Decoding the quality of bowlers and the revolutionary run spree in ODI's

Decoding the quality of bowlers and the revolutionary run spree in ODI’s: Now, we are into the scorching heat of the summer of 2015. And if we talk about ODI cricket specifically, then the format of the game has undergone serious scrutiny of evolution and that too in leaps and bounds. Nowadays, people hardly relate any astonishment to big totals as they have realized that 400 has become the new 300 in ODI cricket.

Reasons for absolute disdain of bowlers:

There have been many arguments that it is the advent of the big burly bats and T-20 cricket which has led to the bowler’s despair. While, some argue that the dead pitches and field restrictions along with the Power play rules are tailor-made in favor of the batsmen. Undoubtedly, these are the major factors which have tilted the game towards the batters. But, every coin has the covered side. You have to pay credit to the batsmen for their fearless attitude as well. While at the same time, one of the decisive factors which has got undermined has been the dour level of bowling standards, it has played a notable role in turning the dynamics of the game.

Even in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, we witnessed batsmen enthralling the crowds with individual double centuries as well as team totals in excess of 400. But, yet no one could fight the vengeance of the sparkling duo of Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult who sparked the event with their gallant bowling performances. Starc claimed 22 scalps in 8 matches at an economy rate of 3.5 while Boult picked up 22 wickets as well at an economy of 4.4 in 9 matches. Both the bowlers are testimony of the fact that quality bowling can overcome any hurdle in its way to defying all the odds.

A look at the statistics of the past decade showcasing the domination of bat over the ball:

So, now let’s dig even deeper in decoding the trend of astonishing run merry in the recent times with the degrading quality of bowlers. In the 45 years of ODI cricket, there have been 526 occasions when a team has posted a total in access to 300 runs. Out of the 526, as many as 298 such totals have been plundered in the last 9 years. While, 112 scores of 300 plus runs have been scored from 2013 till date. 2006 on-wards, teams have crossed the 400 run mark, 16 times. It showcases the abrupt domination of the bat over the ball.

Memories from the 2003 World Cup:

Now, let me rewind you in the memory lanes to the year of 2003. It was the same year in which the father of all tournaments the ICC 50 over Cricket World Cup was hosted by the African nations. The tournament witnessed a pool of the most prodigal bowling talents in the cricket history. The likes of Brett Lee, Chaminda Vaas, Glenn Mcgrath, Shane Bond, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Muttiah Muralidharan, Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble featured in the tournament. Even, their names are enough to shiver the imaginations of many batsmen. Such was the potent quality of the bowlers at that period of time.

Fear factor, the quality bowing in the era of 2000:

The batsmen in the period of early 2000s used to get goose bumps when they saw the speed demon Shoaib Akhtar running hard from 30 yards and then delivering the ball mercilessly at 150 kph one after another as if someone is bombarding at you. When it comes to speedsters who can forget the wrath of Brett Lee, whose deadly pace with his invariable accuracy was so brisk that it left the batsmen reeling and biting the dust. The trio of Mcgrath, Pollock and Vaas belonged to the breed of line and length bowlers who were masterly apt at setting a trap and fooling the batsmen with their unbreakable bond with steep accuracy and consistency. Wasim Akram’s meticulous swinging skills were an unsolved puzzle for many while Waqar Younis shivered the batsmen with his intimidating and thunderous toe-crushing Yorkers. Then there were the likes of Warne, Muralitharan, Saqlain Mushtaq and Kumble who could spin a web on any given day and make the pitch look like their fortress.

Times may change but the bowling trade remains the same:

Although, it would be hard to make comparison between such class bowlers with the current set of bowlers as the situations have changed drastically. But, even those bowlers played on many dead pitches and were able to extract life out of it. And some contemporary bowlers have also showcased that any hurdle can be crossed with top notch skills and flair. And this illustration proves this fact very well. Who can forget that Wahab Riaz’s ferocious spell against Australia in World Cup Quarter-Final match which is still fresh in everyone’s mind. He proved to the world that when a fast bowler is ready to bend his back and give his heart out, then one can freeze even the mighty Australians and that too at the flat pitch of Adelaide Oval. The world was fascinated with this ripping spell in which he launched barrage of bounces along with his zipping deliveries in higher 140’s.

The rise and fall of bowling standards in the last 15 years:

From 2007 onwards, there have been only three bowlers namely Malinga, Afridi and Johnson who have taken 200 wickets or more. Meanwhile, in the period between 2000-2007, there were as many as 9 bowlers who had taken 200 wickets and 4 out of them held a tally in excess of 250 Wickets. In a way, it marks out the wide disparity of standards among the contemporary bowlers and the older crop of bowlers.

The Conclusion:

Although, it won’t be fair to single out only one factor for the string of colossal scores and run spree in ODI’s. But, the standard and quality of the bowlers would always be a determinant factor in arriving at any final conclusion. And over the years, we have seen how bowlers have been a force in this game of cricket which cannot deny their effect irrespective of any rules associated adversities. The glimpses of some scintillating and brilliant bowling efforts will always exemplify that the beloved art of bowling is still not extinct with the implausible revolutions and evolution in the gentlemen’s game.