Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Cricket World Cup: Five bowlers to watch

The Cricket World Cup gets under way at the Oval on Thursday, with 10 teams slugging it out for the title.

We take a look at five bowlers to watch.


Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Rashid Khan's rise has been spectacular. The wily leg-spinner made his international debut at the tender age of 17, shortly after his team's first appearance in the 50-over World Cup in 2015. Four years on, he is a globetrotting white-ball superstar who is highly sought after in franchise competitions. Khan, who tops the world Twenty20 bowling rankings and lies third in the 50-over standings, is Afghanistan's go-to bowler with 125 wickets in 59 ODI matches.

Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Currently top of the ICC ODI rankings, Jasprit Bumrah arrives in England with the wind in his sails. He has just enjoyed another productive Indian Premier League campaign, playing a key part in Mumbai Indians' fourth record title in the T20 tournament. Genuinely sharp but with a neat line in slower balls and an unorthodox sling-arm action, he is at his best in the death overs. Bumrah, 25, averages an impressive 22.15 at an economy rate of 4.51 in 49 ODIs.

Pat Cummins (Australia)

Australia's one-day side has been struggling for much of the past two years but is coming good at the perfect time. In Pat Cummins they boast a new ball bowler capable of extracting life from flat pitches and taking clusters of wickets. His history of injury suggests he may need to be managed carefully but if that part is handled with care the job of ruffling feathers in big games can safely be left to the 26-year-old.

Imran Tahir (South Africa)

At 40 years of age and with retirement beckoning, Imran Tahir might seem a less likely hope for South Africa than charismatic paceman Kagiso Rabada. But Rabada's back problems leave a question mark against him on the eve of the tournament, while Tahir has worked himself into a nice groove at the IPL. The veteran wrist-spinner comes into the big event on the back of 26 wickets -- one better than Rabada and top of the bowlers chart -- for runners-up Chennai Super Kings in the glitzy T20 league.

Jofra Archer (England)

Jofra Archer has been the focal point of much of the talk around World Cup favourites England. Adil Rashid's leg-spin could be crucial but the Barbados-born Archer looks like playing a role at the key moments -- whether it be it with new ball in hand at the start of the innings or hurling down the old one in the final overs. India skipper Virat Kohi called him the "X-factor" for England.

More For You

Ashes-Getty

Josh Tongue (C) celebrates taking the wicket of Scott Boland on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test match between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 26, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images).

England trail Australia by 46 after 20 wickets fall on dramatic first day at MCG

ENGLAND endured a tough opening day of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, slipping to 110 all out after dismissing Australia for 152 to trail by 46 runs after a dramatic 20 wickets fell.

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss on a green pitch under overcast skies and his fast bowlers made early use of the conditions, bowling Australia out inside a day in front of 94,199 spectators.

Keep ReadingShow less