2013 in Review: Top 10 ODI bowlers of the year
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This was a year that saw some amazing cricket being played. New stars were discovered, while many veterans took leave of the game. There were some great inspiring bowling performances. Pakistan produced some amazing bowling statistics this time, helped by the fact that they played a lot of ODI cricket this year. There were other impressive performances too-players who did not play as many games, but still managed to get wickets and win crucial matches for their teams.
Here go the 10 best ODI bowlers of this year.
10. Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson
He had to be the spearhead of the Australian attack this time around with veterans like Lee no more part of the team anymore and other bowlers like Pattinson, Faulkner and Starc undergoing injury concerns. He delivered pretty well, taking 33 wickets this year with a healthy economy of 4.7 considering the fact that he usually bowls at the time when power-plays are on.
He had a successful tour of India with 7 wickets under his belt in 5 games, including a 4-wicket haul at Mohali that won the game for the visitors. Back home, he gave a tough time to both Sri Lanka and West Indies that toured Australia earlier in the year. Sri Lanka were able to get away with a level 2-2, while the Windies were thrashed 5-0, Johnson picking up 5 in 7 games here too. His best performance of the year (4/36) came against Scotland at Edinburgh as a result of which Scotland lost the game by 200 runs.
He will be a key prospect for the Aussies in 2014 both in Tests and ODIs and now that he is one of the seniors of the team at 32, he will have the task of grooming bowlers for the future Australian team. He is likely to be around for the next World Cup as Australia’s main attacking bowler.
9. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin
This player, who was a find of the IPL, has turned out to be a wonderful bowling option for India and he has had another great year, and will probably have many to follow. He was one of the highest wicket-takers this year, claiming 40 batsmen in 29 games. The master of the carom ball, he troubled batsmen with his subtle variations in spin and pace. He played most of his games at home this year, barring the Champions Trophy in England and the Tri-nation series in West Indies both of which India won, getting 8 and 6 wickets respectively in these tournaments.
He had an amazing time playing Tests as well, and he rose to the no. 1 spot in the ICC all-rounder rankings following a Test century against West Indies, and remains there as the year comes to an end. He along with Ravindra Jadeja are the best prospects that India have as regards spin bowling at present and for the coming couple of years at least.
He has to carry on the legacy that his predecessors Harbhajan and Kumble have left behind, and he looks up to the task without a doubt, being the 2nd highest wicket-taker for India this year.