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Aussies quick to give opportunities, but did our touring quicks take it?

20th October, 2016
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John Hastings led Australia's attack in South Africa. (AAP Image/David Moir)
Expert
20th October, 2016
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There has been a lot of debate about the recent ODI series against South Africa, and specifically about the make-up of the Australian squad’s seam attack.

Without Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in particular, the general feeling from what we read and heard was that Australia may be a bit light on, and therefore vulnerable in that department.

On reflection, it must be said that those fears were realised. With John Hastings and Scott Boland (Australia’s most experienced on tour frontline seamers) having 42 matches of international experience between them, I can understand where the commentators are coming from.

However, I look at things slightly differently.

Scheduling is an issue. There is no denying it. Selectors and coaches are doing all they can within the confines of increasingly congested international schedules to find a way to make best use of their assets (players).

Did this South African ODI tour appear to be thrown into the schedule to –

1. Satisfy the future tours program and

2. Make a bit of money?

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Absolutely.

Well, it’s a very tough one that I don’t necessarily have an answer to in the space available.

What we can do is look back on the bowlers that did take part in South Africa.

John Hastings
A good honest toiler. Big John probably hates being referred to as that, however it is a positive. He is a big tall lad who bowls decent pace and hits the pitch hard on a back of a length. This means that his stock ball is about hip height or just under for the batsman. This is a good length in ODI cricket because for the batsman to score runs he needs to play a very good shot either driving on the up or playing square of the wicket to a ball that is not quite there to put away. Where John can go for runs is when he offers width or misses his length and overpitches.

For me, Hastings is an excellent 1st or 2nd change bowler that can do a really consistent job for his team.

Scott Boland
Impressive seamer who’s stock ball is bowled with good pace and has some nice variations with slower balls and a decent yorker. I thought he bowled better than his numbers suggested in SA. Making sure his stock ball is consistent will be key for him to play more for Australia.

Australia’s Scott Boland

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Chris Tremain
A wicket-taking seamer. You often read a term like that and wonder “what does that mean exactly?”

Well, what I see is a seamer who has great control of his wrist in that he can swing the new ball whilst not having the perfect action to do so. He reminds me a bit of Stuart Broad with a front arm that appears to be under-utilised in his bowling action. However, at the end of the day a bowler is judged on what happens at the business end and Tremain causes issues for batsmen with his movement through the air. I do believe, however, that an area for potential improvement for him is to explore the possibility of using the front side of his body more in his action.

Daniel Worrall
Very skilful. Can swing the ball both ways at a brisk if not necessarily quick pace. I wonder whether he is more suited to the longer form of the game. He bowls a bit fuller than most seamers and with a white ball in SA conditions (batsmen friendly) I just wonder whether he was going to be as effective as first thought?

Could be a real handful with a red Duke cricket ball in English conditions….

Joe Mennie
I class Joe in a slightly similar mould to Hastings in that he hits the pitch on a decent length and is quite consistent. Highly rated around the first class game in Oz for his discipline and fitness and came back well after copping some stick in his first game which demonstrates good composure.

In time I believe this tour, although a disappointing result, will be seen for what it was – to provide opportunities for players who earned their spots through performances. It’s not their fault that a couple of players were rested and a couple were injured.

The selectors made decisions in the best interest of the Australian Cricket Team and individuals. They also saw a way to get some game time into players that may not otherwise have had a go.

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Opportunity can come in all forms – and it’s up to players to grab these chances when they are afforded.

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