The number one Test bowler Vernon Philander would not have got a game for Australia under Darren Lehmann based on the Aussie coach’s comments this week.
Lehmann revealed that the ability to bowl sharply was now non-negotiable when the Australian selectors considered prospective Test pacemen.
Explaining why former Test player Doug Bollinger and West Australian tearaway Nathan Coulter-Nile had been the favoured pace backups this summer, he said their speed had been the deciding factor.
“That’s a really big area for us in our bowling attack – you need to have speed against players these days,” Lehmann said.
“Gone are the days when you can bowl 125kmh. You need to be 140 if you possibly can. Speed’s a really big issue…we’re looking for blokes who bowl with some pace.”
Given South African Philander bowls closer to 125kmh than 140kmh it is fair to assume Lehmann probably wouldn’t have supported him being picked for a Test debut were he an Aussie.
Lehmann’s comments also suggest the likes of Chadd Sayers and Trent Copeland are unlikely to play Tests for Australia while he is coach.
In February, Lehmann’s side will have to face up to Philander on his favourite ground, Newlands in Cape Town.
Earlier, this year, Philander took 5-7 as he ripped the heart out of New Zealand at that venue.
His average speed across those five wicket-taking deliveries was only 129kmh.
His pace was similar when he scythed through Australia on Test debut just over two years ago at the same ground.
Philander snared 5-15 as Australia were rolled for a humiliating total of 47 in their second innings.
While Lehmann’s statements would have pleased sharp young bowlers like Coulter-Nile and Josh Hazlewood, they must have been horribly disheartening for players like Sayers and Copeland.
Since the start of last summer, Sayers has been comfortably the best-performed bowler outside the Test side, with 81 first-class wickets at an average of 20 for South Australia and Australia A.
What makes that record even more impressive is that he is based on the country’s most batsman-friendly pitch, Adelaide Oval.
Like Philander, he bowls at about 130kmh and defeats batsmen with a canny blend of swing, movement off the pitch and a ruthlessly consistent line and length.
Copeland, meanwhile, is 5kmh slower still and has been completely forgotten since making a solid but unspectacular entry to Test cricket on benign decks in Sri Lanka in August 2011.
No fewer than ten pacemen have been picked ahead of him since – Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, John Hastings, Jackson Bird and James Faulkner.
Undoubtedly, the pace and menace of Mitchell Johnson has played a gigantic role in Australia’s trouncing of England this summer.
It is understandable that Lehmann and the Australian selectors would be attracted to budding bowlers who can intimidate batsman with their speed.
But Peter Siddle continues to be a hugely valuable member of the Test side despite now bowling largely in the 130-135kmh range.
Are the selectors wrong then to do as Lehmann is suggesting and discount any prospective Test pacemen who cannot nudge the speed gun up towards 140kmh?
Could Australia miss out on a Philander-like gem due to this addiction to speed?
DMC
Guest
haha, the speed gun was on speed obviously. That ball took an age to arrive.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Its not the pace a bowler bowls their average delivery if they can;t bowl above 130 the batsman will start playing well out of their crease, if they can bowl one a bit quicker then the batsman will be wary of that. Steve Waugh did well enough times as just a medium pacer when he was physically hampered from bowling faster.
Daniel Hackett
Roar Rookie
Yes early on he bowled quick, but throughout the bulk of his career for Australia which was after he came back from the collision with S Waugh (00-06) he mostly bowled at 135-145 km which as I mentioned complimented the our attack perfectly
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I disagree Ronan, I think Siddle has plenty to worry about. The immediate picking of Pattinson in the 1 day side to me shows there hand already. He will be ont the plane to South Africa. Once Pattinson gets back in form, he's a walk up start in the Test team.... Who gives way? Harris? If fit is a shoe in....Johnson? Well take him out of the team at your peril at the moment..... So who does that leave?
Brendon
Guest
Uh, here we go. T20 sux blah blah blah blah. Have you been paying attention to cricket in the past few years? The team with the higher scoring rate usually wins. England has been much more defensive this series. Where has it got them? Lawry's and Boycott's records are inferior to Hayden's individually and team wise. When did anyone ever win a test match by blocking every ball? Also, tell me did the Don score faster or slower than his peers? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't slower.
ak
Roar Guru
It is very true. It does not mean that a 130 kmh bowler stands no chance but his chances to succeed are less. Philander is an exception. It would require better skills on other aspects of pace bowling. It is therefore a handicap. Even for Philander, if he can bowl fast he will be more dangerous. Hence Marshall was the best. He had both. Pace and swing.
Tatah
Guest
It's a really interesting statement from D Lehmann, as much for what he didn't say as well. He must be assuming that in bowling at 140+ km/h, the bowler is also capable of bowling to a game plan, putting the ball where he and the team want it. Ideally they would also be able to either swing the ball, move it off the seam, get good bounce etc. I don't think he's saying he'd prefer a 140 km/h who does nothing with the ball and is all over the place, to a 135 km/h who swings, seams and bowls to a plan. I guess he's saying these days the expectation is that he'll have a stable of guys bowling 140+ who are test quality bowlers in all other aspects as well.
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
If sayers's showing similar skills to philander,he would be a handful in Saf.
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
I think even in the past very few have been real good test bowlers at 125..angus fraser maybe one,ian botham or kapil dev bowled that pace(in their later years) with much less effect.i don't think the madan lals,pringles or sneddens would've made it to test cricket now.
ABAtgm
Guest
piers morgan:Just met Ian Chappell for 1st time. 'Hi, Mr Chappell, I'm Piers Morgan,' I said. 'Nah mate, you're a dickhead,' he replied. Meeting over!
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
125 is a bit too slow..but 130-135 can be enough for someone to be a real success in test cricket,provided he's the consistency and skills of a mcgrath or philander.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'm with JGK, I think McGrath would have been just as effective if not moreso now given the lack of patience many batsman show.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Hopefully Johnson and Starc at 23 years old are almost fully matured in their bodies now and will start being a lot more durable.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Yadav is a seriously quick bowler when on song. This ball was 152kmh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF1UKbrPuaM
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Fair enough. There's no doubt that pace is an advantage. But when a guy like Sayers, for example, can return such great figures while playing half his games on Australia's deadest wicket then his pace shouldn't rule him out.
Jake
Guest
Pretty sure Morkel recorded a 170km ball too in a IPL game too.
ABAtgm
Guest
thommo,my alltym fav. Bowler bowled 170+ and he has probably injured more batsman than anyone else. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4cukAdBEpMs&guid=&client=mv-google&gl=IN&hl=en-GB a video showing thompsons exploits
ABAtgm
Guest
johnson has hardly picked wickets with the ist new ball so patto can be adjusted in the lineup inplace of siddle
IndianCricketFan
Guest
i think i should stay away from discussions regarding bowlers bowling 140+....I hope Yadav regains his pace and starts bowling well again.
JGK
Roar Guru
FMD, McGrath only retired 7 years ago. It was hardly a different era. If anything, the T20 generation would have played into his hands in Test cricket given the general absence of sustained defence from modern batsmen.