The Australian cricket team has always been known for their tough and uncompromising attitude, particularly when it comes to pace bowling
In recent years, there have been a number of pace attacks that have toured Australia and tried to take on the might of the Australian team, and while some have succeeded, others have faltered under the pressure.
It’s very easy to write about the best pace attack to ever tour Australia. That would either be the West Indian pace attack of 1979/80 with Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft or the 1984/85 version of Malcolm Marshall, Garner, Holding and Courtney Walsh.
When I saw the South Africa pace attack at work at the Gabba, with the ball zipping around and Anrich Nortje paying homage to the 1970s macho pace era, I wondered who would be the best pace attack to tour Australia post the prime of the West Indies.
Their last two great bowlers were Walsh and Curtly Ambrose and they retired around the year 2000. So who is the best pace attack to tour Australia post the year 2000?
One pace attack that stands out as one of the best to tour Australia post-2000 is the South African pace attack of 2007-2008. Led by the formidable Dale Steyn, this pace attack also included the likes of Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel, and Andre Nel.
Steyn was in the form of his life at the time, having just been named the ICC Test Player of the Year, and he proved to be a handful for the Australian batsmen. His pace, swing, and accuracy made him one of the most feared bowlers in the world, and he consistently troubled the Australian batsmen with his consistent line and length.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Ntini, meanwhile, was a veteran of the game and brought a wealth of experience to the attack. His ability to reverse swing the ball made him a formidable opponent, and he was able to chip away at the Australian batsmen with his tight line and length.
Morkel, with his tall and gangly frame, was also a handful for the Australian batsmen. His ability to generate bounce and seam movement made him a difficult bowler to face, and he was able to cause problems for the Australian top order with his accuracy and persistence.
Finally, there was Andre Nel, the enforcer of the attack. With his short fuse and aggressive style of bowling, Nel was able to unsettle the Australian batsmen with his pace and hostility.
Together, this pace attack was a formidable force, and they proved to be a thorn in the side of the Australian team throughout their tour. In the end, they were able to claim a memorable series win, defeating Australia 2-1 in the three-match Test series.
Another pace attack that deserves mention is the English pace attack of 2010-2011. Led by the mercurial James Anderson, this pace attack also included the likes of Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett, and Tim Bresnan.
Anderson was in the form of his life at the time, having just been named the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, and he proved to be a handful for the Australian batsmen. His swing and seam movement made him a difficult bowler to face, and he consistently troubled the Australian top order with his accuracy and control.
Broad, meanwhile, was a talented all-rounder who brought a balanced approach to the attack. With his ability to swing the ball both ways, he was able to cause problems for the Australian batsmen with his variations and control.
Tremlett, with his tall and imposing frame, was also a handful for the Australian batsmen. His ability to generate bounce and seam movement made him a difficult bowler to face, and he was able to cause problems for the Australian top order with his accuracy and persistence.
Finally, there was Bresnan, the workhorse of the attack. With his consistent line and length, Bresnan was able to build pressure on the Australian batsmen and pick up important wickets when needed.
Together, this pace attack was a formidable force, and they proved to be a thorn in the side of the Australian team throughout their tour. In the end, they were able to claim a memorable series win, defeating Australia 3-1 in the five-match Test series.
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