The Australian Pace bowling conundrum

[Media Park]

Mitchell Johnson's stats do not lie. He is not getting belted by any measure, but he is not taking wickets.
At this stage, Cummins has shown enough to deserve another shot, and he is a striker, not a stock bowler.

The question is who comes in?

This is not an out of form Brett Lee, who partnered with Gillespie and McGrath, had Bichel, Clark, Kasprowicz, and many more waiting in the wings, the cupboard is fairly bare of experienced talent.

We aren't in the business today of backing experience though, we're trying all the young potentials, hoping to unearth a diamond.

Here's what we've got:

Ben Cutting: The queensland quick is the leading Shield wicket taker after four matches, with 23 wickets at 14.65 runs per wicket. He is a handy lower order batsman, so it would almost be a like for like replacement, as Johnson holds down the batting abilities of a number 8.
81 wickets at 25.25 is his career, so hitting up four wickets per game isn't too bad. He's 24, and hitting his straps now.

Ben Hilfenhaus: Tasmania speedster who has Test match experience, which is somewhat of a downside with the current selection policy. 17 wickets at 26.35 so far this year, 55 wickets in 17 Test matches shows he is capable of a reasonable showing, but at 28, he's not really a selection for the future.

Peter George: His one off Test against India seems like an entire career transformation ago, oh wait, it was. 17 wickets this season at 32.11 mightn't seem like dominant bowling, but if he had a more decent team around him, the average would be quite lower, and his name would definitely get thrown around.

Mitch Marsh: This guy is the future, and if they've picked Cummins on future potential, why not the same deal for Marsh. 13 wickets at 18.69, from just the two Shield appearances this year, he's another guy who can certainly bat. Holding down number 8, rather than the pressure of the middle order, will certainly improve his batting, and catapault him into the realms of genuine Test all rounder.

Luke Butterworth: 14 wickets at 22.50 this year, he is perhaps held down for his age (28), but he has 45 first class matches of pure consistency, and another guy like Marsh who could cover the batting side very easily. He would not be a long term selection, but could cover the job for the time being.

[CoverKing]

Lol 28 is young in cricket terms. Could have 5-7 years left

[Jim05]

James Pattinson for me thanks.

[mal]

LUKE BUTTERWORTH
Would average about 50 in Test Cricket with the ball

When he plays for TA
He gets the new ball
He gets to bowl half the time on the Tasmanian minefield
He bowls in a comp where the batting strength of each state is arguably the worst Ive seen in the last 40 years


If he gets a test gig at Test Level
He will not get the new ball
He will have to bowl on a lot of pitches made predominantly for batting
He will bowl against the best batsmen in the world

Luke is a wonderful SS bowler
But would be found wanting against the best

[gadj1976]

MP, I really think the bowlers aren't bowling for the team necessarily. Our best attacks have had a good stock bowler to put the pressure on and someone who can take wickets at the other end.

Johnson needs to learn how to contain firstly. That will put pressure on the batsman to score off of Cummings or Siddle. Cummings and Siddle also need to put pressure back on the batsman, and therefore the batters will try and score quickly off of Johnson. The point being, that we're not building pressure because we're bowling "4" balls too often.

Stuey Clark said that bowlers have to bowl in tandem and I agree totally. There doesn't seem to me to be much 'teamwork' happening in the bowling ranks. It seems to be every man for themselves.

[Media Park]

My new pet hate Gadg, it's Cummins...

[Pat Malone]

Siddle is the only known commodity in our bowling stocks and after being on the cusp of selection will be the leader of our attack should Johnson get the flick.

We cant be heaping expectations on Cummins, he will have inconsistencies and bad spells soon enough, although I am on the bandwagon with the excited supporters.

It is too risky to take Cummins and a debutant into a series, so ultimately Harris will come in for Mitch but if not then it will be one of Hilf or Bollinger. Outside of these guys, I think the contracted Pattinson is next in line.

[Squids]

What's with all the Siddle love? He does not get enough wickets and a lot of the time he just doesn't look damaging.

[heater31]

Watching the game last night its got me stumped how Johnson gets and Swing and/or seam movement at all. The seam position through the air is terrible and all over the shop

Pat Cummins is one for the future. Jaques Kallis sees something special and he just stood there and copped it in the rib cage at one point last night from the young fella.


Siddle bowls far too short on flat decks. Adelaide Oval test last year is exhibit A.

[Pat Malone]

What's with all the Siddle love? He does not get enough wickets and a lot of the time he just doesn't look damaging.

Every bowling attack is about balance, except for maybe Thommo and Lillee.

Siddle is the grinder, the consistent 2/60 off 25 bowler. He does bowl too short at times, probably due to his inability to swing it a hell of a lot which makes bowling full an expensive exercise.

