Australia’s battery of young pacemen has been hyped for some time.
But, apart from some isolated standout performances from James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, this heady optimism has been prompted more by promise than results at Test level.
For various reasons, none had managed to make themselves foundations of the Australian attack.
AUSTRALIA vs WEST INDIES SCORECARD
When Australia crushed England 5-0 and then stunned South Africa 2-0 on the road, it was old timers Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle who led the charge.
Of that trio, the physically fragile Harris turns 36 this year, Johnson will be 33, while Siddle is only 30 but lost a huge amount of pace, and with it much of his potency, about two years ago.
It has seemed likely that none of that veteran trio would be in the Australian Test setup in two years’ time.
That changeover now, more than ever, looks like being a smooth one. It also could be fast tracked such has been the continued excellence of Hazlewood and the marked development of Starc across the two Tests in the West Indies.
Up to lunch last night in the second Test at Jamaica, that pair had combined for 22 wickets at an average of 11 in this series.
Hazlewood’s bowling has been of a consistent excellence that very few fast bowlers can achieve.
His spells have been notable as much for the scarcity of poor deliveries as for the glut of great ones.
His ceaseless accuracy and miserly economy should make him a perfect foil for the more dynamic, intimidating and unpredictable offerings of Starc, Pattinson and Cummins.
The tall, sturdy New South Welshman has looked leagues above the West Indies batsmen.
They have found no manner in which they can prevent him from building pressure.
Eventually, Hazlewood has either undone them with a jaffa or bored them into playing an ill-advised stroke.
Just before lunch last night, his figures for the series read: 54 overs, 26 maidens, 12 for 97.
They are the kind of numbers that the man he most commonly is compared to, Glenn McGrath, produced at his peak.
It is far too early to suggest that Hazlewood can go close to matching McGrath’s Test achievements.
But with 24 wickets at an average of 19 in Tests so far he scarcely could have done more to justify the comparisons with the Australian legend.
Starc, meanwhile, looks like he could challenge McGrath’s haul of 384 wickets in ODIs.
Until now, though, his bowling with the red ball has paled in comparison. One of the reasons for that surely must be the lack of continuity he has had in his Test career, having been dropped over and over again.
It must be said though that he hasn’t always inspired confidence with his bowling in Tests, often having proved wayward and expensive.
Prior to this series, Starc’s career economy rate was 3.4rpo which is far too high even for an out-and-out strike bowler.
There were signs though in the Tests against Pakistan last year and India in the summer that his radar had been re-calibrated for the better.
Over the past two Tests he has provided irrefutable evidence that this weakness has been addressed.
He has offered the batsmen far fewer release balls and, as a result, has been a far better partnership bowler for Australia.
In tandem with the frugal Hazlewood, he has flourished. In the second innings of this Test in Jamaica, Starc’s spell with the new ball was eight overs, four maidens, 3-11.
It probably was the best spell of his career. It most certainly was the most pinpoint.
Starc likely will never be as consistent as Hazlewood but he won’t need to be. As a pair, they have the potential to be remarkably effective.
And on this tour they have shown that potential is now translating into performance.
Bearfax
Guest
Or is this Australian side potentially one of the greats
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
I thought it was funny because england left the windies saying how they were better than people were giving them credit for. Then we just come in and prove that its just still england not as good as they say they are.
deccas
Guest
Its true, he is pretty poor on the pull shot to balls close to the body, but he tries to play it all the time. Thats the first plan I would be operating to if I was an opposition captain.
ColinP
Guest
But Ali, is a far bigger spinner of the ball, more of a wicket taking threat?
Joel
Roar Rookie
"Has always looked all at sea against the moving ball" Do you remember his hundred against New Zealand in Hobart? How about his hundreds against SA against Steyn bowling swing and reverse swing at 147km/h+? Hit and miss? Crazy talk. Personally I like his aggression. It puts pressure on the bowlers to bowl good balls every ball or get punished. India tried bowling rank wide balls at him hoping to get a mistake and all he did was belt them all day. If you are looking for a weakness with Warner it isn't the moving ball, it's the slightly shorter maybe stomach high ball that he either fends at or tries to play a dickie little pull shot and gets a leading edge.
