War
Chairman of Selectors
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2010
- Online Cricket Games Owned
-
Looking back at proceedings in international cricket over the last 4 years or so - especially in 2011, it obvious more of the top 8 nations are producing more decent pace attacks. Added to this we have seen more bowler-friendly/even wickets - that has seen batsmen tested more often after a decade in of flat tracks and joke attacks.
As many are aware at the start of the 2000s era with the retirements/decline of the 90s stalwarts in Ambrose/Walsh, Wasim/Waqar, Donald/Pollock, Gough/Caddick - the standard of world crickets attacks declined considerably between 2000-2009.
Pitches became roads and only Australia consistently had a quality attack throughout this period, led by the legends McGrath/Warne and were backed up brilliantly by Gillespie, Kasprowicz, Clark, Lee, MacGill etc etc.
Outside of facing AUS teams were only tested on a tour to India or Sri Lanka facing Kumble/Harbhajan and Murali/Vaas. But significantly this wasn't a test of technique vs high quality pace - rather more so vs spin and trials of hot conditions. This is significant and i will come back to it.
Other nations were patchy. England circa 2000/2001 with Gough/Caddick and the famous Ashes 2005 winning attack had their moments. Akhtar and Bond were injured too much during the decade to be consistent treats for their teams, south africa were crap from 2001-2006, as Pollock declined and Donald retired. The short peak of Ntini and the emergence of Steyn in the last 5 years had boosted them.
India pacers were crap, until Zaheer came back in 2006 after his stint in England and became world class, while the windies struggles to find replacements of Ambi and Cuddy.
Due to this phenomenon in world attacks, we saw the rise of the FTB with a plethora of batsmen averaging 50 compared to the 90s, 80s, 70s.
Although one-day cricket can certainly be credited with the increase in scoring rates in tests. The modus operandi of these batsmen aggressive free-scoring could not be replicated the few times they faced quality bowling:
- i think of those tons of runs Mohammed Yousuf made in the middle of the decade only to be brought down back to earth when he toured AUS or S Africa.
- Matt Hayden from 2001-2005 when developed this "bully batsman" aura and was exposed in the 2005 ashes. But thankfully for him, with his career saving oval 2005 hundred, he adjusted him game to be more circumspect vs the quality new-ball bowlers and got rewards at the back end of his career.
- Sehwag - probably the biggest beneficiary of weak attacks this decade. But throughout his career always struggled against quality pace-bowling - year 2011 exposed this the most.
- Gambhir who came into test cricket like a min-hayden somewhat, with his tendency to charge bowlers. But since Morne Morkel exposed his outside off-stump flaws in 2010, his rate of scoring has decrease alarmingly as india have faced tougher bowling attacks in the last 2 years.
- Cook had these issues alot between ashes 2006/07 to pakistan 2010, before his recent revival in ashes 2010/11.
Due to Sehwag style we also saw Dilshan and McCullum - two extremely technically flawed batsmen, being tried by their teams as openers in tests. As most know they have struggled in recent years because the standard of pace bowling has exposed all their flaws.
So looking back at 2011, it fair to say only England has a batting line-up that can survive test bowling competently and consistently.
- AUS woes are well documented, although i reckon it can be sorted out soon.
- India ageing batting is well exposed atm.
- South africa although they also are vulnerable, to me should be batting better than they have in recent times. Their two collapses in durban 2011 to Ind and sri lanka - were moments of their own mental denigration.
- sri soon will go down india's path, given they are depending on their owl stalwarts for run still.
- NZ top 6 is still a work in progress and always looks like it could be ripped through be a lethal attack.
- Pak had a great 2011, after a turmoil filled last few years, but their new found batting strength has been tested by a truly strong pace attack yet. We will learn alot about them after the England series is complete.
- windies could have a strong batting line-up if they were able to pick their best xi.
In conclusion its clear the second decade of the 2000s era is showing good signs of revival of quality quicks and bowler friendly/even wickets, which is good for the game since the FTBs of the last decade will be exposed and only the real batsmen will stand up.
- England have a quality batter of quicks.
- AUS are showing great signs of revival
- s africa is well balanced. Philander and De Lange are good additions.
- India still have Zaheer, but when he goes they could be alot of problems.
- NZ new crop of pace bowlers dont impress me like how young Shane Bond, Geoff Allot and Shane O'Connor did 10+ years ago - but its certainly an improvement one what they have had of late.
- Although SRI won a test in S Africa, i dont think their pace stocks is that great tbh. One cant really say that Lakmal, prasad, Walegedera are truly good replacements in tests for Vaas/Malinga.
- Windies are being help back from having one of the best attacks in the world and since they lost due Ambrose/Walsh to their infighting. The likes of Edwards, Rampaul, Taylor after playing too early, have developed into mature bowlers in recent years - while they have exciting young talents in Roach, Russell and Gabriel - plus spinner Bishoo and Narine.
