The inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) provided some world-class cricket to witness for the spectators as bowlers and the batters fought hard to get their teams to the all-important final. The summit clash between New Zealand and India will feature the likes of R Ashwin and Tim Southee who feature in the top five highest wicket-taker list in the Championship.
Here we map the journey of the top five standout bowlers from this two-year-long Championship.
PAT CUMMINS (AUSTRALIA)
He is the pundit’s favourite bowler of the current generation and is at the peak of his skills. Pat Cummins is fulfilling his qualities as a fast bowler and in the WTC, he showed exactly why he is the number one out there. He picked up 70 wickets from 14 matches at an impressive average of 21.02 which included one five-wicket haul as well. He is the number one ICC Test bowler for a reason and is well set to be the next leader of Australian cricket.
STUART BROAD (ENGLAND)
England’s stalwart with the ball, Stuart Broad is second on this list of the highest wicket-takers in the WTC. The fast bowler picked 69 wickets from 17 matches and has been a key leader of this English side for some time now. At 20.08, he has the best average amongst the top five wicket-takers and that shows us how difficult it is to score off him. Just ask David Warner as he’d have a fair idea.
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN (INDIA)
The leading spinner in world cricket has to be India’s R Ashwin. The off-spinner seems to be always peaking and now he has given plenty of emphasis on improving his fitness standards from which he seems to be reaping rewards. He managed to pick up 67 wickets from just 13 matches and we expect him to add to this tally in the final at the Rose Bowl as well.
NATHAN LYON (AUSTRALIA)
In an attack consisting of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, it can be easy to get overshadowed but the Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon usually stands out irrespective of the conditions on offer. He did the bulk of the bowling for Australia in this WTC and picked up 56 wickets in the due course of time.
TIM SOUTHEE (NEW ZEALAND)
The class of Tim Southee became apparent in the first England vs New Zealand Test at Lord’s where he single-handedly ran through an inexperienced English batting lineup in the first innings. The New Zealand swing bowler was in superb form in this WTC and despite playing just 10 matches in the competition Southee picked up 51 wickets and helped his team reach the final of the Championship.
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