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6 Underrated Bowlers in Test Cricket 2019/20

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Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

6 Underrated Bowlers in Test Cricket 2019/20 | 6 Underrated Bowlers in the World Right Now | Most Underrated Bowlers in Cricket

Test cricket is blessed with some fantastic, exciting pace bowlers. Australia’s Pat Cummins, India’s Jasprit Bumrah, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and England’s Jofra Archer headline this excitement among cricket fans across the globe.

However, there are bowlers that don’t quite get the mention they deserve in the Test bowling conversation. This article will explore six underrated bowlers in Test cricket, talking not only to their records, but also what they offer their respective teams.

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6. Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)

High pace gets fans and commentators excited, and journalists and bloggers typing away at incredible speeds.

Batsmen? Well, they are often quaking in their boots.

However, skill is just as important, and Mohammad Abbas has it in spades. Barely 130km/h, Abbas has made a superb impact in Test cricket. Focused on impeccable line and length, Abbas has succeeded in conditions ranging from England to the UAE, currently boasting 75 wickets at an average of 20.76.

Despite his slower pace, it would be a disservice to exclude Abbas from the pace bowling conversation.

6 Underrated Bowlers in Test Cricket 2019/20 | 6 Underrated Bowlers in the World Right Now | Most Underrated Bowlers in Cricket
Mohammad Abbas is a treat to watch at his best.

5. Jason Holder (West Indies)

Looking at the bowling rankings, Holder sits in third. So, the question might be “how is he underrated?”

Similar to Abbas, Holder doesn’t possess the pace others do. So, he doesn’t often come to mind in the pace bowling conversation. However, Holder’s rise in the past few years has been remarkable, using his height to great effect.

At the end of West Indies’ first Test in the UAE in October 2016, his bowling average had risen to 49.69. Since then, he has averaged 20.65, bringing his overall average down to 27.26. Better, he has 10 wickets in two Tests in India in that time; a place where opposition pace bowlers often struggle.

6 Underrated Bowlers in Test Cricket 2019/20 | 6 Underrated Bowlers in the World Right Now | Most Underrated Bowlers in Cricket
Jason Holder: Heart and soul of Windies cricket right now.

4. Kemar Roach (West Indies)

Kemar Roach’s overseas numbers (average 37.60) often works against him. However, it needs to be remembered that injuries and issues in Windies’ cricket have not helped.

Roach’s record of 193 wickets in 56 Tests at 27.13 is nothing to be scoffed at. More, he has taken 71 wickets at an average of 21.28 since August 2017, which is better than the likes of James Anderson and Trent Boult over the same period.

6 Underrated Bowlers in Test Cricket 2019/20 | 6 Underrated Bowlers in the World Right Now | Most Underrated Bowlers in Cricket
Kemar Roach makes the list of underrated bowlers.

3. Mohammed Shami (India)

India fans know just how good this guy is. However, does the rest of the world know, too?

Mohammed Shami has played a key role in India’s pace bowling revolution of the past few years. He has averaged less than 27 in each of the past four years, including a superb haul of 33 wickets at 16.66 in 2019. Even more impressive is his magnificent second innings record (88 wickets at 21.98), in situations where spinners are expected to cause the damage.

He is a fantastic bowler.

6 Underrated Bowlers in Test Cricket 2019/20 | 6 Underrated Bowlers in the World Right Now | Most Underrated Bowlers in Cricket
Mohammed Shami: One of the world’s finest seamers?

2. Tim Southee (New Zealand)

It is incredible that some people still question why Tim Southee is in New Zealand’s team. Sure, he has lost some pace, but we have all lost count of the number of times he has chipped in with crucial wickets.

6 Underrated Bowlers in Test Cricket 2019/20 | 6 Underrated Bowlers in the World Right Now | Most Underrated Bowlers in Cricket
6 underrated Test bowlers: Tim Southee is underrated by many.

As recently as November 2019, Southee initiated an England collapse that got New Zealand into the game. A few months earlier, he delivered a superb spell in the subcontinent; in a must win game against Sri Lanka. With 256 Test wickets at under 30, it is time more give Southee the credit he deserves.

Harsh…
More harsh!
Southee has been an excellent bowler for New Zealand

1. Neil Wagner

As of May 2020, Neil Wagner is ranked second among Test bowlers in the world.

When you think of New Zealand bowlers, the aesthetic Trent Boult comes to mind. However, Wagner, a bowler around 130km/h, has an incredible ability to hurry batsmen. His value to the New Zealand team cannot be understated, and is indeed a key reason why they sit second in the Test rankings.

He will get something out of any pitch. He will run in all day. Among all pace bowlers since his debut, no one has bowled more unbroken spells of 10 overs or more. Incredibly, 34.67% of his deliveries are bowled in unbroken spells of seven overs or more. His strike rate of 52 puts him in the top 20 of all time. Like Southee, the number of crucial wickets for his team are in abundance.

In December and January 2019/20, Australia and rest of the cricketing world realised just how fantastic Wagner is. He bowled with his heart and soul in difficult circumstances, finishing with 17 wickets at 22.76 in three Tests. He picked up both Steve Smith and David Warner four times each in the series.

A superb competitor.

6 Underrated Bowlers in Test Cricket 2019/20 | 6 Underrated Bowlers in the World Right Now | Most Underrated Bowlers in Cricket
6 underrated bowlers in Test cricket: Wagner is underrated with a capital U!

Thanks for reading!

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Charbel Coorey
Charbel Cooreyhttps://cricblog.net
Charbel is the owner & founder of cricblog.net, based in Sydney, Australia. He started the website to fulfill his love for the game of cricket. Charbel has been featured on other publications including OP India, Times of India, and The Roar, among others. He is also a keen fantasy sports player. Charbel has also had the privilege of interviewing cricketers on the CricBlog TV YouTube channel, including James Neesham, Rassie van der Dussen, Andrew Tye, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat and Saurabh Netravalkar: https://www.youtube.com/@cricblogtv For any story tips or questions, you can contact Charbel at charbelcoorey@cricblog.net.

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