Australia aren’t the only side with an eye on the Ashes and like the Aussies, England have plenty of young bowling talent.
Let’s take a look at a few of the names you may become familiar with throughout the English summer.
Age-25
Right Arm Fast-Medium
First Class Record-70 Matches, 279 Wickets at 23.96, Best Bowling 7/41
What does he do?
Followers of County cricket will have seen Porter’s name at the top of the wicket taking charts over the past few seasons. A right arm seamer who operates in the low 130s, Porter has proven himself tremendously effective in helpful conditions.
A relative lack of success for the English Lions side has placed some question marks over his effectiveness away from home, but he bowls a straight line and if there is movement, he will exploit it.
Who is he like?
He is a classic English seamer, think Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and a bit of Vernon Philander.
Will he get a game?
Porter has been close to Test selection and was in the squad throughout the 2018 home summer, unfortunately for him it is difficult to see him playing while James Anderson is fit. If the English side do find themselves without their star man then Porter will be in the mix with the likes of Chris Woakes and Sam Curran for the swing bowling spot.
Age-24
Right Arm Fast
First Class Record-54 Matches, 130 Wickets at 33.22, Best Bowling 6/95
What does he do?
Unlike his nagging twin brother Craig, who Australian fans may remember from the 2017-18 series, this Overton bowls fast.
Unfortunately, a succession of injuries have limited Jamie’s appearances in recent years and he has talked about dropping his pace in search of a consistent run. That would be a shame, as the English test side has been shouting out for a genuine quick, and the presence of all-rounder Ben Stokes means that there is room for a shock bowler.
Overton is wayward and raw, however anyone who operates in the mid 140’s, from a height of 6 ft 5 has the potential to be destructive.
Who is he like?
He’s not a million miles away from a young Steve Harmison, Devon Malcolm, or Shane Harwood
Will he get a game?
Barring a fast start to the County season it is unlikely that we will see either Overton at the beginning of the Ashes, however if there is a series to chase don’t be surprised to see his name mentioned – if he is fit.
Jofra Archer
Age-24
Right Arm Fast
First Class Record-28 matches, 131 wickets at 23.44, best bowling of 7/67, 1406 runs at 31.34, highest score of 81*
What does he do?
Australian cricket fans will know Archer from the Big Bash and may more recently have heard his name mentioned as a potential selection in the upcoming English One Day side.
At County level, Archer is a fine swing bowler, who uses his extra pace and skidding bouncer to put batsmen on the backfoot.
He is also capable with the willow, although in an England side stacked with all-round talent, this is unlikely to play a significant role in any future selection.
Who is he like?
With his light frame and surprising pace, Archer can be compared to likes of Darren Gough and Kemar Roach.
Will he get a game?
It is uncertain how much red ball cricket the in demand Archer is going to play this English summer; however, a successful World Cup campaign would put him in the frame for selection.
Ben Coad-Yorkshire
The waspish fast-medium has dominated throughout the past two seasons, and with key bowlers leaving he will become a man for Yorkshire. A lack of speed appears likely to hold him back at this point.
Mason Crane-Hampshire
Remember him? The young leg spinner played the Sydney test in 2018 before succumbing to injury. He is surely no chance to play in the upcoming series, but is on the comeback path.
Cheers
Roar Rookie
Tom Curran is progressing nicely with the white ball, but has actually been overtaken by his brother Sam in the longer format, a very promising left arm swing bowling all rounder. There is certainly depth in the fast bowling department but boy does the batting have issues.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
There's reasonable depth there. Is Tom Curran still going ok? Archer looks handiest.
Cheers
Roar Rookie
I'd say he should be seen as a bowler first, his runs are a handy bonus. He could definitely pick up Anderson's spot following his eventual retirement and I think that he would do a good job; it just needs to happen soon for him though as he's hit 30. I am a Woakes fan and there is still a window for a few years of solid test cricket potentially available to him, but there are younger guys beginning to make a move.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Would you say that Woakes is seen more as an allrounder that an out and out bowler. What I'm getting at is Jimmy can't keep going forever. Is Woakes a genuine chance of taking up his role once Anderson finally puts his feet up or is he forever destined to be competing with Stokes for an allrounder spot.
