The 5 most promising bowlers to watch out for in 2019

2019 has had an exciting start as the level of cricket and the intensity on show have both been high. The India-Australia series and Pakistan-South Africa tilt are going in full flow, while T20 leagues like KFC Big Bash League as well as the Bangladesh Premier League have had riveting cricketing action in a short span of time.

With more challenging and prestigious cricketing events coming up this year, the cricket is only going to get better. And when that happens, naturally, new cricketers rise up to the occasion.

2018 saw many young players step up and seal spots in their teams and this year too, we can expect a similar story. In this segment, we will take a look at the 5 most promising bowlers of 2019.

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#5 Khaleel Ahmed (India)

Young Khaleel Ahmed seems to be the answer to India's long-standing search for a left-arm pacer. In the limited opportunities he got in 2018, Khaleel went through a steep learning curve, and then began to shine in all the matches.

He took 11 wickets in the 6 matches he played, with a bowling average of 24 and a decent economy of 5.07.

In T20Is, he was subject to some big hitting at the start, but quickly learnt from his mistakes and started bowling well. He took 6 wickets from 6 matches.

Khaleel is most likely to play in all the upcoming matches along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, and is a favorite for World Cup selection. With plenty of chances this year, Khaleel will be one promising player to watch out for.

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#4 Oshane Thomas (West Indies)

Oshane Thomas was probably the find of 2018, and he gives the West Indies bowling attack plenty of reason to smile. A bowler who can really quickly and pick up wickets at will, Thomas has matured quickly and has started hitting the deck hard.

With many ODI series scheduled and the World Cup to be held in England, Thomas will have a lot of opportunities to prove himself this year. A bowler who can strike genuine fear into the hearts of batsmen, Thomas can become the next pace bowling great if he remains consistent with his bowling.

With plenty of matches including the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals this year, Oshane Thomas will be one to watch.

#3 Jofra Archer (England?)

Jofra Archer's eligibility to play for England has been a hot topic for a while, and he has now been given the green light.

Archer has been a freelance T20 cricketer up until now, and has been phenomenal wherever he has played. He was paid a lot of money by the Rajasthan Royals for the 2018 IPL and he made an instant impact, shining in all the matches he played.

He picked up 15 wickets from 10 matches with a great strike rate of 15.53 and bowling average of 21.66. His tendency to bowl at the death and pick up wickets makes him a valuable asset to any team.

Archer is currently ripping out wickets playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League. He is certainly one to watch out for this year.

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#2 Duanne Olivier (South Africa)

Duanne Olivier has become a sensation for the Proteas after making a comeback to the side following a stunning Mzanzi Super League. In the Test series against Pakistan, Olivier has been almost unplayable, making life very tough for the Pakistani batsmen.

He has picked up 15 wickets in two matches. In the first match against Pakistan, he picked up 11 wickets at an unbelievable average of 8.72.

He garnered high praise from captain Faf du Plessis, who backed Olivier's selection after he finished as the highest wicket taker in the Mzanzi Super League. With many matches in pace-friendly conditions and possible World Cup selection, Olivier is a comeback hero who you need to keep your eye on.

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#1 Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

Shaheen Afridi, just 18 years old, has become a mainstay in the Pakistan pace bowling attack in all formats. The latest in the endless line of quality left-arm pacers from the nation, Shaheen has been consistent, accurate and at times, unplayable.

His stats speak for themselves: in 7 ODIs he has taken 11 wickets averaging a stunning 17.61 along with a neat economy of 4.88.

In T20Is and Tests, he has picked up 11 wickets and 12 wickets from 7 and 3 matches respectively. Having made a lot of forays into the international team, Shaheen is sure to play in all their upcoming matches provided he maintains his consistency.