Sinister seamers leading World Cup

Gigantic bats. Two new balls. Four men out. Boundary ropes. The modern one-day game allows batsmen look like super heroes.

But among the record-breaking feats that have been bludgeoned by the willow wielders in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, an antidote has been discovered: left-arm fast bowlers.

A breakdown of the bowling data from the 32 matches of the tournament reveals the sinister speedsters have not only been the most fruitful bowling threat, they’ve also been much more frugal than their right-handed counterparts.

The southpaws conjure a wicket every 24 balls, a dozen fewer than their right-handed rivals, all the while conceding fewer runs per dismissal, going for less runs per over and bowling more dot balls.

Image Id: ~/media/BCD2CEB6F79F49A7B6A5029342335618

Leading the way for the lefties is New Zealand tyro Trent Boult. From five matches, Boult has taken 13 wickets including 5-27 against Australia in the Eden Park epic last month.

Hot on his heels is Australia’s one-day wizard, Mitchell Starc. From only four matches, the NSW Blues quick has sent 12 batsmen packing – six of whom were Black Caps in the same match that Boult starred in.

Image Id: ~/media/B48832D23FD14366B49562F608768B59

Bowled him! // Getty Images

While those men have tasted individual success, it’s the combined efforts of Pakistan’s triumvirate of lethal left-armers that have seen the team transform from unpredictable enigmas to one of the form outfits of the competition.

On two separate occasions, Pakistan’s left-arm pace trio have collected nine of the 10 wickets to fall to secure to wins over Africa’s World Cup entrants.

Towering quick Mohammad Irfan and Whab Riaz each claimed four wickets in a pulsating tug-of-war against Zimbabwe in Brisbane, before the third Amigo, Rahat Ali, joined the party in Auckland as the triad evenly shared nine wickets in the tournament’s biggest upset over South Africa.

Image Id: ~/media/3B80AFB306134482A346ABFD6D7B3D36

Rahat Ali is pumped during the win over South Africa // Getty Images

And it’s been in New Zealand where the lefties have performed even greater.

In the Land of the Long White Cloud, left-arm pacemen have taken more wickets for fewer runs and at a better strike rate than across the Tasman while comfortable outshining their more orthodox comrades.

Image Id: ~/media/40834BC7578647E887F3336C38736379

If history is anything to go by, Pakistan’s left-arm resurgence is starting to resemble a former champion’s deeds the last time the quadrennial competition was held in the Antipodes.

Facing England in the 1992 World Cup final at the MCG, a 25-year-old Wasim Akram claimed three wickets – including two in two balls – in a man-of-the-match performance in Pakistan’s maiden World Cup triumph.

Image Id: ~/media/B9FEF42B33D6469A8800D78AC18DFA0D

How about that smile! Wasim after the 1992 World Cup win // Getty Images

Wasim would go on to become the leading left-arm wicket-taker in the 40-year history of the tournament, taking 55 wickets from 39 games.

But Wasim’s tally could be in danger.

Both Boult and Starc are the same age as Wasim was when he tasted World Cup victory, so who’s to say the sinistral seamers won’t continue to be batsmen’s kryptonite.