Prince EWS
Global Moderator
I think the issue is more the fact that Oram isn't good enough to be a fourth bowler anymore, more than Elliott/Ryder/Styris not being able to get through ten. If Oram and Styris were at their bowling peak it'd work great, but Oram with his injury woes and reduced pace is nothing more than a fifth bowler these days and Styris, ever since he decided to bowl off-cutters rather than nagging medium-fast stuff, has been a sixth bowler at very best.Elliott isn't a good enough bowler.
It doesn't have to be Patel or Gillespie, but having five frontline bowlers > having a specialist batsman coming in at 8. If Patel and Gillespie are deemed not good enough then you simply have to look at other bowling options - stacking the batting won't compensate for this.