Cricket: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and their Bowling Woes!
Once upon a time, there was an Australian cricket team that had fewer slots for bowlers than there were bowlers available. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne were the only bowlers in the side, who were guaranteed a place, as they were world-class bowlers with loads of experience. Paul Reiffel, Jason Gillespie, Andy Mitchell, Brett Lee, Michael Kasprowicz, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stuart-Clark-c2591, Damien Fleming and others came into the side, and left after making an impact, in patches. Some stayed for longer duration in one format while others excelled in the other. But there was never a dearth of quality fast bowlers or a spinning option, when one of the bowlers got injured.
Historians would agree that had Shane Warne not played as much cricket as he did, Stuart MacGill would have been the success leg-spinner in the Australian side. During the time, when Warne was either injured or banned (as he was in 2003), MacGill took over the responsibility of spinning the batsmen out, and succeeded as well. In most matches where Australia used both Warne and MacGill, the latter took more wickets. What made Shane Warne different was his ability to do more, something that MacGill lacked. He did take 208 wickets in Test Matches but unlike Warne, didn’t do well in one-dayers.
As for the faster bowlers, Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming and Paul Reiffel were first-choice bolwers for the Aussies in the 90’s, and with the passage of time, youngsters Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie joined them as the fearsome set of bowlers. Andy Bichel also played in some of the matches, taking 6 wickets in a World Cup match in 2003. There was no issue if a bowler got injured, because when Glenn McGrath injured himself during his last Ashes in England in 2005, Jason Gillespie took over, as the spearhead bowler, with Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz as support bowlers. When the pitch suited him, like once in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, Kasporwicz was supported by the other bowlers, and that’s how things went-on with the Australian squad.
Sadly, the current Australian bowling line- up is as weak as the Pakistani bowling line-up, in the ill-fated England tour this year. During that tour, Pakistani bowlers did well when the wicket and weather supported them. Same can be said for the current Australian bowling attack, which has the firepower but not the power to penetrate. They might have bowled-out the English side, in their first innings on the opening day, but that had more to do with England’s adjustment issues, than Australia’s bowling. Peter Siddle demolished the opponents but he had the environment - new wicket, overcast conditions and clueless batsmen - to thank for his 6 wickets including a hat-trick. If he doesn’t get aid from nature, one doubts if he might be able to take a five-for in the current Ashes series.
Call it a bias opinion but Ben Hilfenhaus is no Stuart Clark. Then again, Stuart Clark was no Glenn McGrath either. Ever since the retirement of McGrath, the Aussies have struggled to have a decent opening bowling pair. There was Brett Lee, but marital and fitness issues saw him leave Test cricket for good.
Ben Hilfenhaus may be a good third seamer, but he still has a long way to go, to spearhead the Aussie attack, let alone handle the new ball. Mitchell Johnson should have the honor of holding the new ball, but then, he is not in the form of his life. He seems, like the Australian version of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s Mohammad Sami, who has no clue of where to bowl and what to bowl. With Doug Bollinger, fit and raring to go, the Australian selectors should think hard before naming the team for the second Test. If they are willing to win the Ashes, Steven Smith should come-in for Xavier Doherty and Doug Bollinger for Ben Hilfenhaus. Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle should be asked to toughen-up their acts.
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