Australia’s fast bowling stocks are suddenly looking a lot deeper ahead of the Ashes, thanks to the successful returns from injury of pace stars James Pattinson, Pat Cummins and Jason Behrendorff.
Cummins yesterday completed a scorching comeback in his first Shield game in six years, grabbing match figures of 8-104 to go with a crucial knock of 42.
Meanwhile, Behrendorff has been even more impressive since he returned from a fractured leg, snaring 17 wickets in two games (at the time of writing) to give him incredible season figures of 31 wickets at 16.
Then there’s former Test firebrand Pattinson, who has bowled with serious heat since rejoining Shield ranks last month. The 26-year-old has taken ten wickets at 25 for Victoria, with his sizzling strike rate of 38 underlining the fact he remains the most natural of strike bowlers.
When Australia last toured India, four years ago, Pattinson was the most exciting young fast bowler in the world, ripping into Test line-ups at speeds up to 153kmh. He’s missed so much cricket in the meantime it’s easy to forget he owns a better Test record than Mitchell Starc, with 70 wickets at 26.
During the time Pattinson has been unable to bowl he has been honing his already impressive batting. His first step in returning to competitive cricket was playing in the Victorian grade competition, where he crashed 248 runs at an average of 62 for Dandenong in two-day cricket, including one century.
Pattinson hit an even more incredible ton for Dandenong in the T20 competition, hammering 137 from 64 balls against Ringwood.
That fine form has flowed over into the Shield, where in five knocks Pattinson’s made scores of 57, 39 and 29 amid a haul of 127 runs at 25. Of course, we witnessed Pattinson’s generous batting gifts during his stints for Australia as he averaged 27 with the blade in Tests.
Cummins, too, appears to have flourished with the willow during his extended absences from the bowling crease. He was a surprise batting star in the recent Big Bash League, smacking 134 runs at 33 in six matches. Then, in Cummins’ last two ODI knocks for Australia, he made 36 and 27 in the matches against New Zealand last month.
The 23-year-old has only batted 13 times in first-class cricket, so it’s a small sample size, but in that time he’s averaged 31 with the bat and has a highest score of 82*.
Why, you might ask, am I devoting so many words to the batting of Pattinson and Cummins? It’s because their ability with the blade could pave the way for a seriously attacking strategy for Australia in the upcoming Ashes.
With Test bowlers Starc and Steve O’Keefe averaging 24 and 28 with the bat respectively in first-class cricket, Australia would have the option of fielding four specialist bowlers who are also very handy with the bat. Add in Josh Hazlewood at 11 and you have one of the most intimidating Test attacks Australia have ever fielded.
The catch would be that the wicketkeeper, whoever that is, would need to move up to six, with one of Pattinson or Starc batting at seven. A combination of say, Peter Nevill and Starc at six and seven, would be no weaker than the pairing of Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade that Australia have been using.
Of course, this is all theoretical and the first task for the injury-prone pair of Pattinson and Cummins is to stay fit until next summer. The signs are good so far though, particularly in regards to Cummins, who has managed this summer to remain healthy through 25 limited-overs matches and now one first-class match, in which he sent down a hefty 36 overs.
Imagine the spectacle of Starc, Hazlewood, Pattinson and Cummins tearing into the English batsman on a rock-hard Gabba pitch in the first Ashes Test this November. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of daydreaming.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
It would be nice if the groundsmen around the country prepared wickets that suited that dream bowling lineup. But I'm tipping they'll be batting paradises.
Satz S
Guest
I had long identified the foursome trio of Hazelwood,Pattinson,Cummins and Starc as a lethal threat in the future...depending on vagaries of "whether potential is converted into long term results" Infact i would have loved to see them in the current series.It would have reminded the 1983 tour of india by west indies. At that time we were not expected to buy a match with no potent spinners in sight and lack of depth in batting as well. Since two of the guys are making comebacks from injury,a more exciting contest has been potentially deprived. for one it would prevent the stupid idea of five bowlers! Hope for a sporting pitch finally.
