Twenty20 World Cup / Ed Hawkins / 02 June 2009 /

If the batsmen are the stars of the show in Twenty20, then it's the bowlers who sweat, toil and strain every sinew to bring up the curtain so they can milk the adulation. Ed Hawkins discusses the unsung heroes of the short form...

For bowlers, Twenty20 is a thankless task. Either they break their backs setting batsmen a target with which they can strike towards with freedom, or they are the ones being struck. Rarely do they steal the limelight.

It is unlikely to be any different in the World Twenty20, which starts on Friday with England taking on the Netherlands at Lord's. In that game, however, we could see a bowler take exception to the batsman's rule.

Dirk Nannes will charge in at the start and end of the England innings, delivering left-arm thunderbolts which are the Dutch side's only hope of blasting a hole in the home side's challenge.

Nannes is a rarity because he must be one of the first bowlers who has played for an Associate country to be capable of bowling at 90mph. All the big boys have them, apart from New Zealand, of course. And there's the rub.

"We are not used to Dirk's pace at our level," said Netherlands captain Jeroen Smits after Nannes had restricted Ireland to just six runs - only three off the bat - in a 'Super Over' at HQ on Monday.

Remember those words when you look at the odds for top bowler in the competition. If you do you should spot that the value will not lie with an Australian, Sri Lankan or West Indian.
Why? Because those three sides face each other in Group C while the other nation's bowlers can look forward to surprising the minnows. It potentially means that such dangerous wicket-takers like Nathan Bracken, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, the market jolly, and Dwayne Bravo could be some way behind their rivals if they reach the Super 8 stage.

India's bowlers have the possibility of easy wickets against Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Bangladesh. England and Pakistan, meanwhile will have noted Smit's words and South Africa will fancy their chances of a quick afternoon's work against Scotland. Of the big boys, only New Zealand do not have a bowler of brute pace.

For India, [26.00] Ishant Sharma comes sharply into focus. Out of rhythm in the Indian Premier League, Sharma should not only enjoy the movement of English pitches but he has that thrilling ability to splay a batsman's stumps. He did that to Jesse Ryder at Lord's in the first of four wickets - one in each of his overs - leaving no one in doubt that he was a man who has found form.

RP Singh, his opening partner, should not be discounted, either at [17.50]. He was the leading wicket-taker in the IPL with 23 victims. Nor should it be forgotten that India, as favourites, should at least make the semi-finals giving these two precious extra overs.

There is much to like about Pakistan's Umar Gul, too at [17.50]. With 24 wickets in Twenty20 internationals, no one has more. Dale Steyn, the South Africa fast man, is [16.50].

These four have the most important commodity for a top bowler bet: the ability to bowl at the death. When batsmen are swinging to get their name in lights, they take greater risks and wickets can come even cheaper than if the bowlers were running in against the small fry.

This factor is often overlooked mainly thanks to the hype surrounding spinners in Twenty20. They are crucial, of course but more for strangling sides in the middle of an innings. Shahid Afridi and Daniel Vettori are the best around - numbers two and three in the all-time wicket-taking list. But it would be irregular if they were bowling at the business end. It might be taking the batsman-worship too far if they did.

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