Time for selectors to Ask Geeves? Brett Greeves, that is

Gone are the days when an Australian One Day fast bowling attack was as predictable as it was intimidating. The Australian cricket team remains in a period of transition, and there are clearly spots up for grabs, particularly with the ball.

While Mitchell Johnson has elevated his game to another level, establishing himself as Australia’s most potent weapon, former stalwarts Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark are showing signs of fatigue.

Bracken’s record in the One Day game over the past few years has been nothing short of outstanding, but at 32, his time at the top level is limited.

Since elbow surgery in 2008, Stuart Clark has struggled to regain his spot as Australia’s line and length specialist and now appears on the outer.

As for Brett Lee, aside from a handful of typically scintillating spells, he continues to struggle with injury and looks a shadow of the fast bowler who terrorised batsmen for the best part of a decade.

The successful Champions Trophy campaign offered an indication as to who the selectors currently consider their ideal One Day bowling combination with Lee, Johnson and Peter Siddle playing every game – though it should be acknowledged that Bracken was ruled out through injury.

New South Welshman Doug Bollinger and 2009 Ashes sensation Ben Hilfenhaus were left in reserve.

In fairness to Bollinger, his opportunity has been limited thus far and his form has been encouraging, but not spectacular.

Despite his early exploits in the Test Match arena, Hilfenhaus’ figures of 3 for 193 at 57.75 in his last three One Day appearances perhaps indicates his unsuitability to the shortened format.

There is no shortage of options for Australian selectors, though.

Interestingly, 11 of the 21 players to debut for the Australian One Day team since 2006 have been fast bowlers.

Were it not for inclement Indian weather, Burt Cockley would have followed in the footsteps of Clint McKay and debuted in this month’s series in India.

Selectors, then, face the difficult task of picking through the hoards of Australian fast bowling potential.

As mentioned, Bollinger has been on the fringes of selection for some time now, Shaun Tait’s pros and cons are glaringly obvious, while the jury is still out on McKay and, in particular, Cockley.

Perhaps the two unluckiest candidates to date have been Ashley Nofke and Brett Geeves.

Nofke experienced a career season with Queensland in 2007-08 but injury slowed his rise and it remains to be seen how he adapts to life in Western Australia.

Geeves has also had his share of injury troubles but last year his increased durability coincided with improvements with both bat and ball.

And it is this which could distinguish Geeves from the pack.

Twice left stranded on 99 in the Sheffield Shield last season, Geeves added some guile to his already powerful stroke-play.

Combine that with his ability to swing the ball in to the right-handers and Geeves can be an asset to any One Day side.

After recovering from a broken foot which prematurely ended his tour of South Africa, Geeves was a standout for Australia A against Pakistan A, snaring 6 for 78 over two matches.

Should Geeves continue his stellar form through the 2009-10 season with Tasmania, he must surely be thereabouts when the time comes for selectors to name the One Day squads to take on Pakistan and the West Indies this summer.

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