5 bowlers who are carbon copies of legendary bowlers

3. Tharindu Kaushal-Muttiah Muralitharan

Tharindu Kaushal ( L) and Muttiah Muralitharan

Named as Sri Lanka’s ‘Duplicate Murali’ by skipper Angelo Matthews during the recent World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Tharindu Kaushal is another spinner from Sri Lanka who is blessed with some unique talent.

His curvy run-up followed by a short jump and the turn of the wrists brings in front of our eyes, the man with a colossal 800 Tests wickets: Muttiah Muralitharan. The doosra, by itself, is a tough delivery to pick, but Kaushal uses his fingers and wrists in a discrete way to execute a unique doosra which only makes the batsman’s job harder.

However, it would be unfair to place too many expectations on Kaushal at this early stage. After all, he is only 22 years old and only has a handful of domestic matches under his belt. It is safe to say that if he can become half as good as Murali was, Sri Lanka would have a very special bowler in their hands.

4. Josh Hazlewood-Glenn McGrath

Josh Hazlewood (L) and Glenn McGrath

This is perhaps one of the most prominent resemblances in the game today. The story between the two can’t get more enjoyable as Josh Hazlewood grew up idolising Glenn McGrath and also received the prestigious baggy green cap from his idol himself.

Apart from having a very similar run-up to McGrath, he also has an identical technique and relies on the principles that held the latter in such good stead – pinpoint accuracy in line and length. McGrath himself was full of praise for Hazlewood after the latter’s dream Test debut, where he took a five-wicket haul, opining that Hazlewood has what it takes to become one of the greats of the game.

5. Adam Zampa-Shane Warne

Shane Warne (L) and Adam Zampa

While there have been plenty of leg-spinners in recent years whose actions have resembled that of the great Shane Warne, none come closer than Adam Zampa.

Zampa was extremely impressive with the ball during the Big Bash League last season as he took 9 wickets for the Adelaide Strikers and finished in the 10 highest wicket-takers for the season. A part of the victorious Australian Under-19 squad in 2010, Zampa’s strengths are control and subtle variety with the 23-year-old not being a huge tweaker of the ball.

Although yet to receive a national call, Zampa is a bowler with immense potential and while expectations to match Warne are almost futile, Australia might just have found another match-winning leg-spinner.