If you ask any cricketers dream it would be to represent his or her country in the Cricket World Cup. World Cup is a special tournament which happens once every four years and if a player gets a chance to represent his country in that event then it is a special moment. Many cricketers have represented their country at the highest level but not everybody gets the chance to do the same at the World Cup.
There are players who have got a chance to represent their country at the World Cup and have performed extremely well. Bowlers are always important in any format and more so in the World Cups because picking up wickets is going to change games. So, let’s have a look at five bowlers who triumphed in the prestigious tournament with the most wickets.
5. Shaun Tait – 23 wickets in 2007 World Cup
Shaun Tait who was one of the quickest bowlers to have played the game has represented Australia in a couple of World Cups. He was a part of the 2007 Australian side which won the World Cup and he was an integral part of this team. The right-arm fast bowler was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2007 WC which was played in West Indies.
Tait picked up 23 wickets in 11 games at an average of 20.30 which included a four-wicket-haul in the semi-final against South Africa which meant that Australia chased down the total pretty easy to make the Final of the 2007 WC event. With 23 wickets in the 2007 World Cup, Shaun Tait is fifth on the list.
4. Muttiah Muralitharan – 23 wickets in 2007
The right-arm off-spinner from Sri Lanka Muttiah Muralitharan is tied for the same number of wickets as Shaun Tait in the same World Cup. The leading wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs picked up 23 wickets in just 10 games at an average of 15.26.
He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the World and was the leading wicket-taker among the spinners in the 2007 World Cup which was played in West Indies. He was a key member of the Sri Lankan team which made the Final but unfortunately couldn’t cross the line.
3. Chaminda Vaas – 23 wickets in 2003
The left-arm seamer from Sri Lanka Chaminda Vaas who was known for his early wickets with the new ball is third on the list with the same number of wickets as Shaun Tait and Muttiah Muralitharan. Vaas picked up 23 wickets in 10 games in the 2003 World Cup at an average of 14.39.
Vaas had an economy rate of 3.76 in the whole World Cup and picked up a four-wicket-haul and a five-wicket haul in the same tournament. Vaas was brilliant in the 2003 World Cup as he ended as the leading wicket-taker.
2. Glenn McGrath – 26 wickets in 2007
Glenn McGrath who is one of the finest bowlers to have ever played the game is second on the list with 26 wickets in the 2007 WC. McGrath was the leading wicket-taker in the 2007 World Cup as he picked up 26 wickets in just 11 games at an average of 13.73
He didn’t pick up a four-wicket-haul or a five-wicket-haul which means he was taking wickets consistently in almost all games. He was the Man of the tournament as he was the most successful bowler from the winning Australian team.
1. Mitchell Starc – 27 wickets in 2019
Mitchell Starc who is always rested before these important events delivered in the 2019 World Cup as he was picking up wickets for fun. The left-arm fast bowler was on absolute fire as he picked up 27 wickets in just 10 games at an average of 18.59 with two four-wicket-hauls and two five-wicket-hauls.
He bowled with pace and swung the ball upfront and he bowled Yorkers to get rid of the batsmen in the death overs. The yorker which he bowled to get rid of Ben Stokes in the game against England was a classic delivery as Starc ended up as the highest wicket-taker in the whole tournament.
