Another young fast bowler goes down injured, what a surprise.
James Pattinson’s Ashes-ending back injury is the latest example of a problem which the high-performance geniuses at Cricket Australia can’t seem to work out.
You don’t need a degree in sport science to work out that our young bowlers are being asked to bowl too fast, and are being given the burdensome task of switching from T20 to Test bowling on a regular basis.
Obsession with fast bowling has been a bugbear for some time. Bowlers are judged based on their speed, rather than their overall quality.
It seems that bowlers like, say, Mitchell Starc, who are quick but erratic, are preferred to bowlers like Trent Copeland, who bowl accurately and economically.
Copeland must surely be the unluckiest cricketer in Australia. Not even Simon Katich has such strong credentials for a persecution complex.
In 44 First Class games (in both Australia and England), Copeland has taken 177 wickets at an average of 24.07, conceding runs at a miserly rate of 2.41 per over. At the same time, Mitchell Starc has played 36 First Class games, taken 109 wickets, averaging 31.51 each. His economy rate is more than a run an over worse, at 3.45.
This comparison with Starc is somewhat crude, but in Cricket, statistics are as telling as any other sport in the world. They say that Trent Copeland takes more wickets for less runs than Mitchell Starc. However, while Starc has been given ten Tests and a couple of chances to return after poor performances, Copeland has been given only one shot.
His Test career to date spans a measely three weeks; three Tests on the dormant wickets of Sri Lanka in September 2011. He only took six wickets in these Tests and conceded only 2.1 runs per over.
In this Ashes series, where Australia has twice allowed the game to drift from strong positions because of an inability to build pressure, a bowler who gives the batsmen so little would undoubtedly be useful. Yet in all the talk around the squad announcement and now, the replacement for Pattinson, Trent Copeland’s name has scarcely been heard, if it has been heard at all.
Given his obvious pedigree, the only possible reason for Copeland’s complete disappearance from the national discourse is the fact that he is not quick. Where Starc, Pattinson and others regularly nudge 150km/h, Copeland languishes in the 130s.
It seems Australian cricket is far more concerned with the speed at which the ball gets to the end of the pitch than what it does once it gets there. Indeed, it was infuriating last Australian summer when Channel 9 ran a competition for young fast bowlers to see who could bowl the quickest ball, with absolutely no regard for whether it landed on the pitch.
This approach is damaging. If results and form alone were considered, Copeland would surely be in the Australian side, or at least on its fringes. Instead, he is playing for Northamptonshire.
This is another example of the favourites and scapegoats mentality of the Australian set up which has isolated Katich. We seem intent on finding room for sugar hit players capable of bowling one unplayable ball every hundred or get one dashing century every twenty innings, rather than proven performers who are consistent in their output.
This is counter productive in the extreme. If Australia is to find its way again in Test cricket, we need to be picking Test players. Trent Copeland has shown that he has all the attributes necessary for Test cricket, he just needs to get a look-in.
Shaz
Guest
Copeland should consider moving states. Its worked for other NSW players. Dont know how long he has left on contract with NSW. His steep bounce would be handy at the WACA....Doctor brings in his swing as well. Teaming up with Coulter Nile would be a great combination. NSW have a revolving door and Copeland might find himself making way for younger teenagers like Sandhu Cummins etc... NSW will want to push him aside. He is still young himself but history shows mid 20s players get shown the door when even younger players coming knocking. Trent is very talented and i think one more crack at the top level is warranted considering his First class stats are one of the best.
Jo M
Guest
Agree re Joe Mennie. Can bat too. Joey is also from the Wests grade club that has had players such as Simpson, Davidson, Bardsley, Gilchrist started there in his very early years, Clarke, Hughes, Starc and many others that have represented internationally. Copeland has been really good over the last few years, sort of Bird like but is a way better bat. I would love to see Joe get a go in the Australia A team at some time fairly soon. He has worked really hard for a while now and is a great young guy.
Jo M
Guest
And he can bat too. We went and watched the 1st grade grand final. St George batted first and he batted really well at 7 I think. Sutherland comes into bat and Maddinson is smashing them and all the others were batting really well. Copeland comes on for another spell and gets 7 wickets. Will also say that Maddinson was very impressive that day as well.
