Print

[Biggie Smalls]

I was talking to the two English imports in my side during a rain delay today re which attack would England least like to face come this years first test at the Gabba . With Pattinson back playing shield , bowling quick and taking wickets , and with Cummins taking wickets in the shield and now the 3rd test vs India  , I have been wondering the best bowling configuration for the first ashes test .
Would you consider (assuming all are fit and available )  Starc , Hazlewood , Lyon , Bird/Cummins/Pattinson ( with possibly a crappy pace bowling allrounder , like M.Marsh at 6) oz's best attack (or the one that would worry you most ) ? Or , would this attack be more concerning : Starc,  Hazlewood,  Cummins , Pattinson ( with possibly a spin bowling allrounder , like Maxwell,  at 6 ) ? Personally , im leaning towards the latter .

[ProCricketer1982]

As much pace as possible, this team is very poor vs the short ball.. pepper the crap out of them with genuine pace like 2013

[edge]

If I were Oz, thinking purely about the bowling, I'd pick the obvious three plus one of Cummins/Pattinson if you can get them fit and Mitchell Marsh - Bird isn't gonna bother English batsmen and Marsh is a genuinely good 4th seamer. Whether you can put up with the lack of runs at 6 though! Is that Cartwright lad fully out of contention now? Did think his batting looked pretty tidy in his one test. Cummins looks far more of a threat than Pattinson from what I've seen, is that a fair assessment?

[Kulli]

Please dear god let Mitch Marsh still be in the side anyway. A very mediocre 4th seamer and not much of a bat either.

[Felix Tito]

Clearly obvious choice would be Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Pattinson. Probably open up with hazlewood and Pattinson. Starc and cummins are better with the older ball. Maxwell averages 40 in fc so derserves a run at 6. Cartwright probably next in line as he averages 50

[procricket]

Cummins is great but will he be fit!!!

[cheese]

Does anybody think that if they were all fit the Aussies would play a 5 man attack of Pattinson, Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins with Lyon as the spinner?
Or would playing all four quicks mean a spinning allrounder such a Maxwell would have to play to keep the 7/4 split of Bats/allrounders/keepers vs Bowlers

[Batbuddy99]

Am I the only one that doesn't rate Hazelwood at all?

[Number4]

Am I the only one that doesn't rate Hazelwood at all?

116 wickets at an average of 24 and economy rate of 2.8. An extremely accurate bowler..... Are you serious?

[ProCricketer1982]

Am I the only one that doesn't rate Hazelwood at all?

He didn't do well in eng last time but he's a consistent performer and as number 4 says.. accurate. Certainly better than half of what England produce.

[Biggie Smalls]

If I were Oz, thinking purely about the bowling, I'd pick the obvious three plus one of Cummins/Pattinson if you can get them fit and Mitchell Marsh - Bird isn't gonna bother English batsmen and Marsh is a genuinely good 4th seamer. Whether you can put up with the lack of runs at 6 though! Is that Cartwright lad fully out of contention now? Did think his batting looked pretty tidy in his one test. Cummins looks far more of a threat than Pattinson from what I've seen, is that a fair assessment?

Cartwright is quickly morphing into being seen as a specialist batsman , so would have to earn a spot ahead of khawaja , s.marsh etc . He does show promise with the bat , scored a good shield hundred recently.
At peak fitness there's probably not that much between Cummins and Pattinson.

[Biggie Smalls]

Does anybody think that if they were all fit the Aussies would play a 5 man attack of Pattinson, Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins with Lyon as the spinner?
Or would playing all four quicks mean a spinning allrounder such a Maxwell would have to play to keep the 7/4 split of Bats/allrounders/keepers vs Bowlers

No , that would be as weird as seeing loo water spin the other way !

[Manormanic]

Tough call. England will be challenged by the short ball on bigger outfields - only a fully fit Root and YJB really play it well, as opposed to hooking indiscriminately.

That tends toward Cummings and Starch plus Hazelwood and two more that balance the side.

[Alvaro]

I expect England will see them all in a variety of permutations... Jackson Bird is the type of Aussie bowler who does well against England too.

[Alvaro]

And I'd take a fit Cummins any day of the week.