5 Best Bowlers in 2018 across all Formats
2018 is about to end and this year has further enhanced the trend of cricket turning into a batsman's game. New shots and shorter boundaries are dominating the game, yet, we get to enjoy a good game of cricket because the bowlers and captains think out of the box with new field placements and strategies.
In this batsman's game, there have been bowlers who have made batsman's life miserable across all formats of the game.
Here are five bowlers who have been in great form across all formats in the game.
Selection Criteria: They must have a decent spread of wickets in all three formats and must not have a poor record in any format.
Also read: Sportskeeda Cricket Awards 2018: ODI Bowler of the Year
#5 Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib Al Hasan has had a terrific year and has been by far the best player for Bangladesh in all formats of the game. The all-rounder was terrific with the bat but his bowling performances were excellent as well. In the four Tests he played, he picked up 17 wickets with an astounding bowling average of 17.73 and is No. 1 in the ICC Test all-rounders' rankings. In ODIs, he has picked up 21 wickets in 15 matches at a great economy rate of just 4.48 and was very consistent.
In T20Is, he picked up 15 wickets from 11 matches at a great bowling average of 17.73 and had an economy below 7. He is ranked No. 2 in both ICC ODI and T20I all-rounders' Rankings and is probably the best all-rounder of the year. His bowling performance across all formats is certainly one to speak about.
#4 Trent Boult (New Zealand)
Trent Boult has been in great form of late for New Zealand in Test Matches. In the recent Test against Sri Lanka, he picked up six wickets in the space of 15 balls. He has picked up 31 wickets from seven matches and won many matches for the Kiwis.
In ODIs, he picked up 22 wickets in 12 matches and has been extremely effective. He has taken 11 wickets from seven T20Is.
He has seen a rise in ICC Rankings and has continued where he left off last year. They have played many tough opponents this season and Boult has been the leader of the Kiwi bowling attack.