up 47 wickets with the best bowling figure of 3 for 22. Even though he has not been in great touch, he can deliver his best in England where the conditions suit his style of bowling.

As he has already featured in two World Cups, he will be one of New Zealand's experienced players ahead of the World Cup event.

#3 Hasan Ali (Pakistan)

2017 was the breakthrough year for Hasan Ali when he destroyed the batting line-ups across the world. He bagged 45 wickets from just 18 matches at an outstanding average of about 17, with 5 for 34 being his best figures.

Ali was the main reason behind Pakistan's victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England as he picked up 13 wickets from 5 games at an average of 14.69 with a best of 3 for 19.

In 2018, the right-arm pacer scalped 19 wickets from 15 matches at an average of 34 and an economy of less than 6. He is currently at 12th spot in the latest ICC ODI Rankings for Bowlers.

Hasan Ali has been in great form with the ball in the shorter formats of the game. In a line-up comprising talented players like Mohammed Amir and Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali can provide stability to Pakistan's bowling lineup.

#2 Adil Rashid (England)

Adil Rashid has been England's best spinner in the shorter formats of the game. He came into the international scene in 2009 and played only a couple of games before being dropped. Thereafter, he had to wait for more than six years to play for his country again.

After England's early exit from World Cup 2015, Eoin Morgan included Adil Rashid into the ODI squad. It was the best move from England's limited overs skipper. Since then, he has taken the highest number of wickets for his team in One Day Internationals.

So far, the leg-spinner has played 78 matches and scalped 119 wickets at an average of 30.42 and an economy of about 5.5 with his best figure being 5 for 27.

The 30-year-old was terrific with the ball in the ODIs in 2018 as he picked 42 wickets from just 24 games at an average of about 27.

Even though the pitches in England are known to assist pacers, Adil Rashid has the ability and class to end up as the leading wicket-taker at the 2019 World Cup.

#1 Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Jasprit Bumrah announced his arrival in international cricket when the Indian team were desperately searching for a good fast bowler. A student of Lasith Malinga, Bumrah has the ability to bowl perfect yorkers during the death overs.

The right arm pacer made his international debut in ODIs in 2016. Since then, he has never looked back, and has been the best bowler for India across all formats of the game.

The 25-year-old has scalped 78 wickets from 44 matches at an impressive average of 21.01 and an economy of less than 5.

The year 2018 was a breakthrough year for him in international cricket. He became the first Indian bowler to bag a Test five-wicket-haul in South Africa, England and Australia in the same calendar year.

With the kind of form he has been in, he may well end up as the highest wicket taker during the upcoming cricket festival.

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