Who is the top wicket-taker in WC 2007?

The ongoing 2007 World Cup will always be remembered for the numerous batting records established during the tournament.

However, there are still some bowlers who have made their mark in the tournament.

In this article we take a look at the most successful bowlers and also the flop ones.

Highest wicket-takers in World Cup:

Wkts	Bowler	For	Mts	Avg	SR	RpO
18	GD McGrath	Aus	7	13.06	17.61	4.45
15	DL Vettori	NZ	8	22.40	31.07	4.33
15	M Muralitharan	SL	7	17.13	25.87	3.97
15	LS Malinga	SL	6	14.27	17.33	4.94
14	SW Tait	Aus	7	20.43	22.57	5.43
13	GB Hogg	Aus	7	17.31	24.46	4.25
12	CK Langeveldt	SAf	6	24.08	26.50	5.45
12	SE Bond	NZ	7	12.83	29.83	2.58
12	Abdur Razzak	Ban	7	21.00	27.33	4.61
11	WPUJC Vaas	SL	7	17.18	30.55	3.38
11	A Flintoff	Eng	6	18.45	29.00	3.82
11	DB Powell	WI	7	26.27	35.45	4.45
10	NW Bracken	Aus	6	16.30	27.00	3.62

Australia pacer Glenn McGrath is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, but does he enjoys the lowest bowling average too?

Let's check it out. Among the bowlers who have sent down at least 25 overs in the tournament so far, New Zealand's Shane Bond has conceded least runs off his bowling for every wicket taken. McGrath comes second.

Lowest bowling average:

Avg	Bowler	For	Mts	Wkts	Balls	Runs
12.83	SE Bond	NZ	7	12	358	154
13.06	GD McGrath	Aus	7	18	317	235
14.27	LS Malinga	SL	6	15	260	214
16.30	NW Bracken	Aus	6	10	270	163
17.13	M Muralitharan	SL	7	15	388	257
17.18	WPUJC Vaas	SL	7	11	336	189
17.31	GB Hogg	Aus	7	13	318	225
18.45	A Flintoff	Eng	6	11	319	203
18.88	A Nel	SAf	4	8	212	151

It will be interesting to see the bowlers at the other end of the spectrum. Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya could not take a wicket despite sending down 26 overs. West Indies left-armer pacer Ian Bradshaw has had a nightmarish tournament with only two wickets in three matches at an average of 83.50.

Highest bowling average:

Avg	Bowler	For	Mts	Wkts	Balls	Runs
-	P Utseya	Zim	3	0	156	101
83.50	IDR Bradshaw	WI	3	2	174	167
74.50	AC Cummins	Can	3	2	150	149
73.67	CH Gayle	WI	7	3	272	221
65.33	CD Collymore	WI	5	3	278	196
65.00	JM Davison	Can	3	2	174	130
58.75	D Langford-Smith	Ire	7	4	318	235
57.25	JH Kallis	SAf	8	4	288	229
54.00	JE Taylor	WI	5	4	276	216

Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga is the surprise entry at the top among the bowlers who needed least balls for each wicket. Once again McGrath is at second place.

Lowest strike-rate:

SR	Bowler	For	Mts	Balls	Runs	Wkts
17.33	LS Malinga	SL	6	260	214	15
17.61	GD McGrath	Aus	7	317	235	18
22.57	SW Tait	Aus	7	316	286	14
24.46	GB Hogg	Aus	7	318	225	13
25.87	M Muralitharan	SL	7	388	257	15
26.50	CK Langeveldt	SAf	6	318	289	12
26.50	A Nel	SAf	4	212	151	8
27.00	NW Bracken	Aus	6	270	163	10
27.33	Abdur Razzak	Ban	7	328	252	12
29.00	A Flintoff	Eng	6	319	203	11
29.83	SE Bond	NZ	7	358	154	12
30.00	DJ Bravo	WI	7	270	286	9

…and the ones who bowled their heart out without much success. There are three West Indian bowlers in the following list. A clear reflection of their sides' poor performance.

Worst strike-rate:

SR	Bowler	For	Mts	Balls	Runs	Wkts
-	P Utseya	Zim	3	156	101	0
92.67	CD Collymore	WI	5	278	196	3
90.67	CH Gayle	WI	7	272	221	3
87.00	JM Davison	Can	3	174	130	2
87.00	IDR Bradshaw	WI	3	174	167	2
79.50	D Langford-Smith	Ire	7	318	235	4
75.00	AC Cummins	Can	3	150	149	2

When it comes to concede least runs in an over, Shane Bond has no comparison with any one. He is the only bowler to have a economy rate of less than three after bowling more than 25 overs.

Best economy rate:

RpO	Player	For	Mts	Balls	Runs	Wkts
2.58	SE Bond	NZ	7	358	154	12
3.38	WPUJC Vaas	SL	7	336	189	11
3.62	NW Bracken	Aus	6	270	163	10
3.65	AC Botha	Ire	5	240	146	4
3.66	JDP Oram	NZ	8	315	192	9
3.67	Syed Rasel	Ban	6	312	191	7
3.80	ST Jayasuriya	SL	7	284	180	5
3.81	SM Pollock	SAf	8	414	263	7
3.82	A Flintoff	Eng	6	319	203	11
3.88	P Utseya	Zim	3	156	101	0
3.93	JS Patel	NZ	4	206	135	5
3.96	MM Patel	Ind	3	159	105	4
3.97	M Muralitharan	SL	7	388	257	15
4.00	AB Agarkar	Ind	3	168	112	4
4.00	SB Styris	NZ	8	276	184	8

…..and following are the bowlers with the worst economy rate.

Worst economy rate:

RpO	Player	For	Mts	Balls	Runs	Wkts
6.36	DJ Bravo	WI	7	270	286	9
6.08	GC Smith	SAf	8	150	152	4
5.96	AC Cummins	Can	3	150	149	2
5.76	IDR Bradshaw	WI	3	174	167	2
5.72	CB Mpofu	Zim	3	174	166	4

Note: All stats are updated upto and including World Cup Match # 41 (New Zealand v South Africa)