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Would Stuart Broad make India's strongest test XI?
- Thread starter ImpatientLime
- Start date
Outswinger@Pace
International 12th Man
I am a bit surprised to see Broad being rated so highly for his bowling on this thread. While I believed then (a month back) that Broad would make it to the strongest Indian XI, it was more a statement of how woeful Indian fast bowling resources are (were) rather than how spectacular Broad is.
An in-form Sharma, Praveen Kumar and even the good Sreesanth are more potent bowlers than Broad. I've never seen the Brit swing the ball in the air and his Mike Hendrickesque length would ensure that he pushes them back more than genuinely threaten their presence at the crease.
Sorry, mod! I just think that you and a few other guys have a way, way, way too high opinion of Broad's bowling skills. I am NOT criticising his lack of achievement. Just that I see zero raw material in him to make anything beyond an average pace bowler. Full marks to him for being an honest trier of modest ability though. I like the guy!
An in-form Sharma, Praveen Kumar and even the good Sreesanth are more potent bowlers than Broad. I've never seen the Brit swing the ball in the air and his Mike Hendrickesque length would ensure that he pushes them back more than genuinely threaten their presence at the crease.
Let's start with the most important tool - a tactical ability to dismiss test class batsmen. Lack of that tool ensured that Sami and Daren Powell ended with 45+ bowling averages. I am not sure if I have reason to believe that Broad can actually think batsmen out.
Sorry, mod! I just think that you and a few other guys have a way, way, way too high opinion of Broad's bowling skills. I am NOT criticising his lack of achievement. Just that I see zero raw material in him to make anything beyond an average pace bowler. Full marks to him for being an honest trier of modest ability though. I like the guy!
Outswinger@Pace
International 12th Man
I have made a lot of comments on YouTube in this regard too. It baffles me that a nation as rich in bench strength as England would still persist with Broad.
If you mention his attractive batting and the virtue of having that to complement a menacing attack of Anderson, Tremmers and Swann, I can understand.
But, as a bowler, come on! Are we kidding ourselves that this guy is potentially better than Ajmal Shahzad (pace and movement both ways), Tim Bresnan (wicket-taking swing bowler), Stuart Meaker (out-and-out pace), Jade Dernbach (reliable swing bowler) and even Steve Finn (bounce and genuine striking ability)?
If you mention his attractive batting and the virtue of having that to complement a menacing attack of Anderson, Tremmers and Swann, I can understand.
But, as a bowler, come on! Are we kidding ourselves that this guy is potentially better than Ajmal Shahzad (pace and movement both ways), Tim Bresnan (wicket-taking swing bowler), Stuart Meaker (out-and-out pace), Jade Dernbach (reliable swing bowler) and even Steve Finn (bounce and genuine striking ability)?
Spark
Global Moderator
I actually think Broad is a much smarter bowler than you give him credit for. Yes he doesn't swing it often but he hits the seam more often than not and that's the most important factor. In the end his length is simply too short at the moment.
It's also worth noting that not only has his bowling not been anywhere near it was, say, 12 months ago, he has not had Lady Luck on his side at all. Lost count of the number of edges that were going past/over slip very quickly.
It's also worth noting that not only has his bowling not been anywhere near it was, say, 12 months ago, he has not had Lady Luck on his side at all. Lost count of the number of edges that were going past/over slip very quickly.
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Jacknife
International Captain
Agree and Broad was bowling pretty good, all last year as well and a lot of people thought he'd get the most amount of wickets in the Ashes. Even in the Ashes, before his injuries, he bowled pretty good, only going for about 2rpo and like you said, had a fair amount of edges etc. Like you say, he hits the seam and even in these last test matches, he was getting huge seam movement but needed to bowl fuller to make use of it, He often can swing the ball as well, not as much as a genuine swing bowler but enough. When he bowls well, he bowls that fuller length, that nibbles around on the seam and when he does,he looks a very good bowler.
I personally think, the England team, made a mistake, bringing him straight back into the team, after basically only bowling in 2 Test matches, a few warm up matches and a few ODi's, in between the end of the English summer and the start of the summer this year, which is around 8 months.
He's come back, after 2 very serious injuries and it was obvious watching him on TV, the game before he played the first test, he looked unfit and well down on pace. It was crazy and a bit unfair on him, to think, it was all suddenly going to click, during the middle of a test match.
This isn't the first time, players have been rushed back in, after severe injury, with next to no time in the middle, the same think happened to KP, before the SA tour in 09/10.
Jacknife
International Captain
I'm not sure how much County cricket you watch but there is no way Shahzad, Meaker and Dernbach are better bowlers than Broad.
Shahzad, even with my own Yorkshire bias raging, there is no way, he is better than Broad. This year he has struggled, to hold down his place in the Yorkshire side. He has pace around 85-88mph, but not as much as Broad and occasionally gets movement, but this year and on and off his hole career, he hasn't had any consistency at all, which is represented in his stats in first class cricket, with a 34 average
Meaker isn't international class at all, especially at test level, he's got pace, if you call, 87-89mph pace but he's not that tall and gets little movement. I think, those who have watched Meaker, believe this pace thing has been hyped, I have rarely seen him get above 90mph, in any match I've watched. He's only played 22 first class matches so he has time to improve but at this stage, he hasn't got the pace of Broad, height, bounce or seam movement.
The same with Dernbach, he hasn't the pace of Broad,height, bounce and seam movement of him .
The only player you've listed, I believe will be a better bowler than Broad is Finn and atm Bresnan is probably bowling better than Broad.
I think people have drawn this all out of proportion, just because he's had a hard time finding form during the SL Test and after. The fact is, he's been, until just recently, in the top 10 in the rankings, for the last couple of years and in 2009 to '10 he's bowled well for England. Add to that he's been England best One day bowler for the last 2 years or so and averages 26 in ODi's.
Borges
International Regular
Don't watch county cricket at all, unless there is absolutely nothing else to watch. But Onions is a far better bowler than Broad; arguably the best stock bowler in the world at present.
Borges
International Regular
From the little bits that I've watched, seemed to be bowling really well.
Blaze 18
Banned
Abey Kurvilla, Ritinder Singh Sodhi and Kurasia.
Burgey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
lol
Burgey
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That's the Bresnan from Bangalore then?