9) Imran Tahir (South Africa)
Imran Tahir might be a woeful bowler in Test cricket, but he proves time and time again that he is a gun player in the limited-overs format. When it comes to limited overs, Tahir has everything working for him. In Tests, his keenness to use his variation costs him. His lack of patience will far too often see him leak runs, but in limited overs, it works to his advantage.
With defensive fields set for Tahir, even if he bowls a bad ball, there is likely a boundary rider to catch a batsman holing out. The bulk of his dismissals (23) have been middle order batsmen (from four to seven), but this is far more likely to be down to when he usually comes on to bowl rather than his abilities. Twelve top order players (one to three) and 15 (eight to eleven) tail end batsmen have been dismissed by him.
Such a wide range of wickets is indicative of his efficacy and his importance to the South African limited-overs bowling attack.
The one slight area of concern is that in the three matches Tahir has played in Australia, he has taken just one wicket and he averages 131.00. His economy rate remains tidy at 5.24, but it will be crucial for skipper AB de Villiers to manage him carefully during the World Cup.
It will be crucial for skipper AB de Villiers to manage him carefully during the World Cup.