davos
Guest
eagle eye I actually rate Copeland..and watched him play several second 11 games before he got his shot in firsts ...and I take your point he took so many wickets he just couldn't be ignored ...and I think he would do very well in English cond..unfortunately I think his time has come and gone...and it comes down rightly or wrongly to the pace issue ...and I agree it shouldn't ...I guess I was more saying Hey ...hes actually got a baggy green and played 3 tests I think for oz ...not too bad at all .....do I think he could do a job for oz ...abslotuley..will he get another opp probably not
Eagle Eye
Guest
Your point re Copeland not being worthy of his baggy green shoots your own argument re Sayers down in flames. Copeland was selected for Aust A due to his 50 wickets in 8 matches in that current Shield season then did well for Aust A and got a start in Sri Lanka...story sound familiar? Haha! I also didn't suggest he jumps Bird by any means, but Johnson is just another M Starc, occasional great ball but is highly erratic, leaks too many runs. I'm suggesting he would be handy in the squad should they need an extra bowler however let's see how 'your man' Sayers goes for Aust A as they have decided to give him a go. Good luck to him. Much to your horror no doubt, is the fact that J Hazlewood gets another chance to show what he's got too!
davos
Guest
and sayers is our potential next terry alderman ...he has exceptional late swing...how do you think he was leading shield wicket taker ..bowling mostly on the Adelaide oval ...he must have been doing something ...it wasn't a fluke
Buzz
Guest
Trent Copeland is a wasted talent. It's strange that all his NSW team mates are getting a go but the one NSW player I do respect is Copeland and he just keeps performing. I'm a QLD supporter!
Johnno
Guest
He is our Adam Dale. Adam Dale was a wonderful bowler in the 90's whose career was cut short by injury. Copeland is the land's 2nd best bowler after Ryan Harris. He should of been opening the bowling at Lord's. He is a wonderful seam bowler of the highest world class quality, a traveristy Copeland has been ignored by , wait for t you know who, Iver's.
davos
Guest
and your not a nsw supporter ?
davos
Guest
eagle eye ..sayers and mennie both have better stats then Copeland going on last years shield ....they are both young at 25 and 24 respectively..i thought we were talking about a bowlers spot...so copeland doesn't have the wood on them in that way ...so now its his batting that he should be selected for ...ok ..I have never seen sayers do much with the bat ...but mennie is a bit different...from all reports he can bat a bit ...his best performance last year was a 79 no on the gabba ..apparently well on his way to a maiden fist class ton till he ran out of partners...also another thing with the redbacks pair is they bowl predominantly on the Adelaide oval ...id say they would both have better stats if they played anywhere else in oz...they were one wicket from getting Soz into the shield final ..for the first time since god know's when ...but they ran into a last wicket partnership of 90 odd ..involving a young wa spinner named Agar ...sound familiar ? What am I on about ?..sayers and Mennie both deserve to be on oz a tour going on their performance in the local domestic comp ...I would suggest that your man Copeland was lucky he got a baggy green ...he is a good bolwer no doubt ..and his accuracy and bounce have caused many bastman problems..but most people want to see a bowler at least bowl mid 130's to get a game for oz...so in your opinion ...Copeland jumps all the oz A guys including bird and Johnson to take pattinsons spot ?
Pete
Guest
Redbacks supporter, Sayers it all! And I can assure you no one is flying the Copeland flag, just some commentors on The Roar actually genuinely believe in him as a test player, which I have no doubt you will agree is a rarity these days (see The Ashes).
Eagle eye
Guest
I took your challenge. The bowlers above Copeland are Sayers (Aust A), B'worth (30yo), Faulkner (already Oz squad), Mennie (surely you jest, bat av of 17), Hopes is 35, Gannon (who is currently got a dodgy action) and Hogan (playing in UK now) then guess who?? It's Copeland. So whp are you talking about? Oh and by the way, last season Copeland scored 380 runs at 34.72, 25th on the batting list, Faulkner 444 @ 34.15. The others including Sayers aren't even seen on the top 50! Give me someone who can do both thanks mate.
