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Originally Posted by pie_chucker  They also struggled in the second. |
I think they did better in the second innings than the first, but I think that was caused directly by the pressure Panesar was exerting at one end. The batsmen so struggled against Panesar they targetted the seamers as the seamer figures really aren't that bad -
Sidebottom 2-26
Anderson 1-21
Broad 0-19
I also think that Panesar ripped through them so quickly the others didn't have a chance to put up poor figures! Panesar really caused problems this afternoon, he was in his element - he had it all, bowling with the wind, turn and bounce.
McCullum was simply bamboozled by every ball Panesar bowled. The first one was a close LBW shout, the second one, bounced, turned, fizzed and spat off the wicket McCullum simply didn't know how to deal with and the third caught him plumb LBW trying to sweep.
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Originally Posted by pie_chucker The 3 current seamers lack the consistency and above all the penetration at test level. |
I think they lack a spearhead - an Andrew Flintoff.
When Panesar doesn't get the right conditions, none of the current seamers can provide sustained pressure. Siidebottom get's the closest to doing it, but in a 4 or 5 man attack, you cannt expect it to be carried by one seamer. What they need is a streetwise thug who can bully these batsmen out of their comfort zones with some fast, nasty hostile bowling. A little like Anderson was trying to do in the first innings.
It's almost as if England don't have any new ball strike bowlers, all three of the current seamers all seem like second change bowlers to me.
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Originally Posted by pie_chucker Sidebottoms out of his purple patch.. |
Sidebottoms strength is consistency, accuracy and swing movement. When any or all of those go AWOL, he's a very ordinary bowler, bowling early 80's medium fast.
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Originally Posted by pie_chucker Broad lack pace and will never be a prolific test wicket taker (but a very useful 5th bowler) |
Broad is a developing bowler. He's still young and inexperienced and as such is an excellent second change support bowler or even a future allrounder, but he's not yet good enough to perform as part of a three man attack or as an opening bowling
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Originally Posted by pie_chucker and Anderson is far too inconsistent to also be part of a 4 man attack. |
I agree.
If England could get Flintoff and Jones back, then a 5 man attack of Flintoff, Jones, Sidebottom, Broad and Panesar looks very promising to me.
Broad solves the no8 slot, that they've been looking to fill and for my money he does a good job as a second change support bowler and a No8 batsman. For that reason I think he's going to feature in this side for some time. If they could add in those two 90mph pacemen in Flintoff and Jones, and drop Anderson and a batsman, the balance would be about right.