Bakkies
Guest
Bat sizes are changing
shubham sharma
Guest
india are beating south africa this year in test series ,watch out
Ken
Guest
Always hate the idea of a keeper at 6, Just never looks balanced.
Ozibatla
Guest
I want to see Sayers get a crack at test level so we can once and for all guage whether he will cut the mustard at the top. I cant help but think that if this were to happen he could be put on the scrap heap like many of the other one test wonders if his debut went pear shaped. Just ask Mennie, George, Mcgain, Cullen, McKay etc
Nudge
Guest
Highly highly unlikely though Ronan. It's going to be that exciting if we do have them all up and firing next summer. Rotating those 4 guys over 5 tests would make it pretty difficult for the poms
davSA
Guest
Looks like an awesome attack Ronan . I will also dream of a fully fit Proteas attack of Rabada , Steyn , Morkel and Philander bowling at India at the Wanderers. I will take 5 days leave from work but wont need them all.
Sedivkaite
Guest
Sooner or later Chadd Sayers will need to be blooded for the Ashes series in England, we need a swing bowler for their conditions
George
Guest
Lehmann loves sloggers and pace. Horses for courses... but not if you're Warner.
George
Guest
That NCN has played any internationals is undeserved.
George
Guest
But there are/were other options. Yet Boof reverts to type and goes for intimidation.
ak
Roar Guru
I think spinning tracks will also aid Australia. Lyon and O'Keefe are much better than Ali, Rashid and the other English spinners.
Don Freo
Guest
And Bancroft. It secured a Shield final for the Vics, though.
Don Freo
Guest
This is the "favourite" with selectors...the same "favourite"...that the selectors have NEVER EVER picked (not even for one test) to play a test for Australia? Hmmm!
lara
Guest
The west indies used the 4pace pronged attack formula and dominated for 15years,that is before shane warne turned up and changed the public opinion about pace..But still,before the windies it really was dk lillee and thompson that gave fear in the cricket circles,pace not spin.warne and murali were jus freaks who happened to come into play in the 90s...Johnson reminded us in 2013/2014 what pace means and before ashwin and jadeja's rise in rankings,it was steyn who topped the rankings i think for 5 or so years...So now ur shiefield shield produces enuff stocks for you guys to give everybody a chance and eliminate this whole interstate politics about NSW boys getting gigs ahead of everybody...i mean if you really were to employ the 4 pronged pace attack formula what are the local stocks like?..You have hazlwood starc cummins and patto,who can all operate as the leaders of ur attack (that is if either of them are down thru injury).Then the support quicks can be bird,sayers,dorf ,tremain ,george,stanlake,mennie cutting,paris jus to mention a few who could all get gigs at test level...remember tht even with the windies of the 90s it was only ambrose and walsh who were the key bowlers with the others only coming in as side kicks....So there u have it 4 pronged pace attack with variety everybody gets a gig lyon and okeefe come in when conditions favour spin...
David a Pom
Guest
Not worried. Australia will doctor their pitches to be flat, as usual, negating the pace threat. Besides, England's pacemen are at least equal to Australia's in skill; while England's batting is far superior (world's best opener, batsman and keeper-batsman).
Worlds Biggest
Guest
A tantalising prospect having those 4 quicks in the same lineup. We have all been wanting to see that for some time. If that is the selectors thinking then the pitches must be prepared accordingly. For the last two, three years the pitches have generally been batting roads. The other question is the obvious fitness of Cummo and Patto. Both such talents however made of glass. IF and big if they are fit for the Ashes then you go with them. Starcy can bat at 7 and batting good enough to be pushing for alrounder. The other guys all handy with the bat too.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"I’m just simply stating that Australia is denying swing bowlers a chance to get a baggy green as thy don’t bowl 145km+" Welcome to the party: http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/11/08/lehmanns-140kmh-rule-cruels-sayers/
Basil
Guest
I agree. Variety is the key. Cover all bases as weather and pitch conditions can change throughout a 5 day match. I really don't want to see us try and blast England out at say, Trent Bridge while the English bowlers keep nicking our edges with 130kph swingers while Sayers is back at home working in a box factory (or whatever he does for work).