As August comes to an end, the world is preparing for the Cricket World Cup which is scheduled to begin on 5th October in India. Indian pitches always favour spin attack and it will be interesting to see how pace bowlers from across the globe adapt to the situation.
Fast bowlers hold a pivotal role in the world of One Day International (ODI) cricket. Their significance extends beyond merely sending down quick deliveries; they are essential components in shaping the outcome of matches.
Pace bowlers are often tasked with the new ball, and their ability to extract bounce and movement can lead to early wickets. Picking up top-order batsmen quickly can set the tone for the entire innings and put immense pressure on the opposition.
Here is a list of the top five pace bowlers who will be seen with their ferocious attack in the ODI World Cup 2023. The top bookmakers in India have cricket World Cup odds with them.
1) Mark Wood – England
Mark Wood has played 59 ODIs for England, taking 71 wickets at an average of 37.9. He has a best bowling performance of 4/43. Wood can consistently bowl at speeds of over 90 mph. He is also a very accurate bowler and can swing the ball both ways.
Wood has been a key member of the England ODI team since making his debut in 2015. He was a member of the England team that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Wood always comes deadly with the new ball and can destroy the opening lineup without any big difficulties.
2) Lockie Ferguson – New Zealand
Lockie Ferguson has played 53 ODIs for New Zealand, taking 85 wickets at an average of 31. He has a best bowling performance of 5/45. He has been a crucial member of the Kiwi squad in ODIs and T20 format and has handled the pressure of picking up wickets very well. Lockie Ferguson is one of those bowlers who can provide variations to the ball while bowling at high speed.
He has been in and out of the New Zealand ODI team in recent years due to injury but the team management of New Zealand is making sure that Lockie plays with the team in the ODI World Cup.
3) Mitchell Starc – Australia
At the age of 33, Mitchell Starc has defined the pace attack for Australia and he is currently the number 2 bowler in the ICC rankings. Starc has been part of the Australian squad since 2010 with 110 matches ODIs and has picked up 219 wickets at an average of 22.1 and an economy of 5.11.
His numbers speak magnanimity of his work for Australia and in the upcoming World Cup, Starc will be a crucial player for Australia.
4) Shaheen Afridi – Pakistan
There is no way that this list can completed without the mention of Pakistan’s pace master Shaheen Afridi. Afridi has been a strong performer for Pakistan since his debut in 2018. He has been part of 27 ODIs and has picked up 72 wickets at an average of 23.4 and an economy of 5.47.
In recent times, Afridi has struggled with some inconsistency and injuries but his past records are proof that he is still a key player for Pakistan and a ferocious bowler who can give tough times to any batting lineup.
5) Josh Hazlewood – Australia
Josh Hazlewood has redefined his career in the ODI format and has reached the number 1 ICC ranking recently. With 69 ODIs since 2010 for Australia, Josh has picked up 108 wickets at an average of 25.6 and has maintained an economy of 4.57.
Josh has a good experience of playing on international pitches specifically the Indian pitches and playing conditions. He has been a part of IPL for a long time and knows how to adapt to the situation.
