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?
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.
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.
Opportunity can come in all forms – and it’s up to players to grab these chances when they are afforded.
Jason Gillespie
Guest
Having only just got back to Oz after being in the UK for 5 years I'm not best informed to comment on those lads at the moment. Have only really seen Billy (who is a Striker) I am looking forward to observing these bowlers in action this summer and will be in a better position to offer my thoughts pal. Cheers, Dizzy
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I would be more inclined to have Dizzy as Head coach and Rhino as bowling coach Lehman is a great gaffer in conditions that suit but he is the king of talk in foreign confines as underlined by the exact same issues existing in the SL tour that existed in the Pakistan tour 2 years previous. Frustratingly with the exact same response and lack of action in the gap between the tours from Lehman Gillespie would never talk, instead, like he proved at Yorkshire he would do and insist on others being proactive as well. If they failed to follow his lead he would more than willingly usher them to the exit door
Baggy_Green
Guest
Very important topic that you bring up here with your article Dizzy .. great to see you on Roar. Congrats on all the fantastic things you achieved with Yorkshire Dizzy and Rhino were my choices in that order for the Aussie bowling coach spot but ... alas !!! Lot already written about the prospects - think Starc , Haz , Cummins and Patto are going to be an explosive group !!! They are the top rankers :) currently in Aussie cricket. Currently i see only Bird , Behrendorff , Paris and Tremain as the top class bowlers who can come in to the test side - maybe after a solid Shield season or two (Except Bird) But Dizz I would like your opinion on some of the up and comers - Billy Stanlake , Jhye Richardson , David Moody , Tom Odonell and David Grant .
Paul D
Roar Guru
Very! Let's hope he's not our Andy Ganteaume
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
No, thank you Jason You were one of the old style Aussie type players that would bleed for the Baggy Green, very like icons like Wally Grout, AB and Steve Waugh. You played through duress and pain and always excelled in giving your all. Witnessing your patriotism and pride was inspirational and a few of the ones in the team now that often meekly surrender when challenged would be well served to buy into the fight/grit/resolve that goes with the honour and privilege
Rellum
Roar Guru
It happens in the Shield though, all the time. I would love to know how the ex international bowlers think about this over number restriction. Whether in their minds it is helping deal with the different loads of the modern game. Anecdotal evidence would suggest things are as bad as they have ever been.
Jason Gillespie
Guest
Managing seamers has always happened- terminology has changed. "Workload management" is the current buzz term. I remember being rested from certain fixtures during my career. I don't think I would have liked to have been told I can only play 1/2 a first class game. That and being told how many overs one can bowl in a match should be left to non first class fixtures (i.e. 2nd X1 games)
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
It seems 24 is the magic number for fast bowlers, which is about the time their skeleton has stopped growing and they're physically a lot more robust and less prone to injuries.
Rats
Guest
Australia is still strong favourites for champions trophy. This is just a one-off result. Aussies are amazingly consistent in ODI format, home and away. Mainly because they most of the days play smart odi cricket. I don't recall when was the last time Aussies lost a ODI series before this one. They will almost all of them.
Don Freo
Guest
Hi Tom I was thinking the same thing myself.
Tom from Perth
Guest
You mustn't like cricket very much if you'd be prepared to boycott it just because a mediocre player gets selected... ?
Tom from Perth
Guest
That is a very good question I'd also like to hear the answer to.
Nudge
Guest
Up the eagles Loza
Don Freo
Guest
Oh Cunning One...Bird in that group? I agree with almost everything you say...but not that. I'd love to see Jason do an article on the young blokes...Paris, Stanlake, Moody...the next tier.
Don Freo
Guest
Good strike rate, though.
Don Freo
Guest
Cummins is head and shoulders above everyone in the Matador. Get him in the green and gold everytime he is not in a wheelchair. We must stop "resting" or "managing" bowlers when they are good to go. It doesn't work. Let them get match fitness by....wait for it...playing matches. Starc, Cummins and The Dorf straight in to support Hazle. Were you happy to be "managed", Dizzy?
Lawrie Colliver
Guest
Sadly, Paris is injured again. He did play two ODIs against India last summer, so has represented Australia
ES
Guest
Perhaps, but it's nice to see nuanced assessment of their strengths and weaknesses (as opposed to 'can bowl 140kph+', or 'too expensive'). Gives a bit of insight into how a good coach might give clear directions on where a player needs to improve and not just 'go and score a heap on runs/take a heap of wickets in the Shield'.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Easy Nudge, I've accepted I'm wrong, didn't know it was "once again" - feel free to pull me up whenever I'm also wrong...
The Bush
Roar Guru
Fair enough, gotta admit when you're wrong! Here's to hoping we get 70 tests out of the kid!