T20 World Cup 2024 All Teams Best Bowling Attack Grades

Pakistan and Australia, the leaders as we look at the grading and rating of the best bowling attack for all teams for T20 World Cup 2024. 

After a long time in the shortest format of the game, are we witnessing low-scoring thrillers in an ICC tournament? T20 as a format is mostly known for free-flowing batting, and bowlers are merely looked at as bowling machines. Even in the latest Indian Premier League, we saw teams scoring in excess of 200 with ease. However, the latest edition of the T20 World Cup has kind of redefined T20 cricket in a way.

Pitches play a very important role in Cricket, and in T20s, the pitches are mostly designed to suit the batters. But the USA have thrown a surprise in terms of the pitches that are on offer. It’s a huge contrast from the ones that we are usually likely to see. We have played more than 20 matches so far, and barring a few matches, almost 90% of the matches have seen low-scoring thrillers in both innings.

This makes the roles of bowlers quite crucial in a match. Even as pitches are favoring the bowlers, not every bowler is having a gala tournament. One needs to utilize his bowling skill in a way by bowling in the right channels, varying the pace, and utilizing off-the-seam movement properly. We have already seen the first-choice bowling attack of all 20 teams. So, how about we evaluate the bowlers, and look at the Grading of the top 10 Teams for their bowling attack in the T20 World Cup 2024?

T20 World Cup 2024 – Grading the Best Bowling Attack for Each Team

To simplify the analysis, if a team has a bowling attack rating between 9-10, it will be rated A+, between 8.75 to 9, it will be rated A, between 8.5 to 8.75, it will be rated A-, and so on with a gap of 0.25 points from here on. Also, we will be looking at the cumulative rating of the top 6 bowlers for each team. Whereas individually, each bowler is relatively rated basis the benchmark bowler.

#10. Bangladesh: C (7.38)

1. Shakib Al Hasan
2. Mahmudullah
3. Rishad Hossain
4. Tanzid Hasan 
5. Mustafizur Rahman
6. Taskin Ahmed

Starting with number 10, we have the Bangladesh team with a grade of C for their bowling attack. Bangladesh does have a talented bunch of bowlers with Mustafizur, Taskin, and Tanzid leading the department, and Shakib and Rishad leading the spin department. However, the current form of Shakib is a major worry as it blocks their 3-4 overs completely. So, Bangladesh are heavily dependent on the other four bowlers. 

#9. West Indies: C+ (7.58)

1. Andre Russell
2. Roston Chase
3. Romario Shepherd
4. Akeal Hosein
5. Gudakesh Motie
6. Alzarri Joseph

Number 9 sees the West Indies team with a grade of C+ for their bowling attack. West Indies are only marginally better than Bangladesh, and this is also evident as they don’t have any outstanding bowlers, but as a group, there’s good variety. Russell and Alzarri are their death overs bowler, and given Akeal’s control, he takes the new ball mostly. Shepard mostly bowls in Death and Powerplay, and Chase and Motie add to the good spin variety. 

#8. Afghanistan: C+ (7.71)

1. Azmatullah Omarzai
2.  Mohammad Nabi
3. Rashid Khan
4. Noor Ahmad 
5. Naveen-ul-Haq
6. Fazalhaq Farooqi

Moving to number 8, we have the Afghanistan team with a similar grade C+ as West Indies for their bowling attack. Afghanistan have the world’s best spinner, Rashid Khan on their side, The Afghan team is a spin-dominant force with Noor and Nabi also on the side. However, their pace bowling has improved significantly with the likes of Naveen and Farooqui doing pretty well.  

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup 2024: Rating Each Team Best Batting Lineup

#7. New Zealand: B- (7.91)

1. Michael Bracewell
2. Daryl Mitchell
3. Mitchell Santner
4. Trent Boult
5. Matt Henry
6. Lockie Ferguson

Talking about number 7, we have the New Zealand team with a B- grade for their bowling attack. Now, New Zealand does have a good bowling attack if we consider only 4 names on their side. But the moment we add a fifth and sixth bowler, Daryl Mitchell or Michael Bracewell, the quality reduces significantly. So, even as the likes of Boult, Santner, Henry, and Ferguson are quality bowlers, there are four overs of reduced quality, and thus a lower heading. 

