Musical bowlers

I heard on ABC radio at the conclusion of the 3rd Test that Dizzy Gillespie was available for selection for the Sydney Test. They then went on to discuss the various merits of the bowlers in contention and who might make way for Dizzy.

Keith Stackpole made a fair point, finally squeezing in an intelligent comment before the year was out. His opinion was that Gillespie was too a big a risk for such an important Test. Possibly but I disagree. He is too good a bowler to leave out if he has genuinely proved that he is fit.

I have some of my own thoughts on the state of bowling. Perhaps there has been a tendency for many, myself included to push the panic button and be too hard on the new boys, in particular, Bracken and Williams. Because we are used to Australian domination we wanted instant results so that the domination would continue. We are only human.

We should also remember that the bowlers are also only human. We should also remember that it is rare for bowlers to be introduced into Test cricket with instant success. It is a big step up from First Class cricket to Test cricket. In most Fist Class games, the bowlers will have to contend with between one and four Test batsmen. In every Test, they are confronted with six or seven Test batsmen. The intensity is heightened.

I also think that the selectors persevere with batsmen for longer than bowlers. Perhaps that is because there are six batsmen and only four bowlers and thus, a few bad performances are more easily carried. Perhaps it is also because selectors make allowance for the “sudden death” nature of batting. One mistake and it can be all over. With bowling, the bowler will be under the microscope for longer, even when bowling badly.

History tells us that greats such as Lillee, McGrath and Warne took time to mature. McGrath played his first Test against NZ in 1993-94. He was in an out of the team for five series, playing in some but not all of the matches against NZ, South Africa (home and away), Pakistan and England. It wasn’t until 1994-95 in the West Indies, in the absence of McDermott that he stepped up, and has improved over the last nine years.

Warne played two Test against India in 1991-92 and conceded 228 runs for his solitary wicket (and he has never mastered the Indians). He then toured Sri Lanka and it wasn’t until after he had given up 340 runs that he took his second Test wicket. He took three late wickets to secure a famous victory (by just 16 runs after Australia had trailed by 291 runs on the first innings) but didn’t take another wicket in the series. It wasn’t until the next series against the West Indies that he took his first “big bag”.

Which leaves us with the current bowlers:

Gillespie: Must be picked of fit. He is one of the top ten bowlers in the world.

Bracken: Hasn’t taken many wickets but bowled very well and importantly, very economically in the last Test. This is an important feature which has been missing and I think that he should play.

Williams: Behaved like the enforcer that he is supposed to be last Test. Ripped through the tail in the second dig. He gave a lion-hearted performance for the whole Test. He fielded like is life depended on it and was rewarded with a brilliant run out. He also batted well, scoring just ten but it was not out when the tail crumbled and he hit a lusty six.

Lee: It was good to see him back and he did have some success but… he bowled well below top pace, and slower than Williams. He has struggled over the past two years and extreme pace has been his only consistent weapon. Without it, I can’t see him being a force to be reckoned with. But he does get Steve Waugh’s vote. I think that form warrants that he be excluded from Sydney.

Bichel: Let’s not forget Bichel. On the other hand, let’s forget Bichel. With due respect to Andy, who is a terrific chap, he has been a “hanger on” for many years. If he was going to make the grade, he should be an instant selection in the absence of McGrath and Gillespie. Given that he is not, and that he has worked his way up to the 13th most expensive bowler of all time and is averaging and unimpressive 32.24 runs per wicket, he should be left out.

MacGill: Has not impressed as much as I thought he might. That being said, he is Australia’s top wicket taker for 2003, is still taking wickets and comparisons with Warne should be tempered with the fact that Warne averages 55.44 (with the ball, not the bat, sorry Warnie) against India. My opinion is that he bowls way too much rubbish and that Warne will be rushed back to the side ASAP (ie for the Sri Lanka tour).

Happy New Year.