It was a milestone year for men’s T20Is: for only the second time in T20 World Cup history, two editions took place in back-to-back years. Australia hosted a competition that they were originally supposed to host two years ago, and England became the third team to win two editions of the tournament.

It wasn’t just about the World Cup though, for several notable performances were spread across the year. There were also some eye-catching debuts, some prominent players retired, and some new additions to the T20I family: 11 more teams received full T20I status this year, bringing the total to 98.

2022 in Review: Wisden’s men’s T20I spells of 2022 – Nos.5-2

No.5: Jason Holder

3.1-1-7-4 v England
Bridgetown
January 22

Jason Holder can do things with the ball. He is not express quick, but relies on movement, bounce and sticking to good old basics. Sometimes, simple things can bring extraordinary results. England were at the receiving end of some of that earlier in the year. Bowling Test lengths, he prised out Tom Banton and Moeen Ali with the new ball, pegging them back early. Then, he returned to clean up the tail, using the slower ball to claim two more. It was England’s fifth-lowest total in T20Is, and an ominous beginning to a World Cup year. It didn’t matter eventually.

READ: Wisden’s men’s T20I innings of 2022

No.4: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

4-1-4-5 v Afghanistan
Dubai
September 8

In a match remembered more for Virat Kohli’s long-awaited 71st century, Bhuvneshwar Kumar clinically polished off Afghanistan’s top order in a near-perfect new-ball spell. Chasing 213, the team never got off the blocks: he first moved one into left-hander Hazratullah Zazai, trapping him in front, before producing a peach to send one through Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s gate. A two-wicket over followed, Afghanistan just unable to counter the swing. It gave Bhuvneshwar his second T20I five-wicket haul. No one has taken more in men’s T20Is.

No.3: Obed McCoy

4-1-17-6 v India
Basseterre
August 1

Left-arm quicks and Indian top-order batters: it’s a long, painful tale. Obed McCoy didn’t tear through them with pace, neither did he make them dance with swing, but used his height and angle beautifully to cut through them. It started with Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, stunned by the extra bounce and edging away, and then Suryakumar Yadav’s wicket, angling one just enough to make him nick behind. In his second spell, he troubled the lower order with cutters and sharp bouncers, barely giving them a chance to hit against the angle. He ended with the best figures by a West Indies bowler in men’s T20Is.

No.2: Adil Rashid

4-0-20-1 v India
Adelaide, 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final
November 10

An invaluable spell in the context of the game. First brought in to finish off the powerplay, Rashid mixed up his deliveries exceptionally well to keep the batters on a tight leash. His second spell started with a five-run over, tightening the noose further on India, getting grip off the surface while giving barely anything away. Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav were tied up in knots: Rashid eventually bagged Surya, England’s biggest catch, to put them firmly in control. He didn’t concede a single boundary off the last 23 balls of his spell. India still managed 168, but it was barely anything for England’s opening pair.