Mustafizur Rahman - A Rare Exceptional Talent
Barring the final last night, I did not watch a single match of the IPL. I did follow the news and read up on the match results, which was enough evidence for me to realize that Mustafizur Rahman has been absolutely exceptional in the IPL.
With 17 wickets he ended the IPL as the 5th highest wicket taker; but what was most remarkable was his economy rate of 6.9, which was the best among all fast bowlers that bowled at least 10 overs in the tournament. The only bowler that bettered that economy rate was Adam Zampa with 6.76.
It is quite rare for a fast bowler from Bangladesh to be considered a global threat. There have been a number of spinners from Bangladesh that have shone in international cricket, but rarely a fast bowler.
Mustafizur Rahman however is a rare case. The boys is extremely good and arguably the best left arm pacer in the world today.
His international career is its nascent stages having played only 2 tests, 9 ODIs, and 13 T20Is. The numbers though that he has stacked up in his short career are commendable to say the least.
In 9 ODIs he has 26 wickets at an average of 12.34, a strike rate of 17.3 and an economy of 4.26.
In 13 T20Is he has 22 wickets at an average of 13.95, a strike rate of 14.0, and an economy of 5.98.
Boys his age dream of playing international cricket, let alone about achieving such a start to their international careers.
Mustafizur has been exceptional.
Those numbers suggest that if he can manage to remain fit, he will break a number of bowling records.
This is what those numbers mean right now:
Best Average ever in ODIs
Mustafizur has bowled 452 deliveries in ODIs and has picked up 26 wickets. For anyone who has bowled that many deliveries and picked up that many wickets, he has the BEST Average ever. No one even comes close to his 12.3. The next best averages among all bowlers that have bowled at least 450 deliveries or taken at least 25 wickets are 17.8, 18.2, and 18.3 - Geoff Arnold, Richard Hadlee, and Otis Gibson respectively.
Incredible beyond words!
Best Strike Rate ever in ODIs
Mustafizur has bowled 452 deliveries in ODIs and has picked up 26 wickets. For anyone who has bowled that many deliveries and picked up that many wickets, he has the BEST Strike Rate ever. No one even comes close to his 17.3. The next best strike rates among all bowlers that have bowled at least 450 deliveries or taken at least 25 wickets are 21.7, 23.4, and 24.2 - Otis Gibson, Ryan Harris, Corey Anderson and Mitchell Starc respectively.
To put it in layman terms, Mustafizur picks up an ODI wicket in every 3rd over he bowls. That is beyond SUPER!
Best Average ever in T20Is
No one, absolutely no one has a better average than Mustafizur's in T20Is. That 13.95 average is the best in the world for anyone who has taken at least 10 wickets in T20Is.
Mustafizur has bowled over 50 overs and taken over 20 wickets in T20Is. Among all bowlers who have done at least one of those in T20Is, the next best averages are 14.4 (Ajantha Mendis), 14.7 (Samuel Badree), and 15.2 (Al Amin Hossain).
With 17 wickets he ended the IPL as the 5th highest wicket taker; but what was most remarkable was his economy rate of 6.9, which was the best among all fast bowlers that bowled at least 10 overs in the tournament. The only bowler that bettered that economy rate was Adam Zampa with 6.76.
It is quite rare for a fast bowler from Bangladesh to be considered a global threat. There have been a number of spinners from Bangladesh that have shone in international cricket, but rarely a fast bowler.
Mustafizur Rahman however is a rare case. The boys is extremely good and arguably the best left arm pacer in the world today.
His international career is its nascent stages having played only 2 tests, 9 ODIs, and 13 T20Is. The numbers though that he has stacked up in his short career are commendable to say the least.
In 9 ODIs he has 26 wickets at an average of 12.34, a strike rate of 17.3 and an economy of 4.26.
In 13 T20Is he has 22 wickets at an average of 13.95, a strike rate of 14.0, and an economy of 5.98.
Boys his age dream of playing international cricket, let alone about achieving such a start to their international careers.
Mustafizur has been exceptional.
Those numbers suggest that if he can manage to remain fit, he will break a number of bowling records.
This is what those numbers mean right now:
Best Average ever in ODIs
Mustafizur has bowled 452 deliveries in ODIs and has picked up 26 wickets. For anyone who has bowled that many deliveries and picked up that many wickets, he has the BEST Average ever. No one even comes close to his 12.3. The next best averages among all bowlers that have bowled at least 450 deliveries or taken at least 25 wickets are 17.8, 18.2, and 18.3 - Geoff Arnold, Richard Hadlee, and Otis Gibson respectively.
Incredible beyond words!
Best Strike Rate ever in ODIs
Mustafizur has bowled 452 deliveries in ODIs and has picked up 26 wickets. For anyone who has bowled that many deliveries and picked up that many wickets, he has the BEST Strike Rate ever. No one even comes close to his 17.3. The next best strike rates among all bowlers that have bowled at least 450 deliveries or taken at least 25 wickets are 21.7, 23.4, and 24.2 - Otis Gibson, Ryan Harris, Corey Anderson and Mitchell Starc respectively.
To put it in layman terms, Mustafizur picks up an ODI wicket in every 3rd over he bowls. That is beyond SUPER!
Best Average ever in T20Is
No one, absolutely no one has a better average than Mustafizur's in T20Is. That 13.95 average is the best in the world for anyone who has taken at least 10 wickets in T20Is.
Mustafizur has bowled over 50 overs and taken over 20 wickets in T20Is. Among all bowlers who have done at least one of those in T20Is, the next best averages are 14.4 (Ajantha Mendis), 14.7 (Samuel Badree), and 15.2 (Al Amin Hossain).
* * *
Mustafizur is an exceptional and rare talent. The world has not seen any like him. While the world has been raving about another 20 odd year old fast bowler, Mohammad Aamer, Mustafizur has been working wonders with the ball and wowing everyone.
He has impressed in the IPL, he has impressed in international cricket, and he has a long long way to go.
Sure the career has been a short one. But his ability has demonstrated that batsmen will not find him to be easy picking any time soon.
This 20 year old boy deserves all the applause he has been getting and more.
Expect him to go a long way and break many records.
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