davos
Guest
im not saying I don't rate Copeland ....and pace is not everything...but he doesn't bowl much quicker than 128 when he is on....often down around 125....you say sayers was selected on potential ? I can t follow you ...he took the most wickets in Sheffield shield last year...producing very good late swing at reasonable pace ..ave 132 k's pace ...normally he would never get selected on potential in anything ...I suggest to you the only reason he is on the oz A trip is he could not be ignored without making the shield seem completely irrelevant ...another bowler for south oz... Mennie took over 30 wickets from only 6 shield games with a great ave...he performed well the previous year also...and I think the reason he only played 6 games was he was away with perth scorchers in champs league in Africa ...he bowls anywhere from early 130's up to 140's when he is on ...but he couldn't crack it for an oz a gig...again they went not on performance but selected on faves and potential...one of the next guys in line would be coulter nile he is quick and menacing and can swing a bat ...but check out his shield stats ....again not that good...the reason I responded was every 3 mths or so someone trots out the unlucky Trent Copeland line ...and I have nothing against your man...im just pointing out there are several others with just as good stats and even better who don't rate a mention...some of them are also very good and safe fielders and know how to hold a bat as well..... any way doesn't matter what we say ...Bird will go in to the next test and probably rightly so he has earned it and his stats back him up ...im just annoyed at what is going on with oz A ..all bloody nsw again except coulter nile and sayers...and your pushing another one...and yes I am a redbacks supporter
Pete
Guest
You're right about Hazlewood, ordinary form but Inverarity selects on potential, same as with Cummins, Sandhu and Sayers. Sayers only has 14 FC matches behind him, that is not an experienced bowler who knows his work well, and as above, he didn't even play in the first Aus A match. Why doesn't he or any of those mentioned have to prove themselves over time to get a baggy green, like Aust did when we were winning? Let's hand those treasured caps like loonies, what a joke, 15 new test players in 3 years, atrocious! And I know you don't rate Copeland however you certainly cannot tell me that he hasn't done the 'hard yards', have a look how many overs he has bowled over the past 3 years of FC cricket, maturity required at test level. Copeland also took 53 wickets from 8 matches when he started, Sayers 48 from 9, very comparable. As outlined above, Copeland brings far more to the table in the field and at the crease as well and don't say batting for a tail ender isn't important, where would the current First XI be without our bowlers batting ability. Sometimes there's more to selection than stats, it's about how they do the business and how reliable they are.
davos
Guest
why didn't sayers rate a mention here ? ..he bowls 130-135k can bowl all day...has devastating late swing ...and that's right he was the shields leading wicket taker...took way more than Copeland did this year and there are a few others ... with just as good stats and aves....if you really are concerned about the so call "sugar hit players " as you call them...getting selected ahead of the guys doing the hard yards week in week out in the shield ...then go back and have a look at this years shield stats !!! ...there are several bowlers who deserve a go ahead of Copeland...we already have the nsw attack taking up all the spots in oz a ...go and have a look at hazelwoods stats ...he wasn't even in the first half of the shields leading wicket takers ..best aves etc ...also Sandhu looked good and took a few wickets in a couple of games ...so once again rushed strait in on potential to oz A side ...your just picking one bowler out ...one who bowls fairly pedestrian pace I might add and pushing his barrow for whatever reason...maybe we need another nswelshman in the oz a attack alongside all the others ...he can push sayers out completely...I challenge you to go and look at last seasons shield stats (the place where young aussie paceman are supposed to perform to get selected for higher honours ) and come back with a top 4 from the shield taking into account reasonable and relevant factors ...don't go on who is fashionable or has someone important pushing their barrow...just go on performance in last years Sheffield shield ...there will be a few names there hardly anyone is mentioning
Buzz
Guest
That's the best answer so far. Copeland ticks all the boxes. One more injury in England to one of our bowlers and Copeland should be asked to team up with the squad. Inveraray has never liked Copeland since he came on board after the Sri Lankan series in 2011. I feel for Copes because his 3 tests where on the flattest pitches in international cricket. I am positive he will get another chance. As you stated John he has age on his side.
John
Guest
Butterworth is almost 30, Hopes almost 35, Hogan playing in UK to stay. While I agree that Sayers has burst on to the scene last season and deserves his Aust A chance, he didn't even get a start in the first match, so no current match practice while Copeland is only 27, already has a baggy green, has played test cricket, can bat, brings maturity, has played on English pitches...good case I'd say. Horribly, I think they will actually send Cummins even though he should be required to complete a whole Shield season injury free before "testing" him in tests.
Duke
Guest
Thats one season. What about overall over say 3 seasons? That would be interesting...
Gr8rWeStr
Guest
Oops! That should of course be Chadd, not Chris, Sayers.
Gr8rWeStr
Guest
I agree that one of the CA obsessions that has seen Australian cricket reach its current depths is bowling speed. Johnson and Lee being prime examples of this, Starc appears to be heading down the same path. I'm not, however, so convinced that Copeland is clearly the best option for an accurate, economical, tie up an end all day type bowler. A quick look at the 2012/13 Sheffield Shield bowling economy rates provides four contenders for that role, all having bowled more than 1500 balls during the season but having better economy and strike rates than Copeland (econ 2.56, S/R 63): James Hopes (econ 2.17, S/R 62.8), Luke Butterworth (econ 2.48, S/R 50.2) Michael Hogan (econ 2.49, S/R 60.2) Chris Sayers (econ 2.52, S/R 44.1) Of these Sayers, currently playing for Australia A, looks best placed for a call up to the Australian Ashes squad.