- Pak could have been unbelievably lethal if Aamir and Asif were still around. But the emergence of Junaid Khan means they are still in good stead.
As many are aware at the start of the 2000s era with the retirements/decline of the 90s stalwarts in Ambrose/Walsh, Wasim/Waqar, Donald/Pollock, Gough/Caddick - the standard of world crickets attacks declined considerably between 2000-2009.
Pitches became roads and only Australia consistently had a quality attack throughout this period, led by the legends McGrath/Warne and were backed up brilliantly by Gillespie, Kasprowicz, Clark, Lee, MacGill etc etc.
Outside of facing AUS teams were only tested on a tour to India or Sri Lanka facing Kumble/Harbhajan and Murali/Vaas. But significantly this wasn't a test of technique vs high quality pace - rather more so vs spin and trials of hot conditions. This is significant and i will come back to it.
Other nations were patchy. England circa 2000/2001 with Gough/Caddick and the famous Ashes 2005 winning attack had their moments. Akhtar and Bond were injured too much during the decade to be consistent treats for their teams, south africa were crap from 2001-2006, as Pollock declined and Donald retired. The short peak of Ntini and the emergence of Steyn in the last 5 years had boosted them.
India pacers were crap, until Zaheer came back in 2006 after his stint in England and became world class, while the windies struggles to find replacements of Ambi and Cuddy.
Due to this phenomenon in world attacks, we saw the rise of the FTB with a plethora of batsmen averaging 50 compared to the 90s, 80s, 70s.
Although one-day cricket can certainly be credited with the increase in scoring rates in tests. The modus operandi of these batsmen aggressive free-scoring could not be replicated the few times they faced quality bowling:
- i think of those tons of runs Mohammed Yousuf made in the middle of the decade only to be brought down back to earth when he toured AUS or S Africa.
- Matt Hayden from 2001-2005 when developed this "bully batsman" aura and was exposed in the 2005 ashes. But thankfully for him, with his career saving oval 2005 hundred, he adjusted him game to be more circumspect vs the quality new-ball bowlers and got rewards at the back end of his career.
- Sehwag - probably the biggest beneficiary of weak attacks this decade. But throughout his career always struggled against quality pace-bowling - year 2011 exposed this the most.
- Gambhir who came into test cricket like a min-hayden somewhat, with his tendency to charge bowlers. But since Morne Morkel exposed his outside off-stump flaws in 2010, his rate of scoring has decrease alarmingly as india have faced tougher bowling attacks in the last 2 years.
- Cook had these issues alot between ashes 2006/07 to pakistan 2010, before his recent revival in ashes 2010/11.
Due to Sehwag style we also saw Dilshan and McCullum - two extremely technically flawed batsmen, being tried by their teams as openers in tests. As most know they have struggled in recent years because the standard of pace bowling has exposed all their flaws.
So looking back at 2011, it fair to say only England has a batting line-up that can survive test bowling competently and consistently.
- AUS woes are well documented, although i reckon it can be sorted out soon.
- India ageing batting is well exposed atm.
- South africa although they also are vulnerable, to me should be batting better than they have in recent times. Their two collapses in durban 2011 to Ind and sri lanka - were moments of their own mental denigration.
- sri soon will go down india's path, given they are depending on their owl stalwarts for run still.
- NZ top 6 is still a work in progress and always looks like it could be ripped through be a lethal attack.
- Pak had a great 2011, after a turmoil filled last few years, but their new found batting strength has been tested by a truly strong pace attack yet. We will learn alot about them after the England series is complete.
- windies could have a strong batting line-up if they were able to pick their best xi.
In conclusion its clear the second decade of the 2000s era is showing good signs of revival of quality quicks and bowler friendly/even wickets, which is good for the game since the FTBs of the last decade will be exposed and only the real batsmen will stand up.
- England have a quality batter of quicks.
- AUS are showing great signs of revival
- s africa is well balanced. Philander and De Lange are good additions.
- India still have Zaheer, but when he goes they could be alot of problems.
- NZ new crop of pace bowlers dont impress me like how young Shane Bond, Geoff Allot and Shane O'Connor did 10+ years ago - but its certainly an improvement one what they have had of late.
- Although SRI won a test in S Africa, i dont think their pace stocks is that great tbh. One cant really say that Lakmal, prasad, Walegedera are truly good replacements in tests for Vaas/Malinga.
- Windies are being help back from having one of the best attacks in the world and since they lost due Ambrose/Walsh to their infighting. The likes of Edwards, Rampaul, Taylor after playing too early, have developed into mature bowlers in recent years - while they have exciting young talents in Roach, Russell and Gabriel - plus spinner Bishoo and Narine.
- Pak could have been unbelievably lethal if Aamir and Asif were still around. But the emergence of Junaid Khan means they are still in good stead.
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