T20 World Cup 2020: Team wise bowlers who can bowl the Super Over

Australia will take on Pakistan at the SCG on October 24th to kick start the T20 World Cup later in the year. Eight teams have already qualified for the Super 12 round, with the rest four teams to be decided by the qualifiers starting 18th October. The final will be hosted on November 15th at the MCG to crown the champion.

The admission of T20 cricket has demanded the need for death overs specialists. Teams are planning and assigning specific roles to their bowlers according to different situations in the game. Bowlers such as Deepak Chahar, David Willey, Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowl primarily in the powerplay with the new nut, while the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Chris Jordan are experts at the end of the innings.

Since the World Cup final, New Zealand has been involved in further three more Super Overs, losing them all. The recently concluded series between England and South Africa saw all three games finish in the last over. Hence, which bowler to bowl in the super over and what field to set will also be among the agendas for the teams going into the World Cup.

Here we look at a bowler from each team (top 8 qualified teams) who could bowl the super over in the case of a tied encounter:

1. Australia- Mitchell Starc

When on song, Mitchell Starc is arguably the most lethal limited overs bowler in the world. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall on top of his mark, Starc can decimate any batting order with both new and old ball. The Sydney born pacer is a two-time leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cups.

Starc has pulled out of the IPL this year in a bid to avoid injury and be fresh for the T20 World Cup. He did the same last year as well and ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup. With Australia’s focus more on the World Cup and The Ashes last year, Starc played only 5 T20 internationals in 2019 and scalped 8 wickets at an average of 15.

In home conditions, the pacer has taken 14 wickets in 8 matches- averaging 13 and giving runs at an economy of 6.16. The last time Starc played in the IPL was in 2015, where he took 20 wickets in 13 games at a strike rate of 12.9- and was bought by Kolkata the next season for a pricy 9.4 crore, but pulled out before the tournament.

On the fast and bouncy wickets in Australia, Mitchell Starc will be raring to go and win the maiden T20 World Cup for the Aussies. If it goes to Super over, Aaron Finch will look at just one man- the destruction force- Mitchell Starc.

2. South Africa- Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada’s announced his arrival on the international stage in 2015 when he defended 11 runs in an ODI against MS Dhoni- who was still in his prime. From there on, Rabada has gone from strength to strength. With Dale Steyn plagued by injuries in the fag end of his career, the youngster from Johannesburg had taken the responsibility to be the spearhead for the Proteas.

Rabada displayed his tearaway potency in the Super Over against Kolkata last season in the IPL. The right-arm pacer uprooted Andre Russell’s middle pole- a yorker could not get any better than that. On the back of Rabada’s bowling performances, Delhi Capitals charged into the playoffs as the seamer finished with 25 wickets in 12 matches.

He played only three T20 internationals for South Africa in 2019 owing to the World Cup and then injuries hit him. Rabada is a genuine fast bowler- steams in, a smooth action and the height to generate extra bounce which will be helpful in the Australian conditions. South Africa are having batting troubles for now but the trio of Rabada, Steyn, and Ngidi will provide the best chance for the Saffers to end their chokers tag in the World Cup.

3. England- Jofra Archer

The England Board amended their rules in order to fast-track Jofra Archer into their World Cup side last year. He repaid their trust by picking up 20 wickets in 11 games at an economy of 4.57. He was England’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament and was a pivotal part in their maiden World Cup triumph. Jofra was also entrusted to bowl the super over in the World Cup final.

Archer impressed everyone with his deadly pace and accuracy in the T20 format, which led to a national call-up. In his overall T20 career, Archer has scalped 121 wickets in 95 matches at an economy of 7.8 while bowling in the death overs most of the time. The right-arm speedster has picked 26 wickets in 21 matches at an economy of 7.53 for Rajasthan Royals.

The Barbados born pacer resembles the typical West Indian qualities from the 20^th century. He is lean, hostile and racks up the pace that can trouble even the best of the batters. Archer is a generational bowler which England has been searching for a long time. He is a sure starter for the Three Lions and will be the go-to bowler for Eoin Morgan.

4. Pakistan- Shaheen Afridi

There was a great sense of excitement regarding Shaheen Shah Afridi’s debut in international cricket. Not just because of his namesake, but also because of the buildup to the youngsters’ skill and potential. In the PSL 2018, Afridi took 7 wickets in as many games- but the menace and the zip in his deliveries caught everyone’s attention, and soon he got the national call-up.

His numbers since debut have been nothing short of remarkable. He had picked 30 wickets in 8 Tests, 40 wickets in 19 ODIs and 16 wickets in 12 T20Is. The left-arm pacer took 16 wickets in 5 matches and was the biggest positive for Pakistan in their disappointing World Cup campaign last year.

