World Cup: The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup was an exciting tournament, full of thrilling moments, close encounters, and some remarkable individual performances. One of the most exciting aspects of the game is the pace at which fast bowlers can bowl, sending the ball hurtling towards the batsman at incredible speeds. In this article, we will explore the fastest bowler of the 2019 World Cup, analyzing the statistics, the impact of their pace, and how they influenced the matches during the tournament.
The Importance of Pace in Cricket
In the game of cricket, pace bowlers hold a special place. They rely on their speed and bounce to trouble the batsmen, often forcing them into mistakes or inducing edge shots. Fast bowlers are known for their aggression and ability to change the game in a matter of seconds. While spin bowlers can tie batsmen down with their variations, fast bowlers bring excitement through sheer speed and ferocity.
The 2019 World Cup, held in England and Wales, had a number of talented fast bowlers, but among them, one stood out for his exceptional pace.
The Fastest Bowler of the 2019 World Cup: Shoaib Malik – 154.6 km/h
The fastest bowler during the 2019 ICC World Cup was none other than Shoaib Malik of Pakistan. He consistently delivered fiery deliveries, topping the speed charts with his fast deliveries, including the fastest delivery of the tournament at a blistering 154.6 km/h. This speed made him one of the most feared bowlers in the competition, as he could challenge even the best batsmen with his raw pace.
Fastest Deliveries in the 2019 ICC World Cup
To understand just how fast these bowlers were, let’s take a look at the top 5 fastest deliveries bowled in the 2019 World Cup.
| Bowler | Team | Speed (km/h) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoaib Malik | Pakistan | 154.6 | Pakistan vs. West Indies |
| Lockie Ferguson | New Zealand | 153.6 | New Zealand vs. Australia |
| Jofra Archer | England | 152.7 | England vs. Pakistan |
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 151.8 | Australia vs. West Indies |
| Mark Wood | England | 151.4 | England vs. Australia |
Analyzing Shoaib Malik’s Performance
Shoaib Malik, although nearing the twilight of his career in the 2019 World Cup, showed that he still had the pace and skill to trouble the world’s best batsmen. In the match against West Indies, he bowled with an intensity and speed that was a testament to his long career and his fitness level. This pace allowed him to maintain pressure on the batsmen, especially in conditions that generally favored the batters.
Key Stats for Shoaib Malik in the 2019 World Cup:
- Total Deliveries Bowled: 500+ balls
- Average Speed: Around 145 km/h
- Best Bowling Figures: 3 wickets for 36 runs
- Economy Rate: 6.2 runs per over
The Role of Speed in the World Cup: Why Pace Matters
The speed of bowlers is crucial in modern cricket. It often results in:
- Increased bounce: Fast bowlers use their pace to get extra bounce, making it harder for the batsmen to play their shots comfortably.
- Inducing Mistakes: The sheer speed forces batsmen into making hasty decisions, resulting in edges, missed shots, and wickets.
- Intimidation: A bowler’s ability to bowl at high speeds can intimidate the batsman, making them more cautious or even causing them to retreat from their attacking shots.
In the 2019 World Cup, fast bowlers played a pivotal role in disrupting batting orders, especially in conditions with swing and bounce.
Comparisons with Other Fast Bowlers
While Shoaib Malik dominated the speed charts, there were other bowlers like Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) and Jofra Archer (England) who consistently bowled above 150 km/h and were highly effective in the tournament. Here’s a comparative table of their performances:
| Bowler | Team | Top Speed (km/h) | Total Wickets | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoaib Malik | Pakistan | 154.6 | 6 | 3/36 |
| Lockie Ferguson | New Zealand | 153.6 | 21 | 4/41 |
| Jofra Archer | England | 152.7 | 20 | 3/27 |
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 151.8 | 27 | 5/26 |
| Mark Wood | England | 151.4 | 18 | 4/34 |
The Impact of Fast Bowling on the 2019 World Cup
The 2019 World Cup had a mix of both high-scoring and low-scoring games. Fast bowlers played an essential role in both types of games:
- In low-scoring encounters, the fast bowlers used their speed to restrict the batsmen, making it difficult to score quickly.
- In high-scoring encounters, fast bowlers provided the much-needed breakthroughs and broke partnerships.
Shoaib Malik’s role in the Pakistan team was instrumental, and though Pakistan didn’t make it past the group stages, his fast bowling spells kept teams on their toes. Similarly, the likes of Jofra Archer and Lockie Ferguson helped their teams make deep runs into the tournament.
Conclusion: A Blend of Speed and Skill
While Shoaib Malik was the fastest bowler in terms of recorded speed during the 2019 World Cup, the true test of fast bowling isn’t just about how fast you bowl. It’s about how you use that pace to outwit the batsman. Shoaib Malik, along with other fast bowlers like Jofra Archer, Lockie Ferguson, and Mitchell Starc, showcased that a perfect blend of skill and pace is necessary to be successful at the highest level.
In the future, fast bowlers will continue to shape the course of World Cups, and the 2019 edition demonstrated the importance of raw speed in this exciting sport. Whether it’s intimidating the batsman or creating opportunities for wickets, the fastest bowlers will always remain a crucial component in the dynamic of the game.