Cheers
Roar Rookie
Woakes appears to be one of those guys who has missed out due to stiff competition for his role. Anderson, of course has dominated the medium-fast slot and Stokes has had an iron grip on the all-rounders role. He has such an incredible first class record that it would be a shame if he didn't get more opportunities.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Hi Joshua & Daniel. I thought Woakes had a great ODI series against us in 2017. It was the first time I’d seen him play and he was super impressive imo. He bowled with good pace, nice control and seemed to have the knack of picking up wickets at awkward times from our point of view. Then, just to cap things off, the bugger would come out and smash our bowlers all over the place. I remember thinking at time, damn it, this guy’s the real deal. I’m a bit surprised he hasn’t kicked on and really established himself in your test team as well as your 50 over side. .. Wood is an interesting sort of fast bowler. He doesn’t look particularly tall or strongly built. I’m not quite sure where he gets his pace from. I’m guessing he has a lot of arm speed rather than great strength through his core. I have noticed he’s a bit injury prone though.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
There was a big build up to the County Championship in the week but there’s not been much coverage of the opening weekend itself as it is one of the biggest sporting weekends of the year in the UK: Grand National, the Boat Race and the FA Cup semi-finals.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Anderson will definitely take most responsibility. Despite his underperformances in SL and WI, Broad still bowls reasonably well at home. I'm not sure if he will play any matches for Nottinghamshire this season to get some game time. I would like to see Wood and Woakes in, especially Wood as he bowled 94mph in the 3rd test in WI. Woakes might be picked for Edgbaston (his home ground).
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Yes, there is currently a massive problem with batting collapses, meaning that the middle order have to pick up the pieces. It is a nightmare trying to pick a good opening pair at the moment and has been ever since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm wondering whether Broad would be a first choice these days, Joshua? He was used only sparingly in Sri Lanka, perhaps because of the pitches, but played the two Tests in the West Indies without setting the world on fire. He was noticeably less effective than the WI quicks, so I wonder if other guys like Woods, Woakes, Curran, etc might not be passing him by? I think responsibility for taking most of the wickets will fall on Anderson and the pressure on him will be huge. The other guys will chip in as they've done in recent Test series but they're not in Anderson's class. The English attack will need to lift a gear if our guys bat sensibly and don't gift their wickets.
Cheers
Roar Rookie
It's a crazy schedule, it will be interesting to see what focus is placed on County cricket in the lead up and during the CWC. It could be an opportunity for younger players to really establish themselves, or it may get lost in the crowd.
Cheers
Roar Rookie
Ali has been on a good run, he's a lock for the first test if fit. Think that the batting is going to be the real issue for England, lots of 'talented', middle order players who need to do more and some holes up the top.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Normally, we could use the County Championship to look at who could be included in the test squad. However, due to the Cricket World Cup, from mid-April until the end of May, the Royal London One-Day Cup will take precedence so that 1) it’s out of the way before the CWC and 2) to prep players for it. Then, it’s the CWC from 30th May to 14th July, and the majority of England’s ODI squad play in the test squad as well (and are currently playing in the IPL). There will be some County Championship action during the CWC but it will be affected by the CWC. Then, the T20 Blast starts up in July, ready for the school holidays, and there’s the 4-day test against Ireland from 18th to 21st July, before the 1st Ashes Test gets underway at Edgbaston on 1st August. So, I doubt that there will be much focus on county cricket this season.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
If England do want to give some names a go, they could always use the 4 day test match against Ireland (July 18-21) at Lord's. However, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
In the 3rd test (I think) v Sri Lanka, 19 out of the 20 Sri Lankan wickets were taken by England's spinners (Ali, Leach, Rashid) so Ali is comfortable where the conditions suit spin. Ali only played in the last two test matches against India (and had to prove himself again in County Championship matches for Worcestershire). I think that the established duo of Broad and Anderson will take the vast majority of wickets.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Thanks Daniel. You've already answered any questions I might have had with the neat way you organised it. .. I'd just like to say I'm happy that Mason Crane is still plugging away. I thought he was thrown to the wolves down here but I guess it was worth a shot to see how he went, especially with our perceived weakness against spin. It didn't work that time but if he keeps at it you never know, he might come good and carve himself a very decent career. Cheers.
Neel
Roar Guru
Interesting article David. I was impressed with Overton but a guy who is tall and bowls express pace is likely to get injuries and that has been the case with Overton. If he is fit, then he could be someone the Poms may consider for the Ashes. He could be a real handful with the likes of Anderson, Broad and Sam Curran, who has a big future ahead of him.
Cheers
Roar Rookie
I suppose time will tell (if any of them get a run). I do think that a guy like Porter could be a real handful without being one to immediately set the pulse racing.
Cheers
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, there’s definitely a similarity between Caddick and Archer in the sliding delivery stride, but those guys are significantly taller. Young Roach got some sharp bounce?
JamesH
Roar Guru
Not trying to nitpick, but Archer is nothing like Gough and Roach. Those two bowl (bowled) a flatter, skiddier ball. Archer troubles batsmen with his sharp bounce. He's probably more like Caddick, Harmison or Finn.