Broad has the one thing Mahmood lacks: an action that lends itself to getting the ball in the same place time after time after time. He's also extracts a bit of bounce with the new ball, is pretty good at getting movement off the seam and is mildly promising in terms of movement in the air. It's too early to say for sure that he'll mature into something between the next Gus Fraser (a far better bowler than Malcolm) and an English Glen McGrath (to whom he is commonly likened)... but let's not overlook what appears to be exceptional mental strength - which McGrath regarded as his own strongest attribute.

Mahmood's action is perhaps more interesting than Broads... but the results are too variable... and on top of that he's the most appalling character: his pathetic levels of application (recall his failing to even back up properly in the Ashes) are extremely reminiscent of Devon Malcolm. At least Monty, for all his evdent failings, actually WORKS at being a better all-round cricketer: Mahmood can't even manage THAT!