Current Test Fast Bowling Stocks-- Your Country

[grecian]

How do you reckon he'll go on the Taunton tracks ? Him and Gemaal Hussain was a pretty useful combination for Gloucester on the helpful tracks at Bristol, just wonder if they have enough in their locker to be equally effective for Somerset in Division One. Hussain has essentially had just one exceptional season so will be interesting to see how he goes against some stronger opposition.

Well, I've been banging on about it a bit now, but Taunton is not quite as batsmen-friendly as it was, still no minefield, but the likes of Thomas and Phillips took wickets last year, and they ain't much cop in the F-C game.

So I really think Kirby will do a job when fit, quick and at you all the time. haven't seen much of Hussein, so we'll have to wait and see, maybe a one-season wonder, but what a season. Hoping he's a late developer and will improve all the more, but that may be wishful thinking.

 

[Xuhaib]

Not sure about that, saw Shoaib Akhtar give us major problems on some very flat decks in Pakistan, mainly brought about because of his pace. As he was operating on express, his slower ball became more effective and his yorker eliminated the pitch entirely. Not saying I'd pick a quick ahead of Broad by any stretch, but it's just an option we haven't got at the moment.

I agree with your general point in that a bowler that can use variations can generally be more effective on dead tracks.

yeah still rank that as one of the bowling performances of the decade those pitches were as road as they come no swing,seam or even reverse yet he just took the conditions out of the equation.

 

[Mike5181]

New Zealand
1. C.Martin
2. T.Southee
3. K.Mills
4. B.Arnel
5. N.Wagner
6. M.Mason
7. A.Adams
8. D.Tuffey
9. H.Bennett
10. A.Milne

I think Southee, Wagner, Milne and possibly Bennett will form the NZ attack in a few years time.

 

[Howsie]

Barring Bangladesh, New Zealand's current fast bowling stocks would have to be the worst by quite some distance. Chris Martin, the "spearhead" is well past it and has been for sometime, whilst the likes of Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Hamish Bennett and Andy McKay are in a constant battle to back him up, none of who apart from Southee have actually done anything of note in test cricket (sure, Bennett and McKay have only played the one test each but both of them have brought some rather average looking first class stats into test cricket).

My pecking order at the moment would be :

1. Chris Martin
2. Tim Southee
3. Brent Arnel
4. Trent Boult
5. Hamish Bennett
6. Andy McKay
7. Graeme Aldridge
8. Kyle Mills
9. Darryl Tuffey
10. Michael Mason

* I've left out Neil Wagner unlike a lot of others due to the simple fact he isn't actually eligible yet.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Kirby is pretty quick, and obviously I'm gonna be bigging him up from now on.

Watched van Troost play, so am not big on pace for pace's sake TBH. He was the quickest I've seen but he was rubbish.

Rooster was ridiculously quick but you never knew which track it would be aimed at. Made Mitch Johnson look like McGrath.

 

[thierry henry]

New Zealand
1. C.Martin
2. T.Southee
3. K.Mills
4. B.Arnel
5. N.Wagner
6. M.Mason
7. A.Adams
8. D.Tuffey
9. H.Bennett
10. A.Milne

I think Southee, Wagner, Milne and possibly Bennett will form the NZ attack in a few years time.

Unless those blokes massively improve that would seriously be such a bad attack. Of course they're all young enough to improve, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[smash84]

Unless those blokes massively improve that would seriously be such a bad attack. Of course they're all young enough to improve, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Henry you do have a way with words.

 

[Prince EWS]

Henry you do have a way with words.

Haha, his signature sums it up best IMO.

 

[Mike5181]

Unless those blokes massively improve that would seriously be such a bad attack. Of course they're all young enough to improve, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I would also say someone like Astle or Hira will make up the NZ attack as the spin option. I don't particularly find it great either but tbh the attack we have atm has lead us to eleven consecutive One Day International defeats and poor test showings for countless years. How much worse can we really get.

 

[Prince EWS]

I would also say someone like Astle or Hira will make up the NZ attack as the spin option.

Those are the magic words; TH will now agree with everything you say.

 

[thierry henry]

Henry you do have a way with words.

Thanks, I aim to please

 

[thierry henry]

Those are the magic words; TH will not agree with everything you say.

lol...even I certainly wouldn't have him in the test team

 

[Prince EWS]

Typing "not" instead of "now" is one of my most common typos and annoyingly changes the context of whatever I'm saying completely. So annoying, FFS.

 

[Prince EWS]

lol...even I certainly wouldn't have him in the test team

Nah, you would. You just wouldn't be able to justify it. Once you become a selector you're allowed to do these things.

 

[Spark]

Typing "not" instead of "now" is one of my most common typos and annoyingly changes the context of whatever I'm saying completely. So annoying, FFS.

Only the complete reverse of the intended meaning.

 

[Prince EWS]

Only the complete reverse of the intended meaning.

Exactly.

 

[thierry henry]

Nah, you would. You just wouldn't be able to justify it. Once you become a selector you're allowed to do these things.

No Cribbage, as everyone on CW knows my selections would be based entirely on stats in the appropriate form of the game and therefore he wouldn't have a prayer

 

[Beamer]

What do you Windies lads think of Corey Collymore?

Sorry, only just seen this question. I like Corey a lot and he is one of the unluckiest bowlers I have ever seen in terms of beating the inside and outside edges of the batsman without taking a wicket. He was highly valued as a leader and helped Edwards and Taylor a great deal so I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being an excellent head coach/bowling coach once he has retired.

As for now, I think he has had his time and would not have what it takes to take wickets in the majority of test matches. If he was eligible I would consider giving him a go on a tour of England, New Zealand or South Africa but nowhere else.

 

[Flem274*]

Reckon Doug Bracewell will be a quality test bowler in a few years. Further along than Milne, though tbf he has two years on Milne so he probably should be.

Quietly backing Todd Astle to take a few test wickets too, but won't go any further with that until I've seen him for more than two overs, but his FC stats over the past two seasons should be enough to elevate him to our second spinner (yes I brought spinners into this thread, gagf).

 

[Bahnz]

If he keeps taking wickets at his current rate, I reckon he'll get a game or two next summer, probably on a lifeless strip at Hamilton or Napier that offers him nothing.