Aussie bowling attack - Ashes and beyond

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

All the attention right now seems to be on solving our top three batting line up woes.

Is the bowling where the Poms will target us though?

The Poms' strength is their batting.

For a long time we've had a dominant bowling attack and will likely roll with the same combo this summer. We've almost taken it for granted that our bowling will always be strong, we'll always have a production line of quicks etc.

In 2005, Jason Gillespie entered the Ashes series having been an elite performer. The end arrives quickly for some players. Even a small drop in speed can bring players back to the pack.

Our bowling hadn't been a concern then but we were soon to learn that we were a trodden on cricket ball away from having an Ashes-losing strength attack.

Are our quicks reaching that same 2005 Gillespie end point? While the focus has been on our batting line up, are the Poms capable of a batting ambush of an ageing attack? And with Boland (36) our next cab off the rank, are we vulnerable this summer?

Is our major strength about to become a weakness?

 

[cricketnut14]

All the attention right now seems to be on solving our top three batting line up woes.

Is the bowling where the Poms will target us though?

The Poms' strength is their batting.

For a long time we've had a dominant bowling attack and will likely roll with the same combo this summer. We've almost taken it for granted that our bowling will always be strong, we'll always have a production line of quicks etc.

In 2005, Jason Gillespie entered the Ashes series having been an elite performer. The end arrives quickly for some players. Even a small drop in speed can bring players back to the pack.

Our bowling hadn't been a concern then but we were soon to learn that we were a trodden on cricket ball away from having an Ashes-losing strength attack.

Are our quicks reaching that same 2005 Gillespie end point? While the focus has been on our batting line up, are the Poms capable of a batting ambush of an ageing attack? And with Boland (36) our next cab off the rank, are we vulnerable this summer?

Is our major strength about to become a weakness?

the big 3 quicks have alll been great - but they haven't been able to get the job done against india in sydney and brisbane a few years ago or roll south africa in the wtc final.

i'm guessing you are eluding to starc and hazlewood pretty much and at the end of this summer, may be the end of the road for one of them or both.

as for cummins saying that boland will get opportunities - it ain't gonna be many if any as after our summer there's an 8 month break.

i'm sure there's depth - they just haven't been given a real opportunity.

 

[beatnik]

You’re right, it will drop away at some point but for the Ashes at least, our attack will still be stronger than theirs…don’t forget Lyon will still be the best spinner in the series on Aussie pitches

as you said, their batting will be a major challenge and we’ll need juicy wickets to stop them teeing off…hopefully Uzzie has one decent series left and Smith and Head carry us

I’m tipping Webster and Carey to have big series and hopefully Konstas can play a few gems too

Things will be grim when we travel to England next though

 

[Jack Mundy]

Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon and Starc have played double the amount tests as other famed Aussie attacks. In white ball fixtures Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Zampa have played together 46 times. Again the most for Australia. Going to be difficult replacing entire attack which has been in place for over a decade. Most likely will drop off around the same time.

 

[Cmarsh]

Would like to think Callum Vidler will be pushing for selection sometime next year.

 

[Westend]

This series was a perfect opportunity for a young quick to tour .. but the cartel …

 

[toml]

This series was a perfect opportunity for a young quick to tour .. but the cartel …

They arent even using the A tour starting at the end of the week to give the likes of Vidler and Beardman a run. Most of the bowlers they've picked are very meh

 

[Cmarsh]

This series was a perfect opportunity for a young quick to tour .. but the cartel …

Pretty unfair to call it a cartel isn't it? Its one of the most successful bowling groups in history.

 

[Jack Mundy]

This series was a perfect opportunity for a young quick to tour .. but the cartel …

Bit harsh on bowlers to have to sit out series vs weaker teams, while batsmen get to fill their boots (well not his current crop lol).

 

[beatnik]

Bit harsh on bowlers to have to sit out series vs weaker teams, while batsmen get to fill their boots (well not his current crop lol).

Not if the bowlers are mid to late 30s…their boots are well and truly filled

The team is bigger than any player

 

[Jack Mundy]

Not if the bowlers are mid to late 30s…their boots are well and truly filled

The team is bigger than any player

Piss off champion bowlers and they retire or go to t20 and then Australia is stuck with a dud bowling group to go along with dud batting.

 

[corbies]

Not if the bowlers are mid to late 30s…their boots are well and truly filled

The team is bigger than any player

Exactly. Pick the best team to win the Test match. If players want to play Test cricket they should try being better than the players currently playing in the team.

 

[to1994]

Not if the bowlers are mid to late 30s…their boots are well and truly filled

The team is bigger than any player

I do think there's value in our players being desperate to play every Test rather then being content with sitting out unless we're playing India or England.

How would you feel if Starc and Hazlewood were skipping this tour to play a T20 tournament in the UAE or something?

I get your point but Test Cricket is healthier with the best players on the park. Cummins should hang around for a few more years and Lyon has indicated he wants to continue until 2027 so the bowlers shouldn't all drop off at once.

 

[Yoda_]

Sam Elliot is starting to come along nicely. I dont think he packs a punch the Aussie selectors like but more in the cautious approach of Chad Sayers, Trent Copeland.