Top 5 left-arm bowlers in One-Day cricket

Mitchell Johnson

I have always been fascinated by left-arm bowlers. They exude a certain charm, a whole different variety of style, and it is usually very difficult for batsmen to score runs off them. The way they move the ball either into or away from the willow wielders is nothing short of magical.

While the quicker bowlers have been more than a perfect foil for their right-handed counterparts, the slower segment hasn’t done too badly either. They give a team just the right variety in their bowling arsenal.

Although both sets of bowlers are susceptible to profligacy, they are usually very accurate with their line and length.

Here is a list of the top five left-arm bowlers in ODIs:

5. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

When the lanky left-arm pacer was attending a fast-bowling coaching clinic in Brisbane at the age of 17, Australian great Dennis Lillee termed him as a once-in-a-lifetime prospect. He has the ability to consistently swing the ball into the right-hander; a skill he mastered on the 2009 tour to South Africa.

Johnson’s performance in the ODI arena has dipped in recent times, but in his seventh match, he proved Lillee’s words to be true with a brilliant spell of 4/11 against India. He proved to be simply unplayable on that Malaysian track, troubling the batsmen with his pace and bounce. England were on the receiving end during the CB series as Johnson wrecked their line-up with a four-wicket burst in just eight balls.

Of late, though, Johnson has struggled with injuries and a prolonged slump in form. His wrist position is improper and he seems to be trying too hard and too many things while sending down his thunderbolts. Nevertheless, he is still a fine prospect for the Aussies in the long run.