At a time when 350 is the new 250 and batsmen are playing shots that will soon f

orce a redoing of the coaching manual, being a bowler isn't easy. Add to it the
fact that you now have one extra fielder inside the circle and one less protecti
on in the deep right through the innings. Finally, if you are a spinner you are
always bowling with a newish ball with two balls being used in every match. 50-o
ver cricket, as it stands, is a batsman's delight. With heavy bats, they come an
d flay bowlers to all parts of the ground using new-age swords (bats) to nail th
e hapless men with the ball. It is an unequal contest and the fans, it appears,
love to see the bowlers getting smashed.
In such a scenario when the odds are heavily stacked against the bowlers, Mitche
ll Starc, Mohammed Shami and Daniel Vettori have simply been exceptional. For me
, they have been the players of the World Cup so far. To Vettori first. A season
ed veteran of many battles, Vettori seems to just get better and better. While a
ll and sundry are talking about Trent Boult and Tim Southee, it has been the cal
ming influence of Vettori that has helped New Zealand wiggle out of trouble on m
ore than one occasion.
In the game against Australia, Warner and Watson were off to a near flier after
the early dismissal of Finch and after the first 10 overs, it was all Australia.
McCullum brings in Vettori and immediately the results show. The run-flow was s
temmed and the batsmen started finding it immensely difficult to manoeuvre singl
es. Finally, one mistake from Watson and the partnership was broken; and thereaf
ter New Zealand managed to take control.
More recently against Bangladesh, it was Vettori who took the Kiwis past the fin
ishing line. With seven down anything could have happened and Bangladesh fielder
s were throwing themselves all over Seddon Park. Vettori, however, wasn't fluste
red. With Southee for company, he managed to hit a few lusty blows and soon the
Bangladesh resistance had given way and it was six out of six for New Zealand. W
ith the tournament in its business end, New Zealand clearly is the team to beat
with an attack comprising Southee, Boult and Vettori.
Starc is the odd one in the pack. All eyes were on Mitchell Johnson and even Jam
es Faulkner but Starc has been the fast bowler of the tournament so far. The bes
t case in point is the match against Sri Lanka. Chasing a mammoth 376, the Sri L
ankans were going hell for leather with Dilshan and Sangakkara batting like cham
pions. So much so that Johnson conceded six fours in an over for the first time
in his career. Compare Starc's figures after his opening burst and the impact is
clearly evident. Seven overs for 23 runs, Starc had bowled an exceptional spell
. Secret - he has mastered the art of bowling yorkers at will. Not even the bril
liant Sangakkara could get him away and in the knockouts he is clearly Michael C
larke's go-to man. With 16 wickets, most in the tournament so far, Starc is doin
g what no other bowler has been able to - dictate terms to the batsmen. That mor
e than anything has set him apart as a hero for Australia.
Finally to Shami. Not many had given India a chance at the start of the tourname
nt, due to their struggle throughout the Australian summer. Picking wickets at t
he start looked impossible and Australia posted huge totals as a result. Even in
the tri-series, things were no different. Come the World Cup, however, it has b
een a different story. Six times out of six, India have bowled out the oppositio
n. A stupendous achievement made possible largely because of the brilliance of S
hami and Ravichandran Ashwin. Shami has picked up key wickets at the top of the
order and every time there has been a partnership, Dhoni has turned to his premi
er fast bowler.
Be it Chris Gayle or Younis Khan, Kevin O' Brien or Sikandar Raza, Shami has bee
n at the top of his game. Mixing the slower one with panache, he has been bowlin
g in the mid-140s and getting reasonable bounce and movement in every match. Thr

ice this World Cup, he's picked up three wickets in an innings and once a four-w
icket-haul. India are clearly harbouring thoughts of not giving it back and if t
hey have to do so, Shami will have to do it three more times.
In what has been a tournament for batsmen, these three have just been too good.
And their impact - New Zealand have topped the pool with six wins. India have do
ne an encore and Australia just one behind. Do we need to say more?