Meet the current Fab Four of bowling

Fab Four! This term is quite familiar in the cricket world. Isn’t it? After all, this unofficial club features some of the modern-day greats. The elite quartet features Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. All these four stalwarts are the cornerstones of their respective teams and their records speak volumes of their prowess. Be it Tests, ODIs, or T20Is, the ‘Fab Four’ proved their mettle across formats and their side to one emphatic win after another.

With the four batting maestros delivering consistently, the cricket world has been debating over who’s the best of the lot. Several prominent cricket personalities have also presented their opinion on the same. However, is batting the only department in the game of cricket? Bowlers’ job is not any less significant. In fact, thriving in the longest format is pretty much impossible with a potent bowling attack.

After all, 20 wickets are needed for a side to win a Test match. Hence, the bowlers also deserve equal validation and also a ‘Fab Four’ club. Notably, the three formats in international cricket demand skill set and approach. Hence, you won’t see many bowling thriving across formats. Nevertheless, there have been some bowlers who have been delivering regardless of the format and conditions. We say, there have been four of them.

Presenting the Fab Four of Bowling

1. Pat Cummins

Cummins’ journey in international cricket has been all about determination and relentless hard work. Making his debut for Australia in 2011, Cummins burst onto the scenes with his ability to make the ball talk. However, frequent injuries dented the initial part of Cummins’ career. Many even claimed that Cummins’ body won’t allow him to play regularly.

However, giving up isn’t something greats do and the pacer didn’t like this idea as well. He worked hard on his body and emerged as a wicket-taking machine. It has been few years since Cummins has been spearheading Australia’s pace attack across formats. He, in fact, has been the top-ranked Test bowler since December 2018, and his position isn’t likely to be taken away anytime soon.

The 28-year-old has already taken over 300 wickets in international cricket and he isn’t likely to slow down any time soon. Hence, it would be interesting to see how far he goes. Not to forget, the Australian talisman can also contribute with the bat in hand.

Pat Cummins’ International Record

2. Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah’s international debut in 2016 indeed ended India’s quest for a complete fast bowler. The right-arm pacer caught a lot of eyeballs with his uncanny action. However, there was much more to his game. Bumrah can swing the ball both ways and nailing yorkers and bouncers isn’t a great challenge for him either.

On top of that, Bumrah has numerous variations in his arsenal to trouble batters in the death overs. Now, what more you can expect from a fast bowler. Though the pacer was excelling in ODIs and T20Is, many believed that his unusual action won’t let him survive in Test matches. Nevertheless, Bumrah shattered the stereotypes and made the red ball talk. To date, the talismanic fast bowler has Test five-wicket hauls in Australia, South Africa, England, and West Indies.

Notably, Bumrah also possesses a sharp cricket mind. He adjusts to the conditions very quickly which allows him to get maximum purchase from the surface. Ageing 27, Bumrah still has a long way to go and batters all around the worldwide must be prepared to tackle the pacer’s thunderbolts.

Jasprit Bumrah’s International Record

3. Kagiso Rabada

South Africa cricket team hasn’t enjoyed a sensational run in the past years. However, one man who has been constantly performing for them is Kagiso Rabada. Regardless of the format or circumstances, the right-arm speedster backs himself to take wickets and his stellar record speaks volumes of his prowess. Rabada burst onto the scenes with his remarkable ODI debut against West Indies in 2015.

He took a hat-trick in that game and made the world take notice of him. Rabada didn’t look back after that and delivered one sensational spell after another. Besides setting the speed gun on fire, the right-arm pacer can also swing the ball precisely. Nailing yorkers and bouncers isn’t out of his reach either.

Thanks to all these abilities, Rabada tasted success across formats and took South Africa to many wins. At 26, the speedster has already taken over 350 international wickets and a good part of his career is still ahead. Hence, one must brace themselves to see the Proteas star making and breaking records.

Kagiso Rabada’s International Record

4. Trent Boult

Our Fab Four will be completed by none other than Kiwi speedster Trent Boult. The left-arm pacer has been exceptional in international cricket and his numbers are daunting as well. In fact, Boult has been instrumental in New Zealand’s emergence as a world-beater. He put up consistent performances across formats and took the Blackcaps to many triumphs.

Boult made his international debut in 2011 and didn’t take long in cementing his place in the side. In fact, his first Test appearance saw New Zealand registering a famous seven-run win over Australia in Hobart. Well, that was just the start of something special as Boult didn’t look back after that. He proved his mettle worldwide by tormenting the best of the batters.

He also played a vital role in taking New Zealand to the finals of the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. Boult shone in the inaugural World Test Championship cycle as well and took his side to the title. The 32-year-old pacer has already scalped over 600 international wickets and he won’t mind enhancing his tally to a greater extent.

Trent Boult’s International Record