Copeland should be first bowler picked for Australia
Columnist By Luke Doherty, 9 Nov 2011 Luke Doherty is a Roar Expert
Trent Copeland isn’t the most exciting cricketer going round. He doesn’t have the X-Factor like teenage quick Patrick Cummins or the fire of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle. Despite all that he should still be the first person picked for tonight’s first Test against South Africa.
Copeland is locked in a battle with Johnson, Siddle, Cummins and Ryan Harris for a spot in the Australian side. Of those players Johnson and Harris are certainties leaving Copeland really fighting Siddle and Cummins.
The 25-year-old former wicketkeeper batsmen offers something the others don’t though and that is stability.
Glenn McGrath wasn’t a tearaway paceman. He’d stroll in, release the ball at just over 130 km/h, land it on a spot the size of a five-cent piece for eight hours and go home.
It seems boring, but what McGrath did best was what they call “tying up an end”. Batsmen waiting to score off one of his bad balls would sooner see a pig fly.
His consistency allowed the other bowlers to be more adventurous. They’d get frustrated by McGrath and in a bid to keep the scoreboard ticking over hit out at a wider one from Brett Lee that would catch an edge and send the batsman on his way.
Stuart Clark was in the same mould and now we have Copeland to continue in their foot steps.
Someone with the Gosford born bowler’s ability cannot be overlooked simply because he isn’t still in his teens and can’t bowl at a pace that breaks a speed gun.
Some point to Copeland’s rough start to life as a Test bowler during the recent tour of Sri Lanka as evidence he may not be up to scratch.
In three Tests, he took six wickets at an average of 37.83. They’re not the type of numbers that make your jaw drop, but when you consider the average of McGrath in Sri Lanka it puts his efforts into some perspective.
McGrath only played three Tests in Sri Lanka, all in 1999, and also took six wickets at an average of 35.66. It’s safe to say it’s not a nice place to toil with the red ball in hand.
Clark never played in Sri Lanka, but faced them twice in Australia for a return of seven wickets at an average of 36.57.
The careers of McGrath and Clark turned out pretty good though on the whole.
McGrath played 124 Tests, claimed 563 wickets at an average of 21.64. Clark played 24 Tests and claimed 94 wickets at an average of 23.86. They were two bowlers you could rely on during tough sessions.
Copeland’s first class record indicates he’s heading the same way. 23 matches, 100 wickets at an average of 23.63.
That’s the form that proves he’s worth sticking by.
Recommend this story.
You can follow Luke Doherty on Twitter @Luke_Doherty and on Sky News Australia.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
November 9th 2011 @ 7:55am
formeropenside said | November 9th 2011 @ 7:55am | Report comment
Must help that he carries the Blue Bags, eh?
November 9th 2011 @ 8:37am
Swampy said | November 9th 2011 @ 8:37am | Report comment
Copeland is a no brainer for me. I wouldn’t compare him to McGrath though – he is more like Courtney Walsh. Type of bowler that just keeps on going – I wouldn’t doubt that copeland could bowl 20 over spells. The man is a bowling machine. He might in fact need to do just that because while Harris is a certainty to be picked, he is no certainty to make it through the test (nor any match) without breaking down.
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
November 9th 2011 @ 8:50am
Chris said | November 9th 2011 @ 8:50am | Report comment
The issue I have (and this is the same argument I would use for Cummins) is that Copeland is largely untested. I would like to see bowlers proving themselves over 2-3 seasons of Shield cricket before being seriously considered for Test duty.
November 9th 2011 @ 6:14pm
Michael N said | November 9th 2011 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
I think you will find Copeland has around 90 wickets at around 20 in the last 2 season of shield cricket
November 10th 2011 @ 8:39am
Lolly said | November 10th 2011 @ 8:39am | Report comment
He’s hardly untested. You can’t possibly put him in the same basket as Cummins. Do you follow domestic cricket?
November 9th 2011 @ 9:46am
Matt F said | November 9th 2011 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Surely he has to be picked? The best thing to come out of the SL series was that our opening bowlers actually used the new ball. That hasn’t happened consistantly since McGrath and co. Siddle and Johnson have repeatedly shown that they can’t use the new ball effectively, getting minimal movement whilst also bowling too many short/wide balls at the start of the innings. There is minimal difference between Siddle/Johnson with the new ball or older ball.
The fast bowling line-up needs 2 “new ball” bowlers and one other, assuming we play Lyon. Harris, Copeland and Cummins can utilise a new ball so they are fighting for those two spots. Given Cummins isn’t actually going to play and is over there purely for experience it makes sense to make Harris and Copeland certain starters for the first test. Siddle and Johnson can fight it out for the remaining spot.