Siddle balances out the unknown, the unknown of whether Cummins has the consistency or whether Harris can stay on the park, the unknown of Watson's workload and Lyon's ability to attack when required and also to contain. I am not against blooding some other guys, but you've also got young batsmen to consider who would like to head to the crease chasing 350 rather than 500.

[FlyingHigh]

Starc?

[Pup]

Siddle is the only known commodity in our bowling stocks and after being on the cusp of selection will be the leader of our attack should Johnson get the flick.We cant be heaping expectations on Cummins, he will have inconsistencies and bad spells soon enough, although I am on the bandwagon with the excited supporters.

It is too risky to take Cummins and a debutant into a series, so ultimately Harris will come in for Mitch but if not then it will be one of Hilf or Bollinger. Outside of these guys, I think the contracted Pattinson is next in line.

Deary me.

If this our leader of the attack we are in huge trouble. He is average at best.

[Interceptor]

Siddle was average at best for the conclusion of the SAf innings yesterday.
A good bowler would not have copped the stick he got from Steyn because they would not have put it in the slot, grinned about it and then kept on doing the same stupid stuff.

Johnson and Siddle shown up badly yesterday by the new kid on the block.
I'd be happy to some more youth blooded against NZ at the expense of these two.
Harris (if fit!) would of course replace one of them though.

[Lightning McQueen]

Siddle was average at best for the conclusion of the SAf innings yesterday.
A good bowler would not have copped the stick he got from Steyn because they would not have put it in the slot, grinned about it and then kept on doing the same stupid stuff.

Johnson and Siddle shown up badly yesterday by the new kid on the block.
I'd be happy to some more youth blooded against NZ at the expense of these two.
Harris (if fit!) would of course replace one of them though.

Yep, I went boonter, you just got spanked by a tailender and you're smiling, your representing your country FFS, show some heart.

[Bulls forever]

Unlike the rest of you, I see some real positives in the Australian domestic scene at the minute. Not sure many of you picked up on Cummins second spell last night, not the tear away quick, but the into the wind, lets swing it both ways at mid 130's. Absolute stunning debut for a 18 year old. Then in the wings back in Aus we have Pattison (Vic), Starc & Hazelwood (NSW), Cutting (Qld), all around 21 / 22 or younger. Staying sound is an issue, but some absolute guns there. Lets get the boys back from SA and look towards the Ashes in a year or two and in two years time get back to being the bullies in world cricket with 5 or 6 quicks that will dominate world cricket.

As for the current crop
- Siddle - be the first bloke I would pick to fight alongside me in the trenches, but out of depth in Test cricket most times.
- Mitch - will the real Mitch Johnson please stand up, DK Lillie said this bloke is a once in a generation bowler, once in a lifetime more like it, how can someone that on his day be almost unplayable, be so s..t most of the other time.
- Harris - you can't keep going with a bloke that plays a match and misses the next two, Rhino appreciate the effort and heart, but we need you full time or come back and play for SA.
- Copeland - save for NZ or England where the decks seam, too slow for Test on the flat decks.

[Goat Herder]

Unlike the rest of you, I see some real positives in the Australian domestic scene at the minute.

Fully agree BF. I can't recall our pace bowling stocks looking as promising for a LONG time, especially in the pace dept. Starc, Hazelwood, Pattinson, Cummins, Cutting, M.Marsh, George, A.McDermott, Behrendorf from WA, Kane Richardson (still got a lot of work to go yet), Coulter-Nile, Copeland, etc. It's an impressive list! I'd say our batting stocks are a bit on the thin side in comparison, with only Maddinson, Lynn & to a lesser extent, Tommy Beaton, who look like deserving of the 'young gun' tag at this early stage of their careers.

For mine, Pattinson looks the pick of the bunch, Cummins aside of course. Hits good areas consistently, is a big, strong unit and has had a bit of international exposure. Mitch Marsh is just gonna be a gun in both facets. Cutting's form this season has also been impressive and would have to be a chance to get the call-up on his home dungheap next Thursday, possibly in favour of Siddle (?).

[Lightning McQueen]

I'm liking Hogan and always had a soft spot for Cutting.

[Ron Burgundy]

Im a fan of Coulter-Nile, seems to trouble the batsman regularly.

Cutting seems to be in an Andy Bichel mould. Lion heart, always looks like he is giving 100%.

[Rik E Boy]

Starc, Pattinson and Cutting all worth a look. Johnson for the knackers he is seriously shite.

regards,

REB

[Jim05]

Pattinson didnt play in Shield today against Tassie, take it he is injured.
Johnson definately needs a spell, if your shortening your run up to stop spraying balls you obviously have flaws that need to be worked at back at shield level.
I