I don't think Australia have any problems with their fast bowling. Lee, Clark, Johnson and Hilfenhaus with Bracken in the ODIs. In the next 18 months I see the bowling as Lee, Johnson, Hilfenhaus and MacGill. Hopefully MacGill will have got over his injury problems and be around for 2-3 years while Australia find a young spinner.

And all 3 of them are struggling to get a regular game in domestic cricket. And the first two you mention have had miserable summers so far.

The slow left arm chinaman "Heal" is probably more in a battle with Hauritz for Hogg's ODI spot when he retires. But even those two are just holding their heads above water at the moment.

I think Cameron White still looks to be better "as is" and "what if" (potential) than any of these blokes. And will probably be the test incumbent out of the group.

Yes, both of those would seem to be more effective ODD bowlers than first-class bowlers. But someone will emerge to take the Test spot- someone always does.

From memory, he's taken 4 wickets from 5 matches this season (albeit at a decent average). That suggests to me that he's not likely to be a frontline first-class bowler. If he gets in, I'm sure it will be primarily due to his batting ability. He may even replace Symonds as the allrounder batting at no. 6, but I just can't see him holding down the primary spinner's position.

Deserves a medal considering he has just comeback after breaking his ankle late November.

Wasn't Cullen dropped by his state side fairly recently? If so, that won't help his Test chances much will it?

Had their problems? You seem to suggest that they've overcome those problems and they most certainly have not.

Lee's good enough for another couple of years? *chuckle* Lee's problem isn't his his age it's his inconsistency and waywardness - he's just as likely to get it wrong as he is to get it right and if he gets it wrong - he goes for runs.

Clark's good enough for another couple of years? He's only just come into the side for gods sake! Supposedly to replace McGrath but he's not exerting the same kind of control that McGrath had which isn't really that surprising. He's a very poor mans McGrath.

I'd agree Johnson is probably the most talented out of the current bunch of Australian fast bowlers, but he's still young and inexperienced and only time will tell as to how he'll develop.

Tait is just as bad as Lee in terms of inconsistency.

The reason they're struggling is obvious - they don't have McGrath's control and accuracy any more and therefore they can't shut an end down and attack and rotate from the other end. They're just as likely to leak runs from both ends now and without a spinner of Warne's class they post little threat now on days 4 and 5 whereas before they were deