Butcher: Wicket-takers most valuable commodity in ODIs

Mark Butcher delivered a passionate address on the importance of wicket-taking bowlers during the Super Six Match between Zimbabwe and Windies in Harare.

On commentary with legendary West Indies quick Ian Bishop, Butcher impressed his colleague by saying that bowlers were – despite the supposed dominance of the bat in the modern game – the most important players on the pitch.

"I’m forever hearing how the game has shifted a long way in favour of the batsmen and the bowlers are always moaning," Butcher said during Zimbabwe's first-innings 289.

"But it just proves that wickets are king. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how many runs you go for – wickets are king. It changes everything."

Butcher spoke after Keemo Paul had returned to the Windies attack to disrupt the hosts' progress with the wicket of Sean Williams.

"I think the way you view bowling figures now, in Twenty20 cricket obviously, but even in 50-over cricket: you can disregard going at sevens or eights at times, depending on the time of the game where a bowler bowls. It’s the wicket column!

"You can go at sixes and sevens or eights, but take four-for, there’s a very good chance that you’ve affected the game in a positive way.

"I would always counter the arguments – or the moans – that the game is totally against bowlers," Butcher went on, "and say, OK, the numbers start to climb in terms of how many runs you go for, but there is nothing more valuable in limited-overs cricket than guys who take wickets."

Much to the delight of his co-commentator, Butcher concluded: "So no, it’s not a case of: just set up a bowling machine and let the batsmen get on with it, [bowlers are] the most important men on the park."