Going down the pitch, the seam rotation looked as good as it did back in March. After watching a bit more on the highlights package, clearly something has gone wrong though.anzac said:what was his seam position & release like?????
a telltale sign regarding if he is still struggling re Duke balls...........
if he gets it right I'd have no problems with wanting both he & Bond to try & forge a twin strike partnership...............as we know both can & have taken wickets...........
we were quick to sing his praises after RSA so I'd not be so quick to discard him after 1 bad day at the office...........
who knows he may be an example of 'horses for courses' type selections and may be unable to come to grips with the Dukes - much like some m/cycle racers can not come to grips with different type manufacturers - (hence the end of a promising int career for Simon Crafar)........
From being very tidy in the high 130's against SA he was bowling as low as 76mph(120) late in the day. Hardly any movement, balls often not carrying to McCullum, half-volleys being crashed through the covers....he either can't find a rythym on the slope, or perhaps doesn't like the way the ball feels in his hand.
It's been depressing how much better England's bowlers look on this type of wicket, perhaps Hoggard excluded. It sounds like it was just a good spell of weather rather than tactical preparation, but England couldn't have asked for a better pitch to make the most of Shane Bond's absence.
Of course the Basin Reserve also prepared a "get out what you put in" pitch this season that suited those who hit the deck a bit harder, and Bracewell and Styris verbally challenged them about it.
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