Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
This chap truly is a remarkable case. Fairly safe to say now I think that he's a pretty decent bowler (maybe even a Test-class one) who simply turned-up diabolical for his first 4 Tests. So far in 2008, with half a Test remaining, he's taken 22 wickets in 5-and-a-half games at 23.59 against Test-class teams. Previously he'd taken 5 in 4 at 77.80 - and this flattered him (2 of those 5 were gimmes).
Having a bad Test or 4 early on in a career isn't particularly unusual. However, O'Brien's was, just, well... O'so'Dire, no two ways about it. So just how often before has a perfectly decent bowler gone so utterly woefully in their first 4 (or so) Tests then turned-up properly later on? I can't immediately think of anyone. And how on Earth did a perfectly decent bowler bowl so dreadfully in those 4 games?
One thing you must say, though, is that John Bracewell et al don't deserve credit for very much, but their persistence with O'Brien was a masterstroke. However terrible he'd been in those 4 games, they kept faith that his domestic performances over many years weren't meaningless, and are now reaping the rewards, and might continue to do for another 2-3 years. If you criticise the many mistakes, it's only fair that you also praise the odd thing they get right. I'd have had Gillespies, Masons and a few besides over O'Brien any time, I wasn't alone, and it looks we'd have lost-out on some good bowling for a few years if we'd done so.
Now I've taken it all for granted, though, this'll probably be the end of O'Brien's good bowling at Test level.
Just don't anyone accuse me of jinxing if so.
Having a bad Test or 4 early on in a career isn't particularly unusual. However, O'Brien's was, just, well... O'so'Dire, no two ways about it. So just how often before has a perfectly decent bowler gone so utterly woefully in their first 4 (or so) Tests then turned-up properly later on? I can't immediately think of anyone. And how on Earth did a perfectly decent bowler bowl so dreadfully in those 4 games?
One thing you must say, though, is that John Bracewell et al don't deserve credit for very much, but their persistence with O'Brien was a masterstroke. However terrible he'd been in those 4 games, they kept faith that his domestic performances over many years weren't meaningless, and are now reaping the rewards, and might continue to do for another 2-3 years. If you criticise the many mistakes, it's only fair that you also praise the odd thing they get right. I'd have had Gillespies, Masons and a few besides over O'Brien any time, I wasn't alone, and it looks we'd have lost-out on some good bowling for a few years if we'd done so.
Now I've taken it all for granted, though, this'll probably be the end of O'Brien's good bowling at Test level.
Just don't anyone accuse me of jinxing if so.
)
