Is bowling making a comeback?

Most of the 2000s we've all been lamenting how much of a batsman's game cricket has become as well as the lack of depth in world bowling stocks.

But thinking of sides recently, I wonder if we aren't in for a bit of a renaissance, at least for pace bowling.

South Africa's recent excellent form has been off the back of the quicks who are in good form, while their batsmen remain fairly mediocre outside Kallis.

India's strength, in JAMODIs at least, now lies in their bowling and as the likes of SRT, VVS and Dravid pull the plug, perhaps bowling will be their strength in tests too - esp with Sharma, Kumar etc looking like real talents.

Aust have a stack of young quicks coming through while maybe not so many batsmen.

The current England v NZ match was played on what looked a good track yet both sides were rolled cheaply in their second digs by good seam bowling.

I don't really know much about the Windies and Pak and of course Zim and Bang don't count.

Anyway, maybe I am being over optimistic but I do get the sense that some of the more exciting players coming through in the game as bowlers (well pace bowlers).

Let's hope so. I've always found tests in which all 4 scores are between 200 and 350 very entertaining.

Pak's main troubles seem to be the lack of quality openers and a solid middle order bat to complement Yousuf and Younis, whilst they have some good seamers in Gul, Asif and that guy who bowls like he's plugged into an electrical socket.

bliksem wrote:and that guy who bowls like he's plugged into an electrical socket.

Frazzle Mahmood?

theres more promising young quicks in the game today than any time in the past 10-12 yrs imho.

asif, gul, steyn, morkel, johnson, ishant, sreesanth, rp singh, munaf, malinga...

only england, WI and NZ seem to be lacking in the up and coming pacers dept

>>that guy who bowls like he's plugged into an electrical socket.

this chap ?

esp with Sharma, Kumar etc looking like real talents.

JGK,

You really think that Kumar is a real deal? He can swing the ball a long way, but that is it. He cannot do anything else!

Other than Lee, Clark and Steyn all other good fast bowlers are injury prone and hardly ever show up to play.

Now with the addition of IPL i see test cricket heading towards the most boring and mediocre era since the 70s.

*Buckaroo* wrote:>>that guy who bowls like he's plugged into an electrical socket.

this chap ?

One day material. Not even close to test class yet.

tac wrote:Let's hope so. I've always found tests in which all 4 scores are between 200 and 350 very entertaining.

Aye. Roady grindfests are tedious, unless it's Australia belting 500+ at 4 an over!!!

Chandan wrote:

esp with Sharma, Kumar etc looking like real talents.

JGK,

You really think that Kumar is a real deal? He can swing the ball a long way, but that is it. He cannot do anything else!

I agree that it is dangerous to take ODI form into account in looking at potential test ability but geez, if you can swing it both ways with little change to your action, you are off to a good start. Clearly Kumar will need to work on fitness and stamina and see how he goes with an old ball but if I were an Indian fan I'd be excited about him.

Re fitness etc - one of the really great things about Mitch this summer was his ability to come back into the attack at 5:30pm and still send the ball down at 145kmh+ with bounce. Once he works on consistency with his length he will be very very good.

Once he works on consistency with his length (and learns how to bend it) he will be very very good

aye

I'm not so fussed about Mitch not being able to bend it. That never stopped Pidge.

JGK wrote:I'm not so fussed about Mitch not being able to bend it. That never stopped Pidge.

I meant "change diretion". Preferably as late as possible, in the air or off the deck (like the Pidgeon) I don't care.

What Johnson needs to do is be less predictable.