Australia sweat on bowling options for Ashes as England books favourites
After the retirement of Shane Warne, Australia have not been able to find a world class spinner though in Nathan Hauritz they have a quality slow bowler.
The difference of a top class spinner have given England a big edge over their rivals, as they have Graeme Swann in their ranks arguably the best spinner post Muralitharan and Warne era.
Other successful spinners who have played for Australia have raised concerns about Australian bowling line up, which lacks a quality spinner. Ashley Mallett who himself was a Test off spinner has urged Australian selectors to throw
leg spinner Steven Smith into the side so that he can have some more experience under his belt for the upcoming Ashes.
His statement forces one to think that Australia are not banking on Nathan Hauritz to win them the series or does it mean he is an average bowler who can ball some tight overs so that the quickies can get some respite. Hauritz was
emerging to fight with Graeme Swann as the best off spinner in the world after Muralitharan’s retirement. But now there is no match for Swann, who has developed more variations and improved tremendously as a spinner who can bowl with flight and guile.
Meanwhile, Hauritz recent outing against India in the Test series which Australia lost was below par, especially considering the subcontinent pitches. He could have easily managed one or two five for in the series as the pitches in
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 helps spinners a lot. Hauritz chipped in with six wickets in four innings and never threatened to put pressure on the Indian batting line up.
Hauritz looks more like a containing bowler rather than a bowler who can turn the match on his head. On the other hand, his rival Swann has become a match winner leading England to several victories on his own. In the recently concluded
series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, Graeme Swann got the better of a team which have one of the best players of spin bowling in the world.
He stood up to the challenge against the likes of Mohammad Yousuf, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 and Umar Akmal. Though quite a few times Umar Akmal took the attack to Swann but the off spinner held his nerves and dismissed the hard-hitting batsman
several times.
When Swann first came on to the international scene he used to bowl quickly and give flat deliveries but now he has mastered his loop and can deceive the batsmen in air.
Former off spinner Mallett has defended Hauritz with a fact that even legendary Shane Warne struggled in the subcontinent claiming thirty four wickets at an average of more than forty. But Mallett was quick to admit that Graeme Swann
will be a major difference between the two bowling line ups.
Mallett feared that England are looking favourites to lift the Ashes in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 for the first time in two decades. His concerns may very well be right after England have a decent bowling attack with likes of James Anderson and Stuart
Broad. To support the front line quickies Tim Bresnan will be vying with Steven Finn for the third seamer spot.
Steven Finn can be a hit in Australia as lanky fast bowler bowls like Glenn Mcgrath and will enjoy bowling on hard-bouncy pitches of Australia. Kangaroos have fitness issues with their pace battery and nothing could be said of their fast bowlers.
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