Expected top 5 wicket-takers Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Part 2)
(Continue from Part 1...Zaheer Khan) Day 1 at Mohali turned out to be great for the Indians, as all victims of fast bowler Zaheer Khan were leg-before wicket (LBW) or bowled. He simply out played Aussie batsmen, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey and Marcus North.
These three wickets will surely boost his morale and confidence as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Hussey were two dangerous souls, and the Indian’s really wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Nevertheless, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319’s 10 years of Test cricket’s credential speaks for themselves. In the 72 matches played by him, he has taken 242 wickets at an average of 32.98. Not to forget, his best figures of 7 for 87, and a strike rate of 59.5. He has 9 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten-wicket haul in a match.
Up till now he has played 14 Test matches against the Aussies, in which he has taken 37 wickets. He also has a bowling average of 39.91, with a strike rate of 70.6. His best figures against Australia are of 5 for 91. Out of 9 five-wicket hauls in his Test career, 2 of them have come against the current visiting opposition.
His track record against the Aussie’s has shown some drastic improvement in recent times. Plus, his day 1 performance will surely play on his and the Australian minds, as his confidence must be on a high. He definitely deserves the No. 2 position among the expected top 5 wicket-takers in the ongoing series.
Mitchell Johnson
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-Guy-Johnson-c76397 is the new age Australian cricket bowling superstar. His talent was first discovered at 17 years of age by veteran Aussie players Dennis Lillee. His exceptional left arm bowling action allows him to bowl fast and accurate deliveries. Known as the latest Australian marksman, his main weaponry is the ability to bowl at 155 kph.
At 28, the Aussie has had phenomenal success in Test cricket. In the 36 Tests he has played, the new age Aussie fast bowler has taken a healthy of 158 wickets at an impressive average of 28.87. His infant career of 3 years in Test cricket, has allowed him to take 5 five wicket hauls and two ten wicket hauls in a match. He also has an amazing strike rate of 53.1, with a best of 8 for 61.
Out of the 36 Tests played by him, 9 were against India, in which he has taken 29 vital wickets. He also has an effective average of 36.24 and a strike rate of 69.1. Not to forget, his best of 4 for 70 and 6 for 159 in a match. One might argue that his Test record against India hasn’t done justice to his overall Test credentials, but the new age Aussie bowler has played a handful of matches against India.
His Test career started when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and every other cricketing nation for the last 3 years of international Test cricket but Johnson has still maintained an outstanding economy rate of 3.14. Out of the 334 overs bowled by him to Indian batsmen, 61 over are maidens and the rest cost around 1000 runs.
Arguably, if Indian pace man Zaheer Khan was able to make the best out of the new ball, then Johnson’s height will allow him to extract bounce and seam off the pitch. India’s left arm bowler was able to trouble the Aussie openers as his bowling angle was totally different.
The Australian frontline striker should also focus on making the most of the new ball. It is expected as the Day 2 plays will end the pitch will start to die, which can easily lead to uneven bounce causing a lot of problems for the Indian batsmen.
Tags: