When was the last time Australia had a "Slow Left Arm" Bowler?.>

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub

perhaps unlikely that we'll ever have 10 excellent SLA bowlers in each of the ten 10 test cricket playing nations at a time, I can't really think of a time when that has happened in test cricket, or has it?

But that has never happened for any kind of bowler. Do all the ten nations (or even the eight major ones) have 'excellent' swing bowlers? No. 8 Excellent fast bowlers in all eight countries? No. Excellent medium-pace seamers in all eight countries? No. Excellent leg-spinners in all eight countries? No. Excellent orthodox off-spinners in all eight countries? No.

I agree that SLA bowlers are uncommon, but still five of the ten countries (Eng, NZL, Bangladesh, SA, SL) have specialist SLA bowlers playing Tests regularly for their teams, whilst only three countries (Pak, India, Aus) have specialist wrist-spinners, and only two (SL, India) have regular and specialist orthodox off-spinners... unless I have forgotten to count someone? (I have assumed WI and Zim do not have a specialist and regularly selected slow/spin bowler).

So not exactly that uncommon...

[Zainub]

M, did you just say Muralithran is an "orthodox" wrist spinner?

[Maranello]

aah well, the bowling categorisations do not cater for something more apt, hence one has to run with an offie, albeit a kinky one (that is, he has a kink in his arm)

[Paoli]

Zimbabwe had Ray Price; gun left arm spinner, but we have a leggie, Graeme Cremer, but his spot has been taken by an SLA bowler, Dabengwa, and an off spinner, Gavin Ewing.

[Teatime FatCat]

As a legendary Slow Left Armer myself, I thought I'd just refresh myself on which of my 'brother bowlers' are actually out there, currently playing, or near to, their test sides - and there's not a lot!


ENG - Gilo
WI -?
SA - Robin Peterson + Boje
ZIM- Dabwenga
NZ - Vettori
AUS - ?
IND - Karthik
SL - ?
PAK -?
BANG - Rafique + Haque Jnr


Now, interestingly, the traditional subcontinental spin powerhouses have vitrually no SLA boys. Karthik doesn't get much of a lookin for India, and the two Bangla boys will rarely play in the same side outside of Asia. The general consensus is that Robin Peterson is poo, Nicky Boje is largely ineffective and Dabweng has only just started.

Can we therefore conclude that the only decent attacking SLA's in the world are Vettori and Rafique, with Gilo as a creditable defensive alternitive.

Compare this to the Off-Spinning options

ENG - Udal + Batty
WI -Banks + Deoranine
SA - ?
ZIM- Ewing + Utseya
NZ - Wiseman
AUS - ?
IND - Harbajan
SL - Murali + Some Other Bloke I Can't Remember
PAK -Saqlain (yes he's back!) + Some Other Bloke I can't remember
BANG - ?

or the wrist spinning options -

ENG - Hahahahahahahahahahaha
WI - Mohommed
SA - Adams
ZIM- Cremer
NZ - ?
AUS - Warne, MacGill, White
IND - Kumble
SL - Bandara, Loukakakarachi, Chandana
PAK - Kaneria + Mushy
BANG - ?


Now - although some of my options might have been a little tenuous, it would seem that there are 8 SLA's about against 12 offies and 12 leggies.

As we are a dying breed, this might be my last chance of international recognition. Should I attempt to qualify for Australia, Pakistan or the West Indies - where do we think I might get in (bearing in mind my 36 wkts @ 12.78 this year!!!!!).

[Paoli]

Mohammed actually represents your "union" TTFC, surprising you didn't know that. He's an SLA. Australia has Cullen who is a young offspinner, and Krezja who is an SLA bowler; Krezja yet to convince though.

Is the England wrist spinner that you mentioned got any promise

[Teatime FatCat]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Mohammed actually represents your "union" TTFC, surprising you didn't know that. He's an SLA. Australia has Cullen who is a young offspinner, and Krezja who is an SLA bowler; Krezja yet to convince though.

Is the England wrist spinner that you mentioned got any promise

Eh? I meant Dave Mohammed who is a left arm wrist spinner, who are you think of - surely not Monty? I can't even spell his full name.

For your information, Alfred Hahahahahahahahahaha is a young wrist spinner from Little Piddle who has yet to make a first class appearance. He plays for Berkshire, bowls off the wrong foot with the wrong hand and is a specialist silly point. He can't bat for toffee, is allergic to grass and thinks that Merv Hughes is 'an intellectual and razor-sharp wit'. He hopes to make his debut for England before the age of 52, when he probably won't get a bowl!

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

Slow Left Armers:
SL - ?

Rangana Herath - a regular on home matches, and when Murali is on one of his frequent absences.

The names show that there are plenty of SLAs around TTFC, and in fact, there are more regular SLAs than leggies or right-arm offies; most of the leggies and ROB chaps you listed are not regulars at all, whereas at least five of the SLAs are first choice spinners for their countries.

[Paoli]

Yeah I know I was talking about Dave Mohammed, I'm 99% sure he is an SLA bowler. I'll check his cricinfo profile now.

Edit: I checked and found out that he works for TTFC's rival union...The Chinamen!

[Teatime FatCat]

Thank you Paoli, it will gall me to have to admit that I am wrong!!!!