New Zealand’s aggressive left-arm bowler Neil Wagner has had a memorable 2019.
At the time of writing, he’s taken 40 wickets this year inside of six Tests. But it’s the other numbers around his bowling that show just how effective he has really been.
His wickets have come cheap, at an average of 18 with an economy rate of 2.8 runs an over. Plus, he boasts an astounding strike rate, picking up a wicket every 38 balls. It’s no wonder he has risen to number three in the ICC Test bowling rankings.
But at what cost? While many commentators praise his unbelievable work ethic and incredible fitness levels, I would say that there is a lot to dislike about Wagner’s bowling. I believe his focus on short-pitched bowling aimed at the body and head is negative, cynical and at times just plain dangerous.
Cricket analysis website Cricviz recently took a closer look at Wagner’s bowling in the Perth Test. According to their numbers, the 33-year-old bowled 193 short balls in that match, more than any bowler has managed in a Test in Australia since records began.
In his final spell on day four, 86 per cent of his deliveries were short-pitched. Since 2016 he has taken more wickets bowling short (75) than any other bowler worldwide.
Why is that a problem? Well, due to the way a batsman naturally stands side-on at the crease, short deliveries – especially those aimed at the body or down leg-side – can really only be played into the area that the ball is already heading. What’s more, controlling them is difficult.
This means bowling in this zone has the potential to completely control how a team scores its runs.
Watching Wagner slam endless bouncers into the MCG pitch as Steve Smith remained reluctant to play the hook or pull, gave me a sense of the strangling effect of Bodyline all those years ago. Sure, it was accurate bowling from Wagner, landing his bouncers on a 20-cent piece, but it was very negative.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
At various stages on the first two days in Melbourne, Wagner bowled with a notable field – a short leg, a short gully, a fine leg on the fence and deep square leg. As a consequence, Australia’s scoring rate at times slowed to a crawl as batsmen refused to play uncontrolled shots straight at fielders.
But it’s all within the rules – just. While the MCC laws of the game are pretty vague about short-pitched bowling, the ICC Test Match Playing Conditions leave much less to chance.
These are the conditions that set the “two bouncers an over” rule that exists in Test cricket, which applies to deliveries passing the batsmen between shoulder and head high. According to that condition, only the third short-pitched ball in an over will be punished with a no-ball. Wagner appears to push the limit on this just about every over.
In paragraph 22.1, the Test-playing conditions also create special parametres around calling a wide for negative bowling, although we seldom see this enforced by umpires. Pat Cummins was penalised for bowling a leg-side bouncer to stop the run flow in last year’s Boxing Day Test against India, and was duly wided by umpire Marais Erasmus, but it hasn’t happened to Wagner yet.
Australia’s batting coach Graham Hick has already queried whether this should be looked at more closely.
Then there is the danger element to Wagner’s bowling. While not express, his short-pitched bowling is seriously accurate. His low release point also means his deliveries don’t fly over the batsmen’s head, rising instead into a danger zone between the ribs and the eyes.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
While dangerous short-pitched bowling is enough to rule a bowler out of a match according to the MCC laws, the umpire has to consider the batsman’s relative skill to determine whether it will really injure them. Only then can it be considered dangerous.
But no Australian batsman is really a batting bunny these days, so when does this law now apply? It’s pretty subjective, and the umpires need to stay on it. After a barrage of bouncers to tailenders in the last Ashes series – from both teams – it would seem that this isn’t being policed much at all at the moment at Test level.
While New Zealand is regularly praised for its sportsmanship and good spirit, no cricketer on the international scene is naive these days. Professionalism has seen to that.
Let’s hope the Kiwis’ excellent reputation isn’t allowing them any freebies on the short-pitched bowling front.
After all, you can have all the rules and regulations in the world, but if they are not enforced then they are pretty useless.
jameswm
Roar Guru
That’s negative too. Unless the batsman is questioning whether or not to play.
Wes P
Roar Rookie
That's a bit harsh. Yet I noticed comments "he's got another bouncer yet in that left arm', Fleming. I think he's been heroic. Don't forget all their plans with the ball went up in smoke when Ferguson went down on day 2?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Marnus was 10 when he migrated. He probably learnt a fair bit of his skill here. Half-Tracker Wagner was 22 when he migrated after already being 12th man for the Saffers (twice)! A bit different me thinks?
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Wagner’s bowling tactics are about as frightening as New Zealand’s once vaunted batting line-up. Ie. nigh on bloody hopeless.