#6. South Africa: B (8.17)

1. Aiden Markram
2. Marco Jansen
3. Kagiso Rabada
4. Keshav Maharaj
5. Anrich Nortje
6. Ottniel Baartman

For number 6, we have the South African team with a B grade for their bowling attack. Now, South Africa are a better version of New Zealand with  5 quality bowlers on their side. However, it is their sixth bowler, Markram, who kind of reduces their grading a bit. But realistically, Markram may bowl only 1-2 overs, and that too on turning tracks, or against left handers. So, overall, South Africa are quite competent for T20 World Cup 2024 when it comes to their bowling. 

#5. England: B (8.21)

1. Liam Livingstone
2. Moeen Ali
3. Chris Jordan
4. Jofra Archer
5. Mark Wood
6. Adil Rashid

For number 5, we have the England team with a B grade for their bowling attack. England are heavily reliant on the trio of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Adil Rashid, and these three add great quality to the bowling attack. But the other three, Chris Jordan, Moeen Ali, and Liam Livingstone aren’t the most reliable options in T20s. Thus, England find themselves in the number 5 position, purely because of the other three bowlers. 

#4. Team India: B+ (8.29)

1. Hardik Pandya
2. Ravindra Jadeja
3. Axar Patel
4. Arshdeep Singh
5. Jasprit Bumrah
6. Mohammed Siraj 

At number 4, we have the Indian team with a B+ grade for the bowling attack. Now, the main reason why India are having lower grade is due to the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, who is literally one of the best spinners in the world currently. But the focus on batting depth by including Axar reduces the rating for Team India. In addition, Siraj and Arshdeep aren’t the most dangerous bowlers to improve the rating for Team India.  

#3. Sri Lanka: B+ (8.33)

1. Angelo Mathews
2. Dasun Shanaka
3. Wanindu Hasaranga
4. Matheesha Pathirana
5. Nuwan Thushara
6. Maheesh Theekshana

For number 3, we have the Sri Lankan team with a B+ grade for their bowling attack. Sri Lankan bowlers may not have a lot of experience, but there’s extreme quality when it comes to T20 cricket. So, be it Hasaranga, Pathirana, Theekshana, or Thushara, all four have their game adapted for T20 cricket, and they also represent in the Indian Premier League. In addition, Mathews, Shanaka, and Dhananjaya are good backups to have. 

#2. Australia: B+ (8.38)

1. Glenn Maxwell
2. Marcus Stoinis
3.  Pat Cummins
4. Mitchell Starc
5. Adam Zampa
6. Josh Hazlewood

Talking about number 2, we have the Australia team with a B+ grade for their bowling attack. Now, Australia have four solid bowers in their side, which is actually the second-best bowling quartet in the world after Pakistan. The only issue with Australia is their fifth and sixth bowler, which aren’t of the same standard as the other four; thus the overall rating and grading of Australia reduces a bit.

#1. Pakistan: A- (8.71)

1. Haris Rauf
2. Imad Wasim
3. Shadab Khan
4. Shaheen Afridi
5. Mohammad Amir
6. Naseem Shah

Finally, for numero uno, we have the Pakistan team with an A- grade for their bowling attack. Pakistan have a quality pace attack in the form of Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amit, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah. This is the best pace quartet among all teams with only South Africa and Australia coming closer to them. In addition to the pacers, the Pakistan team has two good spinners in the form of Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan. 

So, that’s about the best bowling attack for the top 10 teams for the T20 World Cup 2024. Overall, with pitches favoring bowling, Pakistan, India, Australia, and South Africa will be the teams to watch out for.  

Thanks for reading! What’s your take on the all teams best bowling attack grading for the T20 World Cup 2024? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com.

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.