The teenager showed exemplary control over his lines and lengths in the latter half of the tournament and put Pakistan on the brink of qualifying for the semis. The 19-year-old has a bright future and with a new captain and coach, Pakistan fans will expect more from their latest sensation. He could even be entrusted with Super Over duties as Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir have been in sub-standard form.

5. West Indies- Sheldon Cottrell

After an imposing series in India, Kings XI Punjab bought Sheldon Cottrell in the IPL auction for the upcoming season for a whopping 8.5 crores. Cottrell was West Indies’ strike bowler in the World Cup last year- picking up 12 wickets in 9 matches. Later in the year, he took 12 wickets in 8 matches for the Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League 2019.

The left-arm pacer had a moving 2019 at the international level. Cottrell scalped 14 wickets in 12 games at an economy of 7.51, bowling inside power-play and at the back end of the innings. He has started the year on high against Ireland with figures of 2 for 10 in the second T20 of the series a month ago.

The Jamaican had made a name for himself as a limited-overs specialist by performing in T20 leagues across the world and is set to launch himself in the IPL as well. He has taken 121 wickets in 86 matches in the T20 career at a notable economy of 7.43. With an ageing Dwayne Bravo and a half-fit Andre Russell, ‘The Sergeant’ could be commended for the Super Over duties if the occasion arises.

6. New Zealand- Lockie Ferguson

Lockie Ferguson is express pace. That’s it. That’s the definition of New Zealand’s speed generating machine. Hastening batsman with his quick and sharp pace is Lockie’s epithet- like he did to MS Dhoni in the World Cup semi-final last year on the delivery which Dhoni got run-out. He is tad wayward with the lines and has had constant injury issues, but Fergusson didn’t allow his pace to drop.

Ferguson had a terrific World Cup in England as he ended up as the highest wicket-taker for the kiwis. The right-handed seamer picked up 21 wickets in 9 matches. Lockie snared 10 wickets in 6 matches at an economy of 7 runs per over in T20 internationals in 2019.

The Black Caps have found themselves in the super over territory often in the last few months. They have had a stroke of terrible luck with the super overs. Therefore, it won’t be a surprise if Kane Williamson opts for that extra pace in Lockie Ferguson to bowl the super over instead of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

7. Afghanistan- Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has become a sensation in world cricket since his arrival in the IPL. He has been ruling the bowling charts consistently of T20 leagues around the globe. His knack of picking wickets regularly has made him the most sought after spinner in the world. Rashid sits at the top of the ICC T20 rankings, just ahead of teammate Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

The leggie has picked up 291 wickets in 208 T20 matches he has played in his career, giving runs at mere 6.3 per over. Rashid has a swifter swing of the arm as compared to other leggies. This makes him bowl quicker googlies and beats the batsman trying to slog him. He has flummoxed batters around the world with his sharp googlies and deceptive leg-breaks.

The right-hander scalped 17, 21 and 17 wickets each in the last three seasons of the IPL and was also entrusted to bowl the super over last year against Mumbai Indians. In T20 internationals, Rashid picked 20 wickets in 10 matches in 2019 and 22 wickets in 2018 in 8 matches! Overall, he has collected 291 wickets in 208 games at a miserly economy of 6.3. Captains have been saving Rashid’s overs for the death. There is very little doubt that Asghar Afghan, Afghanistan’s new skipper, will have any qualms giving his premier bowler a go in the super over.

8. India- Jasprit Bumrah

Not many cricketers have achieved success in international cricket as rapidly as Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah is arguably the best death bowler in the world. The slingy action which early on criticized is now being imitated by kids on the streets. Bumrah’s knack of consistently bowling pinpoint yorkers is mind-boggling.

His plan execution capability paired with an eccentric slinging action makes life difficult for the batsman. The right-arm pacer has bowled four super overs in his career- two in the IPL and two at the international level- his team won in each case.

Bowling his first super over at the age of 23 against Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum of Gujarat Lions in IPL 2017, Bumrah flummoxed both the batsman with his yorkers and defended 11 runs. He bowled it again last year against the Sunrisers, giving away only eight runs. He was assigned the task again in the recently concluded series against New Zealand. The Indian batsmen chased down the targets of 18 and 13 runs to win the series.

In overall T20 cricket, Jasprit Bumrah had picked 182 wickets in 157 matches at an economy of 7.06. He is also the leading wicket-taker for India in T20 internationals- 59 wickets in 50 games at a miserly economy of 6.66. Bumrah has plenty of variations to outwit the batsman and he is the guy captain Virat Kohli goes to in times of need.