Leading wicket takers in cricket World Cup history

World Cups are the best opportunity for every player in the team to rise up and take their team to the high of World Cup champions. Though cricket is a team game where 11 players decide the faith of every match and eventually the tournament but, every champion team has had that one player who out performed all to help the team claim title. Bowlers have played decisive role in world cups as well, so here are the Leading wicket takers in cricket world cup history.

As the stage is being set for the 2015 world cup in Australia and New Zealand, teams are digging under the usual cover to extract out the talent that they can add to their arsenals. And now that the ICC’s premier most tournament is hosted by a bowler intensified country. Here’s a look at those bowlers who have dominated batsmen in this tournament in the past.

10.Brad Hogg (Australia)

Following the top 9 in the list of leading wicket takers in world cup history is the Chinaman from Australia. Hogg despite the presence of Shane Warne helped himself a place in the Aussie limited overs line up and at times even bowled better than his team-mate. Hogg mixed it up quite well and on most times the batsmen had little idea how to tackel him which helped him further as he took 34 wickets in 21 world cup games. With his fighting attitude and variation filled bowling Hogg occupies the last spot in the top 10 of the leading wicket taker in world cup history

9.Brett Lee (Australia)

In the 2000’s Brett Lee defined fast bowling and inspired young pacers across the globe. Lee a real energetic athlete participated in all the departments of the game, giving more than 100% all the time. Bowled pace, real pace clocking in access of 150 kmph consistently, he also moved the ball laterally. It was not easy to take on him even when the ball did not move and that is where his strength lied. A cool tempered bowler had a really intelligent cricketing brain and it reflects in the success he has had for Aussies with 35 wickets in 17 games Lee is at no. 9 in the top 10.

8.Jacob Oram (New Zealand)

Jacob Oram the tallest New Zealander is also among the top bowler who hails from the country. Oram has played 23 matches for the Kiwi’s in world cups and picked up 36 wickets in the process. He is also an underrated player and many a times his performances went un-noticed. Also a stable batsman Oram at the same time was a good batsman lower in the order. He is placed at number 8 in the all time list of highest wicket takers.

7.Allan Donald (South Africa)

At number 7 is Alan Donald the guy whose aggressive run-up and bowling saw batsmen shivering. He is one of the best fast bowlers that South Africa has produced. Donald ruled and dominated fast bowling in the country for more than a decade. A very competent bowler, never let the batsmen relax he featured in 25 matches in the world cup and scalped 38 wickets with the best bowling figures of 4/17. (also read SA’s Probable Squad for WC 2015)

6.Javagal Srinath (India)

The ICC match refree in the present Javagal Srinath was India’s pace spearhead in his days. Sri would go the extra mile push himself harder every time he got an opportunity and has ensured his name in the cricketing record books in bright letters. Srinath played for India in 4 world cup’s 34 games overall and picked 44 wickets tied with Zaheer Khan as leading wicket taker for India in World Cup cricket.

5.Zaheer Khan (India)

At number 5 is who can be called one of the craftiest bowlers for India Zaheer Khan. A young Zak knew how and where to bowl also a little bit of swing bowling. And as he grew older, wiser in experience added all the fast bowling tricks in his kitty. Conventional swing, reverse swing, the slower ball, the slow bouncer, Knuckle Ball something he personally developed and mastered. It is hard to imagine how India would have done or feared in the 2011 world cup without Zaheer who was the to go bowler for MS Dhoni and whenever the skipper handed him the ball Zak responded with a wicket or two. In his entire world cup journey of 23 matches the left-arm pace bowler has picked 44 wickets.

4.Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)

Chaminda Vaas had this quality and habit of picking wickets, something every skipper would want his lead bowler to have. Vaas early in the innings would tangle; strangle batsmen with his upto the mark, right on the money swing bowling. Very much disciplined bowler Vaas also mastered the art of seam and reverse swing to an extent. Thus this champion bowler from the Island country Sri Lanka, the best fast bowler that they have produced takes the 4^th place in the world with 49 wickets in 31 matches.

3.Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

Wasim Akram the Pakistan swing bowling Demi God, an undisputed master of his art has to be a part when leading wicket takers are discussed. He was also a proud member of the World Cup winning team for Pak under Imran Khan. Wasim played a key role in their success with 55 wickets in 38 games of his world cup cricket career. Apart from this Akram is also the highest wicket taker in ODI cricket with 500 wickets to his name.

2.Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

Following the Aussie is another champion bowler Murlitharan the Sri Lankan spin magician. Murli spun apart his opponents in the 40 matches that he has played in world cups and has taken 68 wickets in the process only 3 behind the all-time high. The highest wicket taker in cricket is also in the top range of this stream.

1.Glenn McGrath (Australia)

Among this pool of 10 bowlers there is this one man who stands out as the highest wicket taker, to be accurate (of course not as much as he used to be) it is Glenn McGrath. The Australian pacer beats every other competitor by a mile, not only for the number of wickets he clubbed but also the impact that he had over the opponents. He was an integral and remarkable member of the super dominant Australian team which won 3 World Cups in a row and lost no game in the process. McGrath leads the trends here even after 7 years of retirement with 71 wickets the highest by any bowler in world cup history in 39 matches that he played in the tournament.

All stats updated till 8th Nov 2014.