Pommy journo: 'Worst Aussie attack in 20 years'

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27341419-23212,00.html?from=public_rss


Scyld Berry writes for London's Sunday Telegraph and is the much-respected editor of cricket bible Wisden.

So you can bet Ponting would have choked on his Cornflakes when he read the article.

"Though Australia have won the last two 50-over World Cups, they are going from strength to weakness because, while their batting retains much of its traditional power, their bowling is the worst it has been for more than 20 years," Berry wrote.

"Their pace resources are so reduced that Clint McKay, who would not stand out in an identity parade of New Zealand medium-pacers, opened the bowling at Cardiff with precious little to follow.

"Now that Nathan Hauritz has gone home ... Steve Smith will be their sole spinner, a 21-year-old batsman converting to leg-spin who has not played a Test but will have to play in their two Tests here against Pakistan next month because there is nobody else."

It's a far cry from Punter's pronouncements over the summer that we were building the most awesome attack in the world. At the time though it was pointed out here that he may have confused quantity with quality.

One hopes that by the summer the likes of Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle will strengthen it. Maybe Berry has overlooked the fact that there are a few injuries atm.

"Australia have won the last two 50-over World Cups," ....and the one before that as well

I'd like to read the original article ...I suspect Dorries has missed out half of it ...and that Red has missed half of what Dorries wrote

Seeing as for most of the last 20 years Oz had McWarne, and for a while immediately before that the far from feeble attack of McDermott's second coming and Merv Hughes, it seems to me that Unskilled Berry can be pulled up only for stating the obvious.

"Though Australia have won the last two 50-over World Cups, they are going from strength to weakness because, while their batting retains much of its traditional power, their bowling is the worst it has been for more than 20 years," Berry wrote.

"Their pace resources are so reduced that Clint McKay, who would not stand out in an identity parade of New Zealand medium-pacers, opened the bowling at Cardiff with precious little to follow.

"Now that Nathan Hauritz has gone home ... Steve Smith will be their sole spinner, a 21-year-old batsman converting to leg-spin who has not played a Test but will have to play in their two Tests here against Pakistan next month because there is nobody else."

Apart from the factual error about the world cups, I think most Aussie fans will agree that Berry is pretty much spot on.

Trev

I'd be worried if Johnson Hilfenhaus and Siddle weren't coming back from injuries .

Lee Clark Nannes Tait and Bracken could also be considered .

Our spinners have been awful in Tests since Warne retired and MacGill malfunctioned and in JAMODIs since Hogggggyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! retired

If McKay is our frontline bowler at the WC then we'd better bat last in every game if we hope to win it (he's 4th string at best)

But Australia's top bowlers seem to be more injury prone these days. It's highly unlikely that Johnson, Siddle, and Hilfenhaus will all last the entire ashes series. Mcgrath hardly missed a test through injury. and Gillespie put a good run together as well after his early career injury horrors. And as honest as they may be (with Johnson being a bit of an x factor...on his day) they're no Mcgrath, Gillespie, Clark, or even Lee at their peaks, even when fully fit.

Lee is fighting a losing battle. His body just can't do what his mind wants it to do anymore. Clark wont play for Australia again. He himself has said so. Bracken is also unlikely to be a part of Australia's plans looking forward. Nannes plays T20's only. I don't think he even plays List A anymore, does he?

You guys seems to have some decent prospects in Hazlewood, George, and the younger Pattinson though, and Ryan Harris is pretty decent. When I watched him in the early ford ranger cup days, he was an honest 135 kph seamer. He's found an extra 10kph of pace from somewhere. Could be the difference between South Australian and Queensland water (or beer).

Johnson is missing with an infected elbow ...more to do with his stupidity than bowling work load

Siddle and Hilf should come back OK

Bollinger has bowled well

Harris is going all right

That's 5 quicks to choose from

The school girl can chip in with a few overs

We just need a spinner ...

We don't need a spinner for the Ashes later this year. Frankl;y Warnie has been the only spinner to do well in Australia consistently. Load the side with enough fast bowlers and the Poms will crumble sooner or later..

embee wrote:Johnson is missing with an infected elbow ...more to do with his stupidity than bowling work load

Siddle and Hilf should come back OK

Bollinger has bowled well

Harris is going all right

That's 5 quicks to choose from

The school girl can chip in with a few overs

We just need a spinner ...

Aye, he's having a cracking season for Glamorgan.

You might disagree with Berry but this is an outstanding sledge:

"Their pace resources are so reduced that Clint McKay, who would not stand out in an identity parade of New Zealand medium-pacers, opened the bowling at Cardiff with precious little to follow.

McKay is the most out of his depth Aussie fast bowler i've seen since Mick Lewis caused much hilarity in South Africa, 2006.

In any case, if they are the worst in 20 years they are probably also the worst in 23 years given that 21 years ago we thrashed England 4-0.

India 97/98

Dale, Wilson and Robertson all got games

Name O M R W Ave Best 5 10 SR Econ

DS Lehmann 7 1 27 1 27.00 1-27 - - 42.0 3.85
AC Dale 28 7 92 3 30.66 3-71 - - 56.0 3.28
GR Robertson 111.4 13 413 12 34.41 4-72 - - 55.8 3.69
MS Kasprowicz 116 29 312 8 39.00 5-28 1 - 87.0 2.68
SK Warne 167 37 540 10 54.00 4-85 - - 100.2 3.23
ME Waugh 32 1 149 2 74.50 1-44 - - 96.0 4.65
GS Blewett 45 8 152 2 76.00 1-35 - - 135.0 3.37
SR Waugh 12 1 38 0 - - - - - 3.16
P Wilson 12 2 50 0 - - - - - 4.16
PR Reiffel 24 5 59 0 - - - - - 2.45

Must admit, I thought about that as well.

You really need to find a JAMODI attack though because the test attack against Pak will probably be quite decent with Midge and Bolly alone.

Harris looks decent from what I've seen - one ball in the first ODI was timed at 95 mph (150kph?) - an old fashioned up-and-at-em quickie.

not sure whether bollybogan is up to bowling well in pomgolia...harris will be ok

Tell me more about Steve Smith, Horrie. I hear he's a leggy with promise, although I've yet to see him in action.

tries to give it a rip but has lots to learn and has only been competitive once or twice in our domestic comps as a bowler...a far better batsma at this stage...

he is from NSW and therefore now a fixture in the Australian team,

Nice one.

Thank god he wasn't a silly banjo.

SMith was the leading century maker in Sheffield Shield last year and late in the season broke through with his first 10 wicket match haul. He is also one of the best fielders I have ever seen.

Very very exciting prospect.

Good effort. Hope he comes on drifts and loops with his leg spin though.

YT and Smithers at either end, reeking havoc.

As a bowler - he is clearly no Warne - but he is still pretty bloody young and has plenty of time to improve. I think medium term he will be a No 6 in his own right and a decent 5th bowler.

sounds like the new steve waugh the way jgk is rattling on

Cameron White was a promising young leg spinner at Smith's age. He could end up sticking to batting. He looks pretty decent, though. I wouldn't say he appears to have the makings of a world beater, but he could well end up with 200 odd test wickets at around 37 apiece, providing his batting is good enough for the number six spot.

Poor man's Richie Benaud?

Australia will be a different prospect in Australia.

I've already seen enough from a mightily improved Bollinger & Smith to know they'll trouble us. Throw Johnson & Hilfenhaus in there and they'll be fine.

Scyld Berry has a stupid first name and is a bit of a cockmuncher.