Afridi, Ajmal, Malinga - the trio which can make the ball talk - Part 2 - Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
There are many bowlers who are expected to put in match winning performances with the ball, yet a few names tend to stand out as undisputed masters of T20 cricket. They are champions and have the ability to single handedly manhandle, various oppositions. These three bowlers are expected to play a huge role in the tournament, where the chances of even turning the tables around for their respective sides, looms high in the Emerald Isle.
Saeed Ajmal is one bowler from Pakistan, who has the ability to wreak havoc on any opposition on any given day. The impact that he has on the game is tremendous to say the least, with his guile, zip, turn and variations foxing some of the best batsmen in the world. His unique action and ability to bowl the doosra with good effect is bound to make the ball talk on the placid pitches in Sri Lanka. Ajmal is arguably, the best bowler in the world in all formats of the game, and his status as a T20 bowler cannot be disputed. His state of being indispensable for the team in previous World Cups has been considerable to say the least, as his bowling played a major role in Pakistan managing to lift the ICC World T20 in 2009. He was also a part of the team which gained a Semi Final berth in the 2010 version of the tournament as well. With a collective tally of 60 wickets in 42 games at a paltry average of 15.48, Ajmal is, by a distance, the best bowler playing in this tournament, and would be in serious contention for becoming the Man of the Series.
Among the faster men however, Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka, stands out as one of the players to look out for in this year’s tournament. With his goldilocks, toe- crunching Yorkers and throat piercing bouncers, Lasith Malinga is arguably the most stylish and dangerous T20 bowler in the world today. His only rival of substance is Pakistan’s Umar Gul, and where the former might have had a better track record than Malinga, the latter is almost unstoppable at home. His devastation is reflected in the numerous match winnings spells that he managed to come up with for Sri Lanka. The man from Galle is almost unplayable when he is on song, and Sri Lanka should be grateful that he tends to sing more often than not. His slinging action almost ensures that deliveries which are bowled to the batsmen would become a hassle rather than a formality. An average of 20.45 with a tally of 40 wickets in 33 games has made Malinga one of the most feared bowlers in cricket. His presence on the field would undoubtedly lift Sri Lanka’s spirits and his ability to pierce batting line ups like a water melon, would be instrumental in ensuring that the hosts end up with something special in this year’s tournament.
The other bowler who is in a league of his own, and would have a grave impact on the manner in which his team would progress, would be Shahid Afridi of Pakistan. Despite his apparent decline in form, Afridi is undoubtedly a bowler for the big occasion and he could click whenever the need arises. His variations could not be more dissimilar than the magic of Ajmal, but are as devastating nevertheless. Afridi can come up with slow leg breaks, medium pacers, a faster ball, and off cutters that could send batsmen back into the pavilion in a matter of seconds. His status as one of the best bowlers in T20 cricket is reasserted over the fact that he has been the leading wicket taker in the format for quite some time. The Afridi/Ajmal combination is bound to come up with something truly special in this year’s World T20.
These three are bowlers which contrast one another in terms of style, flavor and ability. As much as Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers and Virat Kohli would be the men to watch out for with the bat in this tournament, the trio of Afridi, Ajmal and Malinga, would be the bowlers to look out for.
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