With the Ashes less than a month away, it is time to get serious about this Australian Test cricket team.
The Australian batsmen have struggled over the past year. Apart from Michael Clarke’s amazing 2012, there is not another batsman who has stamped his authority on Test cricket.
However, at the other end of the batting order, there is hope.
Australia’s fast bowling stocks are currently one of the world’s best. There is a host of young bowlers who have made their marks on Test cricket.
Peter Siddle is the leader of the attack. He is ranked inside the top 10 Test bowlers on the planet and has been the most consistent performer over the past three years. He is hard working and always done a solid job.
Then there are the experienced Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus. All of them have had successful domestic and Test careers, and may be in the selectors’ minds for the 2013-14 Ashes series.
Johnson could be an x-factor for the upcoming Ashes series.
His pace and bounce gave him the 2009 ICC cricketer of the year and he has shown signs of his best over the past two months.
Hilfenhaus is currently one of the forgotten men and after a few solid Ryobi Cup performances and a decent first class start, he could be back in the Test team.
Every single state has a young fast bowler who can make their mark. South Australia has two very promising talents.
One is Chadd Sayers, who is one of the best outswing bowlers in the domestic game.
The 26-year-old’s 2012-2013 Shield figures were supreme. He picked up 48 wickets at a very impressive 18.5.
Victoria has the aggressive and fast James Pattinson. Pattinson is one of the world’s brightest stars and could be the leader of the pack in five years’ time.
With the right training, he could be a future Mitchell Johnson.
News South Wales have a big group which includes Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Trent Copeland and the injury-prone Pat Cummins.
Pat Cummins spent the last summer on the sidelines and will again be out with injury this season.
Copeland is becoming a forgotten man but, although not as fast as some of the others, he is reliable and very accurate.
Queensland have a familiar name leading their pack.
Alister McDermott is not far off a Test birth, while Ben Cutting is becoming a handy lower order batsman and a fast swinger of the ball.
Mcdermott’s father Craig was just been appointed the Test team’s fast bowling coach.
With 291 Test wickets, he should be able to pass on his Test experience to this group of up-and-comers.
Tasmanian James Faulkner was the hero of last week’s one day game against India.
He and all-rounder Luke Butterworth have been some of the most consistent performers over the last three domestic seasons.
Finally, Western Australia have a couple of young bowlers who may be in line for higher honours.
With Dennis Lillee just around the corner for a helping hand, who knows how good these guys could be.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is becoming one of the most consistent bowlers in all forms of crickets.
The 26-year-old had a fantastic Champions League tournament with the Mumbai Indians, showing bounce and great control. He even destroyed his own Perth Scorchers with 3-19 off his four overs.
Jason Behrendorff showed good signs in the Champions League and in last year’s Big Bash League.
Behrendorff and New South Welshman Gurinder Sandhu are two young bowlers who will look to make higher honours in the next three years.
Johnson and Hilfenhaus have a great chance to return, while Coulter-Nile could be a Test debutant.
I would love to see Sayers get a go at Test level.
He can move the ball and hopefully trouble the strong English batting line-up.
What do you think Roarers? Who has the brightest future, or who do you think will make their mark this summer?
A punter
Guest
Anthony, The only objective way to compare players is with the stats. You can compare their stats over the last 2-3 years when they were both playing on the same pitches and see who is ahead.
A punter
Guest
Yes but since then, he must have bowled rubbish because his average is in the high 20's and his strike rate is over 60.
captainBokster!
Guest
It just seems people are grasping at straws....south Africa have better bowlers waiting in the wings easy but if cummings played more than that would even it out more,aussies have probably more in numbers but that's just shows there more on a even skill level which doesn't make them world-class
Dizzy G
Guest
Pattinson a future Mitch Johnson?? Let's hope that doesn't happen. Mitch is a fine ODI bowler, but watching him lose his rhythm and leak runs all over the shop time and time again in tests is the reason he has been pigeon holed as a short format specialist. Pleeeaaase don't bring him back in the test team - besides, perhaps , Perth where conditions suit him. I have much higher hopes for Patto and if he turns out like Mitch it would be a big let down...
davros
Guest
compare those 14 wickets at 33 ...to several others who don't hardly rate a mention...mennie had 33 wickets at 21....that's an absolutely massive difference ...yet no one is talking about Mennie "BEING NOT FAR OFF A TEST BERTH " but Alli Mcdermot is ? like I posted to the author have a think before you write ...Mcdermot is that far off the pace its not funny... I didn't say he was "bad " just disagreed with the author that he is close to a test berth
Anthony D'Arcy
Roar Pro
Last shield season he had 14 wickets at 33 from 5 matches... that is nowhere near as bad as you are suggesting, especially since he's only 22. Sure some players have done better, and some worse, but that's not what I or you were saying. You were saying he's bad. I was saying his stats indicate that he's pretty good.
davros
Guest
in fact Anthony I will go a bit further and dig up a current fast bowler who no one is mentioning who has better stats ...Joe Mennie from South oz ....he has 56 shield wickets also ..but from only 11 matches at 21.?....he took 33 wickets last shield season off only 6 matches ....he bowls consistently 135 -138 ...140' when he is on.... so would shade mcdermot for pace and a lot of his wickets were taken on a flat Adelaide deck ....no one is mentioning him for higher honours...he is currently bowling in Ryobi and has 9 wickets for the tournament and there would be others more deserving as well
davros
Guest
yes he did do well a couple of seasons back ...if you have a look at his returns last shield season ...they were not very good at all.... how far back do you go to judge on current form ? If all the pace is fit in Qld he will struggle to get a game ...not sure he even figured in this current Ryobi ? I think he is a one of those self fulfilling media speculations ...you know ...they bowl a bit take a few wickets and look good someone pushes there barrow in the media... they get an oz A gig....someone writes an article on the roar or wherever ....doesn't hurt that Dad played for oz and is the current coach and next thing you know he is featuring in everyones next big thing list ...I tend to go mostly off the previous shield seasons stats .....he did not take that many wickets last season ...in fact his returns were poor
Anthony D'Arcy
Roar Pro
Might also mention that when the Hilf started his first class career, Australian first class pitches weren't always as bowler friendly as they have been in the last few years. But to compare the Hilf and Cutting is pointless because they're different bowlers. Hilf is your classic swing bowler, Cutting is your classic seam bowler who hits the pitch hard and gets bounce.
Anthony D'Arcy
Roar Pro
Have you seen his stats? He has 56 wickets from 14 first class matches at an average of 23, 48 wickets from 27 list a matches (including Aus A games) at an average of 24, and he's averaging more than a wicket a game in T20 matches. Is that supposed to make him seem like a bad bowler?
Magic
Guest
Siddle is everything Cutting is but better. Jesus FC stats? Before Hilf got injured his average over the previous 2 years was 21.
A punter
Guest
if Hilfenhaus has a great chance to return, then something is very wrong with the selection process. Based on first class averages, Ben cutting is miles ahead of Mackay and Hilfenhaus.
Francis Curro
Roar Pro
Haha, I don't think Johnson's career has been that bad? Pattinson has the aggression and pace Johnson has. He is also one of the few bowlers who can just run through a batting order, like Johnson has done to South Africa on numerous occasions. If he could become the leader of the attack, Australia has a bright future/
Francis Curro
Roar Pro
Both are great bowlers however, I believe they have both 'retired' form cricket in Australia. Hogan had a brilliant season for Glamorgan, taking 100 wickets in all forms of cricket. I read an article int he West Australian recently which said he they may consider bringing him back, due to injury and the rough schedule. I think he retired last season because he wanted to focus playing cricket in England. He was a late bloomer and is now in his 30's. WA has quite a list of young fast bowlers. They have Johnson, Coulter-Nile, Duffield, Behrendorff, Tye, Dixon and few other youngsters. They will look to focus and train these guys to become premier paceman.
Mark
Guest
I like the look of Peter George from South Australia. Plus what is the status of Michael Hogan and Steve Magoffin? Took 67 and 65 wickets respectively in the County season just completed. I think Magoffin might live in the UK now, but is Hogan available for WA this season?
davros
Guest
alli mcdermot. ?..oh really ? I think he will struggle to get a gig for QLD...... go check out his stats /returns and have a good think about what you write...but then as you quite rightly point out his dad is back in the mix as coach...so maybe youre right
Magic
Guest
I love how you mentioned First Class destroyers like Jason Behrendorff and Trent Copeland yet couldnt bother to add in Jackson Bird, who could potentially be one of our best. McDermott is no where near the Australian Camp for that matter, even if he did get a gig his slow pacers would be tonked around the ground. Faulkners essentially ruled out Butterworth ever coming into contention and it's becoming increasingly obvious Ben Cuttings chance has passed, now that McKay is being looked at ahead of him. Coulter-Niles my smokey for the first two Tests until Pattos fit. Not my choice by a long margin and a bit of a hack but he offers the pace over Hilf/Sayers. I think Harris might come to a bit more than "in contention" for the Ashes. Debatably only Steyn is better than a fully for Rhino. First picked after Clarke any day.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
While there certainly is depth in Australian fast bowling, there needs to be as few of them are on the park at any given time. The quality is also perhaps not as good as it appears. We know that batting stocks are low in this country right now. There isn't even a Test-worthy top six, much less a good Test top six. If the best six aren't very good, the next tier in the Shield aren't going to be world beaters either, which helps make bowlers look good. There is depth and quality there, but not as good or as deep as sometimes appears to be the case.
Nicko
Guest
I think saying Pattinson could be the next Mitchel Johnson is not a compliment.