The ongoing 2007 World Cup will always be remembered for the numerous batting records established during the tournament.
However, there are still some bowlers who have made their mark in the tournament.
In this article we take a look at the most successful bowlers and also the flop ones.
Highest wicket-takers in World Cup:
Wkts | Bowler | For | Mts | Avg | SR | RpO |
18 | GD McGrath | Aus | 7 | 13.06 | 17.61 | 4.45 |
15 | DL Vettori | NZ | 8 | 22.40 | 31.07 | 4.33 |
15 | M Muralitharan | SL | 7 | 17.13 | 25.87 | 3.97 |
15 | LS Malinga | SL | 6 | 14.27 | 17.33 | 4.94 |
14 | SW Tait | Aus | 7 | 20.43 | 22.57 | 5.43 |
13 | GB Hogg | Aus | 7 | 17.31 | 24.46 | 4.25 |
12 | CK Langeveldt | SAf | 6 | 24.08 | 26.50 | 5.45 |
12 | SE Bond | NZ | 7 | 12.83 | 29.83 | 2.58 |
12 | Abdur Razzak | Ban | 7 | 21.00 | 27.33 | 4.61 |
11 | WPUJC Vaas | SL | 7 | 17.18 | 30.55 | 3.38 |
11 | A Flintoff | Eng | 6 | 18.45 | 29.00 | 3.82 |
11 | DB Powell | WI | 7 | 26.27 | 35.45 | 4.45 |
10 | NW Bracken | Aus | 6 | 16.30 | 27.00 | 3.62 |
Australia pacer Glenn McGrath is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, but does he enjoys the lowest bowling average too?
Let's check it out. Among the bowlers who have sent down at least 25 overs in the tournament so far, New Zealand's Shane Bond has conceded least runs off his bowling for every wicket taken. McGrath comes second.
Lowest bowling average:
Avg | Bowler | For | Mts | Wkts | Balls | Runs |
12.83 | SE Bond | NZ | 7 | 12 | 358 | 154 |
13.06 | GD McGrath | Aus | 7 | 18 | 317 | 235 |
14.27 | LS Malinga | SL | 6 | 15 | 260 | 214 |
16.30 | NW Bracken | Aus | 6 | 10 | 270 | 163 |
17.13 | M Muralitharan | SL | 7 | 15 | 388 | 257 |
17.18 | WPUJC Vaas | SL | 7 | 11 | 336 | 189 |
17.31 | GB Hogg | Aus | 7 | 13 | 318 | 225 |
18.45 | A Flintoff | Eng | 6 | 11 | 319 | 203 |
18.88 | A Nel | SAf | 4 | 8 | 212 | 151 |
It will be interesting to see the bowlers at the other end of the spectrum. Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya could not take a wicket despite sending down 26 overs. West Indies left-armer pacer Ian Bradshaw has had a nightmarish tournament with only two wickets in three matches at an average of 83.50. Highest bowling average:
Avg | Bowler | For | Mts | Wkts | Balls | Runs |
- | P Utseya | Zim | 3 | 0 | 156 | 101 |
83.50 | IDR Bradshaw | WI | 3 | 2 | 174 | 167 |
74.50 | AC Cummins | Can | 3 | 2 | 150 | 149 |
73.67 | CH Gayle | WI | 7 | 3 | 272 | 221 |
65.33 | CD Collymore | WI | 5 | 3 | 278 | 196 |
65.00 | JM Davison | Can | 3 | 2 | 174 | 130 |
58.75 | D Langford-Smith | Ire | 7 | 4 | 318 | 235 |
57.25 | JH Kallis | SAf | 8 | 4 | 288 | 229 |
54.00 | JE Taylor | WI | 5 | 4 | 276 | 216 |
Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga is the surprise entry at the top among the bowlers who needed least balls for each wicket. Once again McGrath is at second place. Lowest strike-rate:
SR | Bowler | For | Mts | Balls | Runs | Wkts |
17.33 | LS Malinga | SL | 6 | 260 | 214 | 15 |
17.61 | GD McGrath | Aus | 7 | 317 | 235 | 18 |
22.57 | SW Tait | Aus | 7 | 316 | 286 | 14 |
24.46 | GB Hogg | Aus | 7 | 318 | 225 | 13 |
25.87 | M Muralitharan | SL | 7 | 388 | 257 | 15 |
26.50 | CK Langeveldt | SAf | 6 | 318 | 289 | 12 |
26.50 | A Nel | SAf | 4 | 212 | 151 | 8 |
27.00 | NW Bracken | Aus | 6 | 270 | 163 | 10 |
27.33 | Abdur Razzak | Ban | 7 | 328 | 252 | 12 |
29.00 | A Flintoff | Eng | 6 | 319 | 203 | 11 |
29.83 | SE Bond | NZ | 7 | 358 | 154 | 12 |
30.00 | DJ Bravo | WI | 7 | 270 | 286 | 9 |
�and the ones who bowled their heart out without much success. There are three West Indian bowlers in the following list. A clear reflection of their sides' poor performance. Worst strike-rate:
SR | Bowler | For | Mts | Balls | Runs | Wkts |
- | P Utseya | Zim | 3 | 156 | 101 | 0 |
92.67 | CD Collymore | WI | 5 | 278 | 196 | 3 |
90.67 | CH Gayle | WI | 7 | 272 | 221 | 3 |
87.00 | JM Davison | Can | 3 | 174 | 130 | 2 |
87.00 | IDR Bradshaw | WI | 3 | 174 | 167 | 2 |
79.50 | D Langford-Smith | Ire | 7 | 318 | 235 | 4 |
75.00 | AC Cummins | Can | 3 | 150 | 149 | 2 |
When it comes to concede least runs in an over, Shane Bond has no comparison with any one. He is the only bowler to have a economy rate of less than three after bowling more than 25 overs. Best economy rate:
RpO | Player | For | Mts | Balls | Runs | Wkts |
2.58 | SE Bond | NZ | 7 | 358 | 154 | 12 |
3.38 | WPUJC Vaas | SL | 7 | 336 | 189 | 11 |
3.62 | NW Bracken | Aus | 6 | 270 | 163 | 10 |
3.65 | AC Botha | Ire | 5 | 240 | 146 | 4 |
3.66 | JDP Oram | NZ | 8 | 315 | 192 | 9 |
3.67 | Syed Rasel | Ban | 6 | 312 | 191 | 7 |
3.80 | ST Jayasuriya | SL | 7 | 284 | 180 | 5 |
3.81 | SM Pollock | SAf | 8 | 414 | 263 | 7 |
3.82 | A Flintoff | Eng | 6 | 319 | 203 | 11 |
3.88 | P Utseya | Zim | 3 | 156 | 101 | 0 |
3.93 | JS Patel | NZ | 4 | 206 | 135 | 5 |
3.96 | MM Patel | Ind | 3 | 159 | 105 | 4 |
3.97 | M Muralitharan | SL | 7 | 388 | 257 | 15 |
4.00 | AB Agarkar | Ind | 3 | 168 | 112 | 4 |
4.00 | SB Styris | NZ | 8 | 276 | 184 | 8 |
�..and following are the bowlers with the worst economy rate. Worst economy rate:
RpO | Player | For | Mts | Balls | Runs | Wkts |
6.36 | DJ Bravo | WI | 7 | 270 | 286 | 9 |
6.08 | GC Smith | SAf | 8 | 150 | 152 | 4 |
5.96 | AC Cummins | Can | 3 | 150 | 149 | 2 |
5.76 | IDR Bradshaw | WI | 3 | 174 | 167 | 2 |
5.72 | CB Mpofu | Zim | 3 | 174 | 166 | 4 |
Note: All stats are updated upto and including World Cup Match # 41 (New Zealand v South Africa)
The Cup: Complete Coverage
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