Speed Demons to look out for in ICC World Twenty20 2016

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In Twenty20 cricket, there is hardly any breathing space for a new ball bowler, as they need to adapt quickly to the conditions and has to deliver the punch in the limited period of time. Many would agree to this fact that ‘Fast bowling’ is a dying art and the fast bowlers are on the verge of extinction. West Indian legend and a great fast bowler of his time Andy Roberts once said, “If you have a good fast bowler in your team, he would be more effective in Twenty20 cricket than anybody else. If you bowl a 95-100 mph delivery it would be very difficult for any batsman to slog you”.

In this article, we have short-listed a few quicks of the game who has the ability to change the course of the match with the ball.

Ashish Nehra

The 36-year old left arm seamer was a surprise inclusion in the Indian T20 squad ahead of the Australia tour earlier this year. Once the spearhead of Indian bowling attack, the Delhi quick has made an impressive comeback in the international arena and his performances speak volumes about his ability with the ball. Nehra’s USP to bowl at a great line and length while maintaining the accuracy has earned him many fans around the world for his fine skills. His devastating late inswinger is still his most potent and lethal weapon in any format of the game. His inspiring strike rate of 15.0 with the ball is daunting and makes him a must-have in any T20 squad around the world. He has picked 26 wickets in 18 T20 internationals while playing for India.

Trent Boult

Sir Richard Hadlee rated Trent Boult as the best new-ball bowler ever to play for New Zealand in any format of cricket. Currently, the number one ranked bowler in ICC ODI bowler’s list. Boult has this amazing quality to move the ball both ways even on dead tracks which are not ideal for fast bowling. He was the highest joint wicket-taker for New Zealand in ODI World Cup 2015 and grabbed 22 scalps along with, Mitchell Starc of Australia. His average of 21.73 with the bowl is impressive in any format of the game. He will be NZ’s go to man in the current ICC World Twenty20 2016.

Kagiso Rabada

The youngest and the finest exponent of South African fast bowling, Kagiso Rabada has already taken huge strides in the international arena with his brilliant performances and eye-catching stats. He has grabbed 30 wickets in 14 ODIs and 17 in 13 T20 internationals are a mere testimony to his so far impressive run in the cricketing world. Rabada’s raw talent and probing pace with dead accurate line and length will keep the best of the batters in check during the ICC World Twenty20 2016.

Mohammad Amir

Mohammad Amir, arguably the best bowler in the world currently. He will be Pakistan’s biggest and the most potent weapon for the ICC World Twenty20 2016. Amir is the crucial opening link with the ball in Pakistan’s title run. He picked up 7 wickets in the 4 matches of recently concluded Asia cup 2016, that included his memorable spell of 3 for 18 against arch-rivals India. He is currently the hottest pace bowling prospect for Pakistan and bowls with lot more courage, speed and accuracy. An interesting fact about Amir, he was hand-picked up by the great Wasim Akram in a Lahore camp in 2007.

Josh Hazlewood

In the absence of their strike bowler, Mitchell Starc, a lot will depend on Josh Hazelwood to take the responsibility of spearheading the Aussie pace attack. Touted as Australia’s best Test bowler, Josh Hazelwood has been impressive with the ball in the longer format of cricket. He has taken 70 wickets in 17 tests at a tidy bowling average of 25.77. This Twenty20 World Cup will be a test for this youngster when the conditions will be not ideal for fast bowling. Though his inclusion in the Australian squad in the absence of Starc will bolster their bowling attack in the mega tournament.

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