ODI World Cup 2023: All 10 Teams Best Bowling Lineup Ranking

Team India, the standout as we look at the ranking of the best bowling attack of all 10 teams for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. 

They often say batting wins you matches, but it is the bowing attack that wins you the tournaments. With 10 teams set to play the biggest cricket tournament of the year, the ODI World Cup 2023, a lot of emphasis has been given to strengthing the bowling attack for the respective team. 

India is a country that produces pitches that can favour both pace as well as spin bowling. So, needless to say, all 10 teams have designed their bowling attack in such a way that they have the right mix of spinners as well as pacers in their squad. But how do we evaluate a bowling attack?

Well, ideally, every team has at least 6 bowling options on their side. This bowling attack can have a combination of 4 pacers + 2 spinners or 3 pacers + 3 spinners combination. Teams usually select one of these based on their strengths. So, with the information in hand, let’s look at the bowling attack ranking of all 10 teams for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.  

Ranking All 10 Teams Best Bowling Attack for ODI World Cup 2023:

Methodology:

To arrive at the ranking, we will look at the best 6 first-choice bowlers from each team. To remove any biases and perceptions, we will look at the performance of all these players in ODI cricket over the last 5 years. All players are relatively rated on a scale of 10, and a cumulative team rating is formed to arrive at the final rankings. 

#10: Netherlands – 6.0

At number 10, we have the Netherlands team with a bowling attack rating of 6.0. The Netherlands does have experience on their side, but their bowling attack is relatively weaker as compared to other teams. For the Netherlands, Logan van Beek is their best bowler with a rating of 8. Apart from him, the Netherlands have Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren, and Van der Merwe as key bowlers.

Best Bowling Attack for Netherlands for ODI World Cup 2023:

Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Paul van Meekeren & Aryan Dutt

#9: Sri Lanka – 8.00

Coming to number 9, we have the Sri Lankan team with a bowling attack rating of 8.0. Sri Lanka may not have big names on paper in their bowling lineup, but they do have potential. In the absence of Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana remains their best bowler with a rating of 9.75. He is followed by Lahiru Kumara, Pathirana, and Dunith Wellalage. 

Best Bowling Attack for Sri Lanka for ODI World Cup 2023:

Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana & Lahiru Kumara

#8: Pakistan – 8.433

Coming to number 8, we have a surprise in the form of Pakistan, who have a bowling attack rating of 8.433. While Pakistan have three strong bowlers in the form of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan, it is the other three bowlers where the rating reduces significantly. Hopefully, the trio of Aftikhar, Nawaz, and Hasan Ali come good for Pakistan. 

Best Bowling Attack for Pakistan for ODI World Cup 2023:

Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf & Hasan Ali

#7: England – 8.542

Number 7 is another surprise in the form of England with a bowling attack rating of 8.542. There is no doubt about England’s batting, but their bowling attack looks below par as compared to the other nine teams. Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood are England’s best bowlers with a rating of 9.75, 9, and 9 respectively. But the other three, Stokes, Curran, and Moeen Ali aren’t strong enough to increase the rating. 

Best Bowling Attack for England for ODI World Cup 2023:

Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid & Mark Wood

#6: South Africa – 8.667

At number 6, we have South Africa with a bowling attack rating of 8.667. South Africa have a good bowling attack with Kagiso Rabada being the leader of the attack with a rating of 9.5. South Africa’s rating would have been better had Nortje didn’t injure himself. Even then, Tabraiz and Keshav at 9.25, and Andile and Marco at 8.5 do make up for a good bowling attack. 

Best Bowling Attack for South Africa for ODI World Cup 2023:

Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj & Tabraiz Shamsi

#5: Afghanistan 8.708

At number 5, we have Afghanistan with a bowling attack rating of 8.708. One may be surprised to see Afghanistan above England, Pakistan, and South Africa. But there is no doubt about the quality of Afghan bowlers. Rashid Khan is the benchmark spinner with a rating of 10. Mueejb follows him at 9.25, Fazal at 9, and Nabi at 9. Naveen and Omarzai aren’t too bad with a rating of 8 and 7 respectively. 

Best Bowling Attack for Afghanistan for ODI World Cup 2023:

Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi & Naveen ul Haq

#4: Australia – 8.750

At number 4, we have the Australian team with a bowling attack rating of 8.750. Only if Ashton Agar was available, Australia would have been second. But with no Agar, a part-timer Glenn Maxwell will have an important role as a bowler. Unfortunately, Maxwell isn’t a strong option, and only has a rating of 6.5. 

Overall, the fifth bowling may be an issue for the Aussies as they will have to depend on Marsh, Maxwell, and Head/ Marnus for 10 overs. Other than these two, Adam Zampa is the benchmark spinner with a rating of 10. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc at 9.75, and Pat Cummins at 9.5 follow them.  

Best Bowling Attack for Australia for ODI World Cup 2023:

Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood & Adam Zampa

#3: New Zealand – 8.875

Coming to number 3, we have Australia’s neighbours, New Zealand with a bowling attack rating of 8.875. New Zealand have always maintained consistency in their bowling lineup, and it is almost the same set of bowlers who were also a part of the 2019 World Cup.

Matt Henry and Trent Boult are benchmark pacers with a rating of 10. Southee and Santner aren’t far behind with a rating of 9 and 8.75 respectively. Meanwhile, Sodhi has a rating of 8.5, and their sixth bowler Glenn Phillips has a rating of 7, and that’s where their rating gets reduced overall.  

Best Bowling Attack for New Zealand for ODI World Cup 2023:

Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Mitch Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi & Trent Boult

#2: Bangladesh – 8.917

Surprise..Surprise. We have the Bangladesh team at the number 2 position with a rating of 8.917. One must definitely be surprised to see their name. But honestly, all their key bowlers have performed extremely well in the last 4-5 years. The result is such that we have Shakib with a rating of 9.75. He is followed by Mustifizur and Taskin at 9.5, Shoriful at 9.25, Miraz at 9, and Hasan at 6.5. 

Best Bowling Attack for Bangladesh for ODI World Cup 2023:

Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed & Shoriful Islam

#1: India – 9.125

Coming to the numero uno, we have the Indian team with a bowling attack rating of 9.125. Honestly, India have the best bowling attack given all their top 6 bowlers are among the best. India will mostly opt for a 3 pace and 3 spin combination on spin friendly pitches. 

Overall, Mohammed Siraj is the leader of the pack with a rating of 10. He is followed by Jasprit Bumrah at 9.75, Kuldeep Yadav at 9.25, Ravindra Jadeja at 8.75, and Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin at 8.5 each. Overall, given the lowest rating is 8.5, India are able to have a cumulative rating of 9.125. 

Best Bowling Attack for India for ODI World Cup 2023:

Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah & Mohammed Siraj

So, that’s about the ranking of the best bowling attack for all 10 teams for ODI World Cup 2023. 

Thanks for reading! Among all 10 teams, which team has the best bowling attack for the ODI World Cup 2023? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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ALSO READ: ODI World Cup 2023: All 10 Teams Updated Final Squad Players list

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