Roar Rookie
Joined March 2009
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Much has been written about Australia's bowling lineup, however it's Australia's top-order batting that needs a major overhaul, and it's needed now. I understand…
If a cricketer has a lean run at 23, he’s impatient and inexperienced. If a cricketer has that same lean run at 33, he’s…
I’d actually like to name my top 5 Aussie quicks. 3 just seems unfulfilling 😉
(1) Dennis Lillee – Perfect blend of speed, accuracy, intimidation and a great ‘bowling brain’. The quintessential Fast bowler, hard to think that anyone could be better.
(2) Glenn McGrath – Unbelievable accuracy and bounce. Could make the ball talk via late reverse swing or perfect seem bowling. Hit the right areas more than anyone.
(3) Ray Lindwall – Arguably the most perfect fast bowler’s action. The cricket makers must’ve had him in mind when they invented bowling. Fiercely fast, aggressive and very thoughtful. A very good batter aswell.
(4) Jason Gillespie – If Lillee and McGrath had a lovechild – it’d be Dizzy Gillespie. The perfect blend of aggression, searing pace, intimidation mixed with bouncy, accurate and often unplayable deliveries. He got the best of both those two in just a slightly smaller measure.
(5) Bruce Reid – Cut down in his prime with injuries, he could’ve been anything if his fragile frame held up. Bouncy, sharp accurate left arm bowling, he often knew exactly where to put the ball to draw the outside edge – it seemed like the batsmen were powerless to stop it.
Picking Australia's Top Three quickies after 1950
It’s a bit of a conundrum. I’ve had the privilege of keeping to Mitch for a couple of seasons in my younger days and he used to be able to swing the ball fiercely at great pace. There was the odd sprayed ball, but you get that at 1st grade country cricket level. Can’t quite understand why he’s lost the swing and probably sprays the ball more now than he ever did.
I actually think he needs to do what Damien Flemming did: Flem made a major change that boosted his test career by shortening his run-up considerably which put less emphasis on his rhythm and more concentration on pumping power into ‘the lock-up at the crease’….which will actually help his rhythm (funnily enough). It all comes down to what type of bowler you are. Brett Lee is always going to benefit from a long rhythmical run-up, if he shortened his, then i reckon he’d just become slow and ripe for the picking.
Whereas with Mitch – In my opinion shortening the run-up further (not a long one to start with) will also help his swing because innevitably arm position and wrist position will be pulled into line when focusing on the action area rather than getting through the crease rhythmically. This will drop him down to a 135km/hr – 145km/hr bowler who can swing it more, cut the ball at differing paces especially on Indian decks where he actually bowls his best.
This flies in the face of conventional fast bowling techniques, but Mitch is not your conventional fast bowler. He could really focus on being a brilliant number 3 behind Dougy and Hilfy and form a long-term trio that will no doubt get better and really help the Aussies get back to being the powerhouse of Test cricket.
Johnson needs some help to get back to form