India's veteran fast bowler Jhulan Goswami is currently the leading wicket-taker in ODI format. Goswami will go into the tournament as India's bowling spearhead and Mithali Raj's go-to bowler whenever she needs a wicket.
While the veteran of 195 ODIs, Jhulan will play her last World Cup, there is one record in the 50-over format she will have in her sight. The 39-year-old pacer needs four more wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in the history of Women's ODI World Cup.
The right-arm pacer is currently in the third position, behind late Australian left-arm spinner Lynette Ann Fullston who has a record 39 wickets to her name from 20 appearances. Fullston is followed by former England right-arm off-spinner Carole Ann Hodges who has 37 wickets from 24 games. The third spot is occupied by former England pacer Clare Elizabeth Taylor, who has 36 wickets from 26 games.
Jhulan is currently tied with Taylor with 36 wickets to her name from 28 games. Her best bowling figures of 4/16 came against West Indies in her debut World Cup in 2005.
While Jhulan has an average of 20.02, she has an impressive economy rate of 3.25. In the last World Cup where India were beaten by England in the final, Jhulan went past India's Diana Edulji (31 wickets), Purnima Rau (30 wickets) and Neetu David (30 wickets) on the list.
The Bengal-born cricketer will also have a fielding record in her sight. She has taken 16 catches and second on the list of most catches (excluding wicketkeepers).
She is only behind late England cricketer Janette Ann Brittin, who is on the top of the list with 19 catches from 36 games. With 16 catches, Jhulan has a catch/innings ratio of 0.571. The maximum number of catches she has held on to in a single game is three.
So far, Goswami has 245 wickets from 194 games. She is the only women fast bowler to take 200 or more wickets. On the leading wicket-takers list in the format, she is followed by former Australian pacer Cathryn Lorraine Fitzpatrick who has 180 wickets to her name from 109 appearances. From the current lot, West Indies' Anisa Mohammed is the only bowler who can cross the 200-wicket mark in near future. He has taken 174 wickets from 136 matches.
