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As world cricket continues to tread towards making the game more high-scoring, the bowlers continue to add tricks up their sleeves to remain a dominant force. This year has seen a mixed bag with pitches ranging from featherbeds in places like Pakistan to the bowler-friendly ones in the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
Yet, changing strategies in Tests to force results due to the relevance of the World Test Championship (WTC) has forced bowlers to think and react quickly on their feet. While some have struggled to cope with the constant batting evolutions, others have risen above and made batters bat to their tunes.
On that note, let us rank the top 10 bowlers in world cricket this year based on their numbers across formats, degree of difficulty, and the importance of a series/tournament.
#10 Fazalhaq Farooqi
Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi has been a revelation in the white-ball formats this year with his left-arm pace bowling. The 24-year-old was the key reason behind Afghanistan qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final - their first in World Cups.
Farooqi was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 wickets at an extraordinary average of under 10 and an economy of 6.31 in 8 outings. He has bagged 24 overall wickets in T20Is and 10 ODI wickets this year, making him 17th across formats in wickets in 2024 at an excellent average of 20.11.
#9 Arshdeep Singh
India's left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has almost been a mirror image of Fazalhaq Farooqi with his domination in the shortest format.
The 25-year-old is the eighth leading wicket-taker in T20Is this year and the joint leader with Farooqi in the T20 World Cup. Arshdeep's 17 wickets played a massive role in India's unbeaten run to the title.
He produced figures of 3/37 in the virtual quarterfinal against Australia and 2/20 in the final against South Africa to help India pull off thrilling wins in both matches.
#8 Mark Adair
Ireland's Mark Adair has been arguably the most underrated bowler of 2024 despite producing excellent performances in all three formats.
The 28-year-old picked up 12 wickets in his two Tests at an average of 15.50 to help Ireland pull off victories over Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Adair has also been spectacular in the T20 format, bagging 25 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 17.04.
The right-arm pacer has also showcased his skills in ODIs with nine wickets in five outings.
Adair's all-format exploits have him the third-highest wicket-taker across formats this year with 46 scalps at an average of 20.10.
#7 Ravichandran Ashwin
India's veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin may be playing only the Test format but has ensured there is no stopping him there.
The 38-year-old picked up 26 wickets in India's 4-1 home series win over an in-form English side at the start of the year. Ashwin continued his incredible wicket-taking run in the recent two-Test series against Bangladesh, picking up 11 scalps to help India whitewash their Asian rivals.
He is the fourth leading wicket-taker in the longest format this year with 37 wickets at an average of 23.16, including three five-wicket hauls.
#6 Gus Atkinson
If Ashwin has been the best Test spinner this year, England's Gus Atkinson has matched him wicket for wicket among pacers.
The 24-year-old made his Test debut in only July this year and has already racked up 38 wickets in a mere seven matches. Atkinson is the joint-leading wicket-taker in Tests this year at an average of 21.86 with three five-wicket hauls.
With the retirement of Stuart Broad and now James Anderson, Atkinson has ensured England hasn't missed the legendary duo much, helping them win six out of the seven Tests played since his debut.
#5 Adam Zampa
Back to the white-ball bowling stars, Australia's Adam Zampa was as consistent and reliable as ever in the 50-over format and T20Is.
While Australia endured a disappointing 2024 T20 World Cup, the leggie was still impressive with 13 wickets at an average of 14.38 in 7 games. Zampa has 29 wickets in T20Is this year at an average of under 20, including two four-wicket hauls.
The 32-year-old has also been Australia's rock in ODIs with 12 wickets in seven matches at an average of under 28 this year.
#4 Wanindu Hasaranga
Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga has undoubtedly been the best spinner across the two white-ball formats this year. The 27-year-old has 23 wickets to his name in T20Is at an average of 15.26 and an economy of 7.11 in 13 outings.
Hasaranga has also been brilliant in ODIs with 20 wickets (second this year) in only seven games at an average of 16.20.
His 43 total wickets in the fifth most in international cricket this year at an incredible average of under 16.
#3 Taskin Ahmed
Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed has seen his career turnaround in all formats over the last two years. The year 2024 has seen him pick up 38 wickets across formats at an average of 18.36 in 20 outings.
However, contrary to some of the bowlers below him on this list, Taskin has produced excellent numbers in each format. The 29-year-old has picked up eight wickets in his two Tests at an average of 21.75.
Taskin has also bagged 30 wickets in the two white-ball formats at an average of under 18.
#2 Josh Hazlewood
Australia's Mr.Reliable Josh Hazlewood has been in top form this year in all three formats, evidenced by his 44 wickets in 21 games at an average of 20.68.
He has the fourth most wickets in international cricket this year with an excellent spread in all three formats. Hazlewood is the sixth leading wicket-taker in Tests with 29 scalps at a sensational average of 13.68, including two five-wicket hauls and as many four-wicket hauls.
His six ODI wickets at an economy of under run-a-ball helped Australia recently defeat arch-rivals England 3-0. Hazlewood has also been at his miserly best in T20Is with nine wickets in 11 outings at a remarkable economy of under 6.90.
#1 Jasprit Bumrah
There is only one bowler in world cricket who deserves to be crowned as the best in all formats - India's Jasprit Bumrah.
The 30-year-old was the Player of the Tournament in India's triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup with 15 wickets at an average of 8.26 and an economy of 4.17. While Bumrah has been rested in ODIs, his Test numbers this year are beyond belief.
Despite playing on spin-friendly home conditions, Bumrah is the joint-leading wicket-taker in Tests in 2024 with 38 scalps at an average of 14.24, including two four and five-wicket hauls each.
His heroics with the new and old ball helped India win six out of their seven home Tests against England and Bangladesh.
With 53 scalps at a magnificent average of 12.67 and an economy of 3.28, Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker across formats this year and is undeniably the best bowler in world cricket right now.