Jacko
Guest
I agree with all you wrote except the last paragraph.......A bouncer is above the shoulder and Wagner bowls at the chest...balls were hitting batsmen just above the hip and being called short bowling...
Jacko
Guest
Why is it more negative than ball after ball just outside off stump? negative bowling is bowling no one can hit not bowling that is a constant threat to a batsmans wicket.
Jacko
Guest
Andre you havnt pointed out both sides tho have you.....You have pointed out your side only.....I think bowling at 140 k plus is far more dangerous than a 125k ball at chest height so maybe we should introduce a speed limit so no one gets hurt ( a joke )...Wasnt Boult the only person hurt in this test? Was it from chest height balls at 125k? I think you are over reacting to totally legal bowling just because its successful. Glen McGrath bowled in the one spot all day and had fields set for his accuracy and I see no reason why Wagner cant do exactly the same thing. I have enjoyed watching him bowl and will pay money just to see the way Smith and co have firstly struggled, then overcome the challenge. Test cricket needs more differences rather than seeing the same thing all the time and Wagner has brought something different to the game. I say lets encourage it rather than knock it down
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
I agree that it would be boring if every bowler in the game did it but in Wagner’s case, as I stated, he’s doing the best he can with what he’s got (successfully too) and at the same time, batsmen who can play the short ball well and in an attacking manner, would feast on what he delivers and that Matt would not be dull. :happy: :happy:
DTM
Guest
Let's be honest, Starc's bowling to Boult is far more dangerous than Wagner's bowling to any Australian batsmen. So the safety argument holds no water unless is it applied across the board. As for the tactics, Wagner is simply complimenting Southee (who bowls fuller and yet still has a similar strike rate in this series). Unfortunately for NZ, Boult and Ferguson have had little impact. Of the Australian pace bowlers, only Cummins (51.5) has a poorer strike rate than Wagner's (49.4) - Pattinson (27.0) and Starc (32.6) are vastly superior. Bottom line is, he's bowling within the rules and getting a larger share of the wickets mainly because his team mates haven't been effective (except Southee). Nobody has been hurt by Wagner's bowling and his team are not gaining any unfair advantage (as is evidenced by the results). As for the argument about negative and unattractive cricket, that is merely in the eye of the beholder. If Gordon Greenidge and Des Haynes were batting in their prime, it would be very exciting and I'm sure Wagner's average (and economy rate) would be much higher!
Linphoma
Guest
Hate to say it but it'll take someone getting hit and seriously hurt before there's another bout of reflection on short-pitched fast bowling.
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
My previous question to you was meant to point out that “playing within the rules” isn’t the best defence given the history of the sport. Bodyline, underarm and unlimited bouncers in the 1970/80’s were within the rules as well but didn’t make them right. I’m not comparing him to anything/anyone either, it’s box office TV and I love seeing it now and again, just don’t want it to become the new normal and have every team start doing it. The stat in the Aussie first innings was something like only 7% of NZ bowlers deliveries were hitting the stumps...that’s just silly imo and will become boring if overdone, especially if teams keep scoring 400+ against it like Australia are.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
Interesting read. I do think the narrative around this would be pretty different if for instance it was an Aussie bowler utilising a similar tactic - I think the kiwis sometimes get a bit extra slack on this type of thing (cough all blacks cough). Hopefully Smith can find a way to get on top of it literally/figuratively.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Apart from the reality that every substantial stat walks with me. Two tests in a row, the Aussies won with over a day to spare. Your boy bowled more overs than everybody. Why? Because he had Aussie batsman available to bowl to. The Aussie bowlers ran out of batsmen to bowl to.
David
Guest
Your appetite for trying to win the unwinnable argument on this site has provided much hilarity over the years. It reminds me of that scene from Monty Python where John Cleese in a sword fight, missing both arms and legs, screams hysterically at his opponent to come back and "fight like man".
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It doesn't have to be lustrous. It's enough to be right. When he can threaten the Aussie side, you then have an argument. The rest of the side let NZ down.
Tony H
Roar Pro
The prosecution is lacklustre to say the least He's not helping his team by taking the most wickets, at the best strike rate, and best average? I think you'll find that the rest of the team is letting HIM down.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
Well he's been doing it for awhile and they haven't banned it so I'd reckon you're wrong drawing that comparison.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I no longer like him. But Marnus is alright. :happy:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Wagner is actually a South African export to NZ.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Wagner also has no pace. He'll impress me more when he goes through an Aussie side.