Beware batsmen, here they come

Chinthana WASALA

Twenty 20 fever is on. The Caribbean will be on fire from today as the cricket fans around the world have been given an opportunity to witness what is promised to be an top class cricket extravaganza. The Twenty 20 world cup will be unleashed at Guyana today with 12 teams vying for honours.

Twenty 20 cricket is known for it's entertainment in batting more than the bowling. The experts say that most of the t20 rules are in favor of the batsman's side more than the bowler.

This has a major effect in the entertainment and the excitement as the spectators expect to see more sixes coming from the batsmen other than a match with a slow run rate where the bowler shows his colours, taking wickets and reducing the run rate.

But it is not always true. The most exciting match is not only filled with colourful batting. The combination of massive sixes, boundaries, tremendous catches as well as the falling wickets will provide the maximum entertainment for the spectators.

When it comes to bowling, among many others, there are bowlers who were in the forefront many occasions, signaling that they will be a massive threat to batsmen at the 2010 T20 World Cup Tournament too. Let's have a look at them.

Muttiah Muralitharan

He may be one of the oldest in the field. But who can predict that the most outstanding off spinner in the world would not be a risk to any batsman? Muttiah Muralitharan will be the last person a fast run rate seeker would like to face.

Any bowler could meet up with challenges in T20 more than in One Dayers or Tests but Murali is a bowler who can handle it using his experience and the variations that he has got in delivering the ball. Fifteen wickets at the IPL at an economy rate of 6.85 is not an easy task for a bowler when the average innings score of team batting first, is around 170. Turfs that are quite similar to Indian sub continent are expected at the Caribbean, so the conditions would be much similar. So Skipper Sangakkara would be one of the happiest men to have the 'Magic fingers' to be on his side when it comes to bowling.

Dale Steyn

He is probably the fastest bowler in the T20 World Cup 2010. He has the fast inswinger or the delivery which is just short of length that a batsman finds hard to get a touch off his bat. He leaves batsmen no time to think, tempting them to go for unintended shots, which would probably end up with a wicket for him or a dot ball, which is equally valuable as a maiden over in other forms of cricket.

Daly Steyn, the aggressive South African with a very long run up, has got 23 T20 wickets in his account, earned in just 14 matches. He will be looking forward to multiply the figure at the World Cup which starts today, offering his best for his skipper, Graeme Smith.

Lasith Malinga

Starting off with the Sri Lankans, Lasith Malinga will be among the biggest threats that a batsman would face. The 'Toe Crusher' has improved a lot within the past one and half years, handling the ball more consistently than he used to do.

At the recently concluded Indian Premier League, having picked up 15 wickets, including a best of 4 for 22, he was among the biggest threats batsmen faced. The 'Lion Hair' has picked up 24 wickets in T20s including a best of 3 for 17 and spectators would be eagerly waiting at the Providence Stadium today to see his 109km/h slow ball as well as his 155km/h + toe crusher which would upset the batsmen adding few more wickets to his account.

Umar Gul

He is the best when it comes to T20s. He maintains an incredible economy rate of 5.90. Not an easy task to bowl with that consistency in a game which usually the run rate is around eight per over. He has 43 T20 wickets in his account which he earned at a brilliant strike rate of 13.00 with a best of 5 for 6 which is the best bowling figure in T20s. Umar Gul, the tall Pakistani is the one that every batsman would not want to face when the new ball is there.

Gul takes advantage of his height to deliver his unique bouncer which he has mastered to deliver practically on any surface. Not only the bouncer, just like many of the Pakistani legends, he is a master of the in-swinging yorker. With the speed, swing or bounce, he could be a menace to any team.

Daniel Vettori

The New Zealand skipper is the one to watch in today's World Cup opener. Sri Lankans will have to watch for his off spin as the Caribbean turf will support the spinners too. He has captured 31 wickets in 21 matches with a best of 4 for 20 and his amazing economy rate of 5.42 will leave less options to opponents in making a comfortable total.

It is true that cricket is an unpredictable game. Then T20 has the unpredictability to the highest extent. It could be anyone's game, no matter the experienced or the less experienced, the day could belong to anyone.

The spectators have a great opportunity to see these bowlers giving their best and out of 180 players from 12 teams who will be in battle from today, the 17 day cricket extravaganza will also see the rise and fall of heroes.