Aakash Chopra, a renowned commentator, and cricket analyst, recently named his best six bowlers who can deliver yorkers at will. Chopra, who represented India during a period between 2003 and 2004, faced some of the world’s most lethal pace bowlers of his time. Facing the greatest likes of Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath, the former India opener rated his contemporaries among some of the finest bowlers to ever bowl a yorker.
Yorker, a delivery that is targeted towards the base of the stumps, is regarded as one of the toughest deliveries to execute for a bowler. A delivery that demands regular practice, bowlers often miss their execution while attempting to bowl a yorker. However, Aakash, who has followed the game from close quarters, ranked the top-6 bowlers that can deliver this delivery at will.
Here are Aakash Chopra’s top-6 lethal bowlers to bowl yorkers:
6. Andrew Flintoff (England)
Chopra rated former England speedster Andrew Flintoff at sixth position among bowlers who have mastered the art of bowling yorkers. Chopra was of the view that regarded Flintoff’s ability to bowl accurately with the old ball. Flintoff was highly rated as someone who could bowl with pace and reverse the old ball with ease. Aakash even mentioned the choice of opting for the likes of Zaheer Khan, Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar at No.6 but Flintoff had a decent advantage in bowling fuller deliveries.
5. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
The Australian spearhead, Mitchell Starc is one of the most lethal exponents of fast bowling in the current era. In Aakash’s list, Starc found the No.5 fifth spot. Starc’s ability to consistently clock 150+ kmph makes him a fine option to pick wickets on a regular basis. Starc, who bowls with both new and the old ball, has bagged 244 wickets in Tests along with 178 in the 50-over format. The left-arm pacer has often been criticized for his wayward lines and lengths but is still one of the world’s best to deliver yorkers.
4. Jasprit Bumrah (India)
The young Indian sensation, Jasprit Bumrah has moved largely up the ranks in such a short span of time at the international level. Bumrah’s greatest strength lies in his consistency to bowl yorkers at will. Even Chopra was impressed with his accuracy that makes him a sensational bowler in world cricket. The No.1 ranked ODI bowler, Bumrah has been India’s crisis-man in the recent past.
3. Waqar Younis (Pakistan)
One of the finest bowlers of all-time, Chopra ranked Waqar Younis third on the list of best bowlers to bowl yorkers in international cricket. Younis, who had a slingy action, was always conceded to possess an advantage to reverse the old ball. Waqar, who picked 378 wickets in Tests and 416 in ODIs, was regarded as a menacing pacer with his ability to deliver yorkers. He always led from the front and formed a headache for most batting teams on his day.
2. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
Wasim Akram, one of the best left-arm pacers of all-time, was hugely known to rip apart opposition lineups at will. Wasim, who was a deadly accurate bowler during his peak, was ranked second in Chopra’s list of best bowlers to bowl yorkers. Wasim, who has a mini run-up, was excellent in releasing the ball, allowing it the maximum opportunity to swing. However, he also had the ability to bowl fuller deliveries with the old ball. He was highly-known to use the reverse swing to its full effect and terrorize batters with the old ball.
1. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Lasith Malinga has mastered the art of bowling yorkers. Ever since his debut, Malinga has relied on this stock delivery to often fox the batsman with his awkward action. Even in a current scenario where T20s are assumed to be bowler’s graveyard, Malinga has been able to succeed in picking wickets on a constant basis. The Sri Lankan legend has not only developed this as his most favored but has also been successful in grooming youngsters on how to use this skill perfectly at the highest level.