November 9th 2011 @ 9:49am
jameswm said | November 9th 2011 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Harris will be the first bowler picked. He’s one of the best quicks in the world at the moment.
Mitch has found some degree of consistency. I hope it continues because when he gets the late swing into the right handers, he’s a tough proposition. He makes them play at the ones sliding across, and gets LBWs.
I think Siddle will edge Copeland for the 3rd seamer’s berth. Close call. Siddle is quicker, both can go all day.
Cummins won’t go close and frankly should be playing against SA in the Shield game – possibly ahead of Doug the Rug.
November 9th 2011 @ 2:40pm
Brendon said | November 9th 2011 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
Is Harris actually fit or is he between injuries? Other than Harris there is no stand out bowler. Johnson deserves a spot but if he can’t perform after the preparation hes had and in a country that suits him then his test career is over and he should focus on ODI and T20′s.
November 10th 2011 @ 1:36pm
Galaxy Hop said | November 10th 2011 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
Fast bowlers are always dealing with some niggle.
November 9th 2011 @ 9:57am
Brett McKay said | November 9th 2011 @ 9:57am | Report comment
There was a nice comparison yesterday of Copeland to the successes Stuart Clark and Andrew McDonald had in South Africa in recent series, and it was a valid argument being put forward. I think Copeland could quite well in South Africa, with the extra bounce, and I’d love to see him play.
Unfortunately, I think they’ll go with Siddle, and I just hope he doesn’t fall back to his habit of bowling the wrong length..
November 9th 2011 @ 9:58am
Sports Writer said | November 9th 2011 @ 9:58am | Report comment
McGrath’s career didn’t turn out pretty good…it turned out AMAZING!
Could be a while before we see a medium pacer with his accuracy, patience and bowling smarts.
November 9th 2011 @ 10:49am
maninblack said | November 9th 2011 @ 10:49am | Report comment
Siddle surely has to be in. His 3rd test in Sri Lanka plus the tour match just completed has him in there.
It’d be a traversty of justice for any other call to be made.
Copeland would be demolished by the Saffers.
Note though – if Watson can bowl, then use him as number 3 paceman and play an extra spinner.
November 10th 2011 @ 9:06am
maninblack said | November 10th 2011 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Good to see that Siddle wasn’t squeezed out – 4-91 off 35 in the 3rd test in Colombo plus 5 for 92 off 32 overs in the tour game v SthAf A is form that deserves to be continued.
Copeland on the other hand 27 overs, 1 for 99 in the tour game and 2 for 96 off 41 in the test.
9 for 183 off 67 vs 3 for 195 off 68.
Make the call?
Back to the game, and right now, I reckon the big questions are being asked of the openers – Dale Steyn fit and firing will continuing asking. Is the Watson/Hughes partnership up to it?
Also – gotta say, M.Clarke, talking with the bat the way he did spoke louder than anything he’s verballed in the past. Good on him – I’ve not been a fan, but, that sort of knock can change opinions.
November 9th 2011 @ 11:28am
Johnno said | November 9th 2011 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Shane Watson is now 30 now and i think he has to make a design for himself and for the team.
Do i become an opener and stay there premantaly, and give up bowling pretty much steve waugh style.
Or do i at aged 30 drop down to middle order 4 ,5,6maybe 5 i think if he is to bowl a lot, and still bowl a lot.
I think he at aged 30 has to work it out.
I have a feeling he will give up on bowling at aged 30 and pretty much stay as an opener. just my view but Shane after this series has to work it out for his own injury issues, age and wear and tear and work load, and for Australia working out what balance of team and direction it wants to go eg looking at developing a steady opening combination.
November 9th 2011 @ 1:17pm
jameswm said | November 9th 2011 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
I don’t see the problem with Watson opening and being the 4th quick – say 2 x 5 overs per day.
My issue with Watson is turning all those starts into big 100s – 150+. That’s what we really need. And I don’t think reducing his bowling from 10 to 3 overs a day will make much difference.
November 9th 2011 @ 12:04pm
Schtumpy said | November 9th 2011 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
I think they should play 4 quicks.
Copeland will do the same job as Lyons but more effectively.
Even if the wicket does turn.
November 9th 2011 @ 1:16pm
jameswm said | November 9th 2011 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
If they had Katich there he could do the part time spinning.
November 9th 2011 @ 7:24pm
Schtumpy said | November 9th 2011 @ 7:24pm | Report comment
Indeed.
And Watson could drop down and do some damage before Haddin in the batting order.
November 9th 2011 @ 7:31pm
Nick said | November 9th 2011 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
Yeah, stuff up the order and bring Katick back in – that’s really going to fix things…… Please