CT
Guest
He is still hit and miss. Despite 12 tons and #47 av. Has always looked all at sea against the moving ball. Plenty of movement in English conditions. Marsh has put him on noticve. So Davey has decided to change his game. I liked the way he batted in the second innings of the last Windies test.Gone was the rash, see it and hit it Davey. Replaced by the new more patient Davey. He needs to take this new approach into the Ashes. I will be wanting him to be a success.
CT
Guest
That was a scream Jimmy from Adelaide. I just assumed you were based in England. Yes BJ boo booed big time. I posted what he said on my other cricket forum site and it was bleeped out. Bloody mods.
Bearfax
Guest
I think we need to see M.Marsh and Faulkner in context. Marsh is only 23, Faulkner 25, so one would expect Faulkner's averages to be better at this stage. Personally I think its a bit of a toss up because I suspect Marsh will be at least up to Faulkner's standard by the time he is 25. Its a question of who you want to blood for the long term.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
I agree completely on marsh he looks like he could be good but he really needs that breakout year be it in the shield or in tests. Faulkner is definitely "better suited to short format at this time" but you cant tell me you dont want to see him play tests. if faulkner keeps performing like he has started in county this season he could well leap frog marsh in the pecking order as i think marsh will spend most of the tour carrying drinks.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
Joel thats the point. You would be picking faulkner as a front line bowler and dropping the allrounder. Faulkner would bat at 7 and Nevill at 6. warner rogers soon to be Burns/the next best smith voges clarke nevill faulkner johnsohn harris soon to be Pattinson/cummins/hazlewood starc/hazlewood lyon 12th man M.Marsh That looks to be an extremely deep batting and bowling lineup to me. you would be relying on three bowlers averaging at least 25 but with Johnson, Faulkner, Starc, Hazlewood, Harris, Pattinson, Cummins that is realistic consider half of these guys already have averages around 30 in test cricket.
Lily
Guest
I totally agree with you. I absolutely LOVE Mitch Starc. And no matter how much I deny it, Hazlewood was still better than him in this series. But how did that happen? Mitch outperformed everyone in his team in the world cup but Hazelwood him this series?! Maybe he still needs some confidence with the red ball.
Rob JM
Guest
the last 6 test correspond with the start of the last australian test series. Hardly cherry picking in my books.
deccas
Guest
It'll be interesting to see how Johnson goes in England. He was down on pace in the windies, but it could have been a matter of saving himself due to unresponsive decks and a slightly different role (he was 1st change and not opening). He still bowled a couple in the mid to high 140s but was around the 140 to even high 130s mark a lot of the time. I hope he winds it up and terrorises the poms agian.
Trenno
Guest
Harris is definitely in. Hazlewood is a must. It is really now between Johnson and Starc. Johnson 2 years ago would have been straight in but lately he hasn't been as good. Starc has had a good series to back up his ODI form. Unless they opt for four quicks on what will be dry turning pitches then one of the Mitch's are out. It is hard to see Johnson not there for the first test, so I think it will be Starc, although by the end of the series it will be the other way round. First test: 1.Warner 2.Rogers 3.Smith 4.Clarke 5.Voges 6.Watson (he will somehow make it in, I would pick M.Marsh) 7.Haddin 8.Johnson 9.Harris 10.Hazlewood 11.Lyon; 12.Starc.
Jameswm
Guest
I just assumed no one from Melbourne would contemplate ditching the Boxing Day test
Jameswm
Guest
Lucky the selectors didn't follow that logic. The quicks took most of our wickets.
Jake
Guest
No reply Ronan?
JimmyB
Guest
Cheers mate. Adelaide actually.
ColinP
Guest
Just taken a hat trick for Lancashire. Aussies should play four bowlers and pick their best young batsmen at 6, potential. Surely someone better than burns worth a pubt
deccas
Guest
The only thing I can agree with is that the WICB will likely screw him over and he'll disappear to play t20. I don't know why you don't see anything, his defence is solid, his temperament truly sound. Saying a 23year old with a test hundred coming off an excellent innings against a world class attack is likely to be a pretty decent bat is ... safe.