How Jacob Duffy became the top international T20 bowler
Not only is Jacob Duffy a superb bowler for the New Zealand T20 cricket national team, but he is also the best in the world. He is now ranked #1 in the ICC rankings for T20 international cricket over the West Indies’ Akeal Hosein and India’s Varun Chakaravarthy.
This has surprised people because he was ranked #5 in the previous edition of the T20I rankings. Now, the New Zealand pacer has moved up four places and has taken over the #1 spot, with a 723 rating.
Duffy’s performance against Pakistan propelled him to #1
Duffy had a spectacular performance against Pakistan in late March. The Kiwi bowler equalled a New Zealand record for most wickets in a five-match T20I series at 13. That number was the same as what Ish Sodhi did in his career.
Coincidentally, Ish is the last Kiwi bowler to earn the #1 spot in the ICC rankings, which makes Duffy’s performance poetic since his teammate became the number one guy in the T20I format worldwide.
With his new #1 ranking, the 30-year-old Duffy has been in disbelief because of the honour he achieved. He said, ‘It's a bit of a surprise. It's awesome to be amongst the players on that list. Getting that kind of recognition is pretty cool. I honestly don’t know what to say’.
Duffy has a perfect blend of physicality and mentality
As a tall bowler, Duffy has the body to pull off some tremendous bowls. He can throw heavy bowls and put extra bounce from them because he has more of his body to use when he does it.
That is part of what makes him unique and a tough matchup, as he is always prepared to make a difference with his bowls. He also has the right mentality when playing cricket, which is a big part of how he succeeds.
Duffy said, ‘It's about doing what I've been doing to get here. I've got a particular brand of cricket I like to play and sort of things that have worked for me in the last few years’.
That kind of mindset makes him a special player, and he is delivering well on the pitch. That is evidenced by his recent #1 ranking, making him arguably the best in the world due to his standing.
Leadership and longevity make him a better bowler
New Zealand is filled with fantastic players, but Duffy is a standout. He has kept learning and working towards being the version of himself to help the team win matches. Duffy's mentality helps him be a top bowler and a natural leader with a high skill ceiling.
