UPLEFTMENT OF STATUS

There has been a significant rise in the number of left-arm seamers, especially in the T20 format. Gomesh S talks to former India bowling coach, B Arun, to understand the reasons behind it and more...

- Gomesh S

AS the people of Nepal woke up to a heartbreak against South Africa on Saturday, Tabraiz Shamsi (4/19) was the man credited with triggering a collapse at the death.

One other name went unnoticed. Marco Jansen. In his four overs, the left-arm pacer gave away 16 runs, delivered 14 dot balls and was hit for just two boundaries. Jansen did not have a wicket to show, but his contribution was as crucial as Shamsi's in a defence of 115. It is not a one-off performance. This is what Jansen has been doing through the World Cup. In four matches, he has just two wickets, but has kept it tight with an economy of 4.48 runs per over.

Jansen is not an outlier.

This is not about individuals. But rather about how a particular kind of bowler has been the ace in the pocket for most T20 sides across the globe. Left-arm pacers.