Published: Dec 30, 2011, 12:21 PM (IST)
Edited: May 30, 2014, 05:39 PM (IST)
By Ian Reid
In the 90s and 2000s, Australia‘s batting depth ensured the current top six batting for Australia were always on their toes. As we begin a new decade, Australia’s fast bowling stocks appears to be on the way up. And in time may rival the depth in the batting of yesteryear.
This time last year Australia’s bowling stocks hit a low point with many asking where the 20 wickets would come from. Two months ago, Shane Watson was regarded as the second-best quick after his brilliant five for 17 in the first Test against South Africa. While it spoke for Watson’s brilliance, it was no compliment to the men picked as pure bowlers. Mitchell Johnson was doing what he did best while Peter Siddle, who had just returned following a relatively solid showing in his only Test in Sri Lanka, left South Africa with four wickets at 51. Fans were worried that Siddle had not improved and it appeared we had the inconsistent duo (Johnson and Siddle) back in full force. What did not help either bowler was the fact a bowler who had only played three first-class matches with a less than impressive average in the 40s, well and truly out bowled them with seven wickets in the game, including a match-winning six for 79.
Pat Cummins started the rise in stock for the pacemen. However, it appeared the pace bowling stock would rival the stock market crash of 1929. In the space of a month, Johnson was ruled out for the summer, Ryan Harris and Pat Cummins soon followed suit – ruled out for the rest of the year. And the Australian A bowlers of James Pattinson, Ben Cutting, Mitchell Starc and Ben Hilfenhaus had just been taken around the park in the tour game against New Zealand. Siddle had suddenly become a certainty to play in the Test against New Zealand, and he would have two new partners. The selectors decided against the steady Trent Copeland and gave two new seamers their Baggy Green in Pattinson and Starc.
Then New Zealand came and went as we had another silly two-match series. The Kiwis had just pulled out a famous win. However, the fast bowling stocks were on the rise again. Pattinson continued the awesome debuts by fast bowlers in 2011 and backed it up with another five-for in his second Test. At this point, Pattinson had become a certainty for the Boxing Day Test. Siddle appeared to thrive as the leader of the attack, but we had all seen this from Siddle before.
Mitchell Starc’s less than impressive debut series meant either Harris or Hilfenhaus would play on Boxing Day. The selectors ended up playing cautiously with Harris and so two-thirds of the flayed Ashes attack was back on display.
The Indian batting line-up would provide the first real test for Pattinson and it would also present a chance for Siddle to show he has changed. This would also be Hilfenhaus first Test match since the Ashes.
Four days on from Boxing Day, the Australia bowling trio of Siddle, Pattinson and Hilfenhaus had just taken 19 Indian wickets between them in one of the best team bowling display by Australia in sometime. Each of the pacemen produced a fearsome spell of bowling. Rahul Dravid was breached three times, once by each of the pacemen which sums up how well they bowled, especially considering the talk in the lead up to the match regarding adding a fifth bowling option.
As we head into the New Year, the selectors will have a very tough task getting Ryan Harris back into the side and further along Pat Cummins. Question marks obviously still remain whether they can keep this going. However, the signs so far are very promising. By the end of this four-match series against India, we should have a very good idea of where Siddle, Pattinson and Hilfenhaus are at assuming they remain as the first choice trio.
(Ian Reid runs http://www.thebaggygreen.blogspot.com. In doing so he aims to encourage other supporters around the world to support the team and open their minds to the challenges Australian cricket faces. He comes from the Steve Waugh era of cricket, so he tends to be very optimistic and enjoys the in-depth aspects of this great game. Ricky Ponting inspires him and states that it has been an honour to have followed his career since 1994-95. Ian is a supporter of the South Australian Redbacks and The Wallabies)
