The IPL pace attack ready to be unleashed

The Delhi Daredevils have assembled one of the most frightening domestic fast-bowling attacks on the planet, but cricket fans could be denied the chance to see them take the field in the same XI.

With one of India's fastest bowlers - Test seamer Mohammed Shami - already on their books, Delhi added Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada, two of the most exciting young quicks in the world to their squad for the tenth edition of the IPL.

But there are a few barriers that could prevent the Daredevils fielding all three of Shami, Cummins and Rabada in the one side.

For starters, former India paceman Zaheer Khan is their captain, meaning the veteran left-armer occupies one of the specialist bowling slots.

Balancing which non-Indian players fit in to their side is another major consideration; with just four spots available for overseas players in an IPL side's XI for any given match, teams have to judiciously spread out their international talent.

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Using two of those slots on fast bowlers isn't uncommon given world-class quicks tend to be in shorter supply than batsmen.

The rise of South African allrounder Chris Morris, a destructive batsman and another bowler capable of hitting speeds of more than 140kph, means another seam-bowling position is locked up.

The absence of Proteas stars Quinton de Kock and JP Duminy for this year's competition, and Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews also missing, means overseas spots in the XI are up for grabs in the early stages of the tournament. 

But while the likes of allrounders Carlos Brathwaite, Corey Anderson and Sam Billings are also jostling for spots, the prospect of at least three of Morris, Cummins, Rabada and Shami playing together in a Delhi shirt remains on the cards.

"We are very fortunate that the squad that was selected was very deliberately selected," Delhi coach Paddy Upton explained last week. 

"Yes, it is a blow to not have Angelo Mathews (and) Quinton de Kock.

"But for the moment we have got the back-ups for the next two games that we need so that we don't compromise.

"It is actually my first opportunity to work with Kagiso Rabada.

"Obviously he is a great bowler, he is very fit. In his first IPL, he will be looking forward to enjoying himself and putting in some good performances.

"It is nice that he has got some really nice international fast bowlers around him. 

"Pat Cummins, they can work in tandem and share their knowledge with each other and with some of the other fast bowlers in the squad as well."

On paper, the Daredevils bowling attack ranks among the sharpest available to any domestic team in the world, though the England county circuit could soon feature an even more imposing one.

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Ashes rivals James Pattinson and Stuart Broad led Nottinghamshire's attack in their County Championship season-opener against Leicestershire, and the Outlaws may add yet another Test-calibre quick in Jake Ball for their next match against Durham on Friday.

Looking at other strong domestic pace attacks around the globe, both Victoria and New South Wales could field mouth-watering Sheffield Shield pace attacks if all their Australia representatives are available at once.

The Blues' trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins perhaps takes the cake for any domestic seam-attack in the world, though the Bushrangers' possess an impressive trio of Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Chris Tremain.

Elsewhere, South Africa's Cape Cobras lay claim to Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Wayne Parnell, while batsmen in New Zealand's Plunkett Shield would have their hands full dealing with Northern Knights duo Tim Southee and Trent Boult.