Who are England's strike bowling options for the future and where do we rate them now and for future opportunities.
No-one massively stands out apart from Jofra Archer who isn't going to be eligible for a while or possibly ever.
Archer would be an ideal candidate. Would slip into the team easily as 3/4th seamer in Aus right now if eligible. Has that easy natural pace so that he can bowl 20 overs a day at mid 80s. Did that with Sussex last year without getting injured. Gets steep bounce and angles it into the right hander hander. Would offer more than WOakes, Ball, COverton away from home imo. Maybe 2 years or maybe 5 until he is eligible so reasonable chance he plays for Windies or just plays T20 cricket.
Other options if you are looking at pace or uniqueness to offer variation then no-one else is ready or anywhere near the standard required. But some suggestions are...
Wood - Injury prone, and possibly lost some pace, hasn't looked penetrative in test cricket. Chance of good test career - 3/10
J Overton - Going through the injury phase but has been erratic to this point. No point busting a gut to bowl 85mph with a wonky action. Needs to get the action right. 4/10
Saq Mahmood - Skiddy pace. Shades of Waqar in runup and action. Good athlete. Needs more experience at the moment. 4/10
Garton - Erratic. High top pace and potential - but doesn't have the speed endurance. Bowling 90mph at start of 5 over spell and 80 at end and in ragged style. Left arm offers variation. 3/10
Stone - Was my favourite before terrible injury. Come back from ACL reconstruction and still very good pace. Good athlete and cricketer (slip catcher and can bat). It's such a big injury to come back from that I have my doubts now. 2/10
Tongue - Doesn't yet have the pace of those previously mentioned. Thin and tall but with a smooth runup and action. I rather think he'll naturally add 5mph to be a mid 80s bowler as he grows into his body. 5/10
Gleeson - Shoulda been with the lions this winter imo. Ran through some second division teams in second half of season (40 wickets @ 18.62). Was the best 85mph+ bowler in county cricket last year. Age(30) and lack of experience is against him. 1/10
Helm - Looked the hot prospect at start of 2017. At best, super smooth action- Close to stumps and zippy pace with movement both ways. However fitness concerns. Action got ragged as season progressed and doesn't seem to have natural fitness and/or inclination to really fully commit imo, but natural talent obvious on occasion. 4/10
Fisher - Looked an outstanding youngster at 16 (80mph avg with good action, away swing, good bouncer) but struggled with injuries since and hasn't progressed as much as I'd hoped. Still has a high potential once he starts getting playing time. 4/10
Spinner wise there aren't really any unconventional spinners. Crane and Parkinson two leggies. Parkinson bowls it too slow at the moment for international cricket.
Likes of Curran, Porter, Topley, Coad are more english type seamer and swingers, who are unlikely to offer much outside England.
