5 Bowlers Who Will Curb the Big Hitters at the 2016 ICC World T20
Think Twenty20 cricket is purely a batsman's game? Think again.
While many bowlers do seem to spend most of their time in this format, getting carted around the park, some manage, for the most part, to avoid the carnage.
And many of these bowlers seem to travel under the radar a little. For example, can you guess which bowler has the lowest economy rate in the entire history of T20 cricket? (Clue: He'll be strutting his stuff at the ICC World T20.)
With that in mind, here, ranked in descending order of their T20 economy rate, are five bowlers the batsmen will do well to avoid at the World Cup over the next few weeks.
5. Angelo Mathews
T20 Appearances: 138
Wickets: 75
Economy rate: 7.28
Having recently resumed captaincy of Sri Lanka's T20 side, Angelo Mathews has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but since Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene retired, he's probably used to this.
In fact, despite rarely displaying his diminishing bowling in the longer formats of the game, the all-rounder remains a rather effective T20 performer with the ball in hand.
Concentrating on an off-stump line, Mathews has posted an economy rate of 6.64 from 62 T20 Internationals, and his off-pace deliveries could be effective in Indian conditions.
4. Shahid Afridi
T20 Appearances: 207
Wickets: 226
Economy rate: 6.64
Shahid Afridi's place in the Pakistan side has come under threat of late with even the legendary Javed Miandad saying the all-rounder should be axed.
However, if you were basing selection on the 35-year-old's incredible bowling statistics alone, he would be one of the first names on the team sheet!
As well as claiming a scalp every 19.7 balls, Afridi's mixed bag of leg breaks are clearly difficult to get away from, and he also has the happy knack of picking up wickets in clutches.
If Boom Boom can produce a few match-winning performances in India, Miandad may be forced to eat his words.
3. Dale Steyn
T20 Appearances: 163
Wickets: 177
Economy rate: 6.63
It's great news for the World Cup that Dale Steyn appears to have recovered from his recent injury troubles and is all set to terrorise opposition batsmen in India.
What's great about the South African is that, as well as taking wickets with the new ball and delivering the nerve-wracking overs at the end of an innings, he can also bowl economically as well.
Additionally, given his vast IPL experience, he should be adept at bowling in this format on Indian soil.
Action junkies won't want to miss his blistering partnership with fellow paceman Kagiso Rabada which could be one of the tournament's highlights.
2. Harbhajan Singh
T20 Appearances: 195
Wickets: 181
Economy rate: 6.61
Harbhajan Singh first played for India in 1998, and now here we are, almost 18 years later, and the vastly experienced spinner is still performing and could play a significant role for his country once again.
And why not?
The 35-year-old has maintained his fitness and his ultra-low economy rate, across nearly 200 T20s, and it's impressive. He can also chip in with some lusty late-order blows when required.
So, given the spin-friendly conditions, it would be no surprise to see him delivering his miserly overs to great effect over the next few weeks.
1. Samuel Badree
T20 Appearances: 129
Wickets: 127
Economy rate: 5.41
Yes, you read that economy rate correctly...Samuel Badree boasts by far the lowest T20 economy rate of any bowler currently in operation. And his international economy rate of 5.39 is even better.
The 34-year-old leg-spinner deals bowls with a natural skiddy flight and unerring accuracy that makes him a very difficult opponent to get on top of.
So while the West Indies will miss the absent Sunil Narine, they've still got a more-than-effective secret weapon in Badree who will give his big-hitting batsmen a chance to win games.