20th over in a T20I and 10 runs required: Choose your bowler (current players) to bowl that last over

[MenInG]

So, this is the big game - you are captain and have 10 runs to defend in the final over of that very important game!

The final over is upon you, and you look around...the crowd roars, millions of your fans expect the best from you....

You throw the ball to.... (Mohammad Nawaz is not a good choice!)

 

[sweep_shot]

I would pick Bumrah.

Someone experienced should bowl it.

 

[ahmadharis1]

Give me Mitchell Starc... would also consider Rashid Khan in the right conditions

 

[MenInG]

Zaman Khan for me

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Peak Starc or peak Gul would defend it.

 

[MenInG]

Peak Starc or peak Gul would defend it.

Let stay with current players.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Let stay with current players.

From the ones in pic, I'd pick Starc. Bumrah is good enough to do that as well. Archer as well. Rabada can do that if he's got his tail up. There's just a lot of difference when Rabada is switched on and then there are days he looks disinterested and lethargic.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Bumrah
Starc
Rabada
Rashid

 

[kingusama92]

Bumrah is average in big games.

I'd go Starc. He's as proven as it gets in the biggest of games.

 

[RidiculousMan]

So, this is the big game - you are captain and have 10 runs to defend in the final over of that very important game!

The final over is upon you, and you look around...the crowd roars, millions of your fans expect the best from you....

You throw the ball to.... (Mohammad Nawaz is not a good choice!)

If it's anyone currently than I would pick Zaman.

He has good T20 death bowling experience now. Not easy to get under with his dipping yorkers. He has bowled quite a few superb last overs already. Not to mention his action makes it a little difficult for batters to get in.

Bowlers like Shaheen, Starc or Wood are expansive. They may get you wicket but they have tendency to leak runs even in most crucial moments and defending 10 runs now a days is not easy.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

If it's anyone currently than I would pick Zaman.

He has good T20 death bowling experience now. Not easy to get under with his dipping yorkers. He has bowled quite a few superb last overs already. Not to mention his action makes it a little difficult for batters to get in.

Bowlers like Shaheen, Starc or Wood are expansive. They may get you wicket but they have tendency to leak runs even in most crucial moments and defending 10 runs now a days is not easy.

True for Shaheen and Wood, but don't think Starc will allow batter to dominate more than once at such important stage of the game. He is too clever for that.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Mitch starc was never considered a death bowling exponent like Malinga. He mostly takes wickets with new ball. He got thrashed around by Afghanistan recently. His career ER in death overs is 6.54. Bumrah beats him in every metric in death overs.

 

[kingusama92]

Mitch starc was never considered a death bowling exponent like Malinga. He mostly takes wickets with new ball. He got thrashed around by Afghanistan recently. His career ER in death overs is 6.54. Bumrah beats him in every metric in death overs.

Not in the World Cups.

Bilateral Starc vs big-game Starc are two different players.

"In 2019, his best World Cup ever, Starc took only four wickets and averaged 40 in the first 10 overs right across that tournament, but was good in the middle overs, and smashed the death overs to such an extent that his average in the last 10 was 7.81"

Even in the 2023 WC, he went 1/12 in the Semi and 2/14 in the final during the death. All of this despite being in woeful form before.

Different formats than what the OP is asking but still the pressure factor applies.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Not in the World Cups.

Bilateral Starc vs big-game Starc are two different players.

"In 2019, his best World Cup ever, Starc took only four wickets and averaged 40 in the first 10 overs right across that tournament, but was good in the middle overs, and smashed the death overs to such an extent that his average in the last 10 was 7.81"

Even in the 2023 WC, he went 1/12 in the Semi and 2/14 in the final during the death. All of this despite being in woeful form before.

Different formats than what the OP is asking but still the pressure factor applies.

We are talking about 1 over 10 run situation. i am not sure Starc did that even in world cup. He doesn't have control like Malinga or Bumrah. He is a spray gun. You can target him in various directions given his erratic bowling.

 

[kingusama92]

We are talking about 1 over 10 run situation. i am not sure Starc did that even in world cup. He doesn't have control like Malinga or Bumrah. He is a spray gun. You can target him in various directions given his erratic bowling.

Fair point.

I guess this becomes a debate of handling pressure in a big moment vs. technical accuracy and what you value when choosing a bowler.

Malinga was great cause he had it all. One of the greatest death bowlers.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Fair point.

I guess this becomes a debate of handling pressure in a big moment vs. technical accuracy and what you value when choosing a bowler.

Malinga was great cause he had it all. One of the greatest death bowlers.

Australia work as a team. They have gun fielders to apply pressure in crunch games. We cannot use that as a barometer. For instance Bumrah bowled a great super over. Two skiers resulted. Both were put down by Iyer and Rahul. India won neverhtless. But still Australian fielding can supplement their bowlers massively. Starc in isolation is not really as good as Malinga who i rate well above any death bowler in ODI history. Still remember the 4 dismissals in one over in 2007 world cup. He almost pulled off a miracle. Bumrah in very similar mould. Infact he started as a death over specialist and then expanded his repertoire. He would often bowl after 10th over. Starc is kinda of an all phase bowler always. Not specialist per se. Any time i see against India starc was all over the shop. He couldn't land two balls at the same spot. He was one of the main reason why India beat Australia in the Gabba Test. Thakur, Gill everyone targeted him. Heck even Pujara.

 

[Asad T]

Statistically, Haris Rauf has the best economy of any bowler in T20's bowling in the death with min 300 ball bowled at 7.81. I'm not sure if I would go with him in his current form though!

 

[msb314]

Naseem Shah… hands down for me

 

[imshally81]

Zaman Khan for me

Me 2

Wasim Junior is 2nd best option..

 

[Major]

Domestic game than Zaman Khan. The guy has done it many times.

In international either Boult or Starc.

Starc is the best bowler that exists in cricket and performs on big occasions. But than there is Boult aswell and Boult delivers on big occasion.

One thing you cannot ignore is that defending 10 runs require a good fielding effort aswell. One inaccurate throw, one throw that is not fast and more aerial, or one misfield can change the whole circumstances. So its a team effort and which is why I would consider New Zealand or Australia team in such a situation.

Jofra Archer is another good option if he was not injured all the time.

If you guys remember the 2019 world cup super over. The fielding of both sides was terrific. Both teams were on top of there game in terms of fielding during the super over. No over throws, making sure that the throw from outside the circle is not too aerial. Throw being accurate to the keeper. Keeper being in the right position. That was cricket at its best.

The super over bowlers of that game were Archer and Boult

 

[Sher Khan]

Jasprit Bumrah.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I will pick Haris Rauf because variations become useful towards the end of the overs and Haris uses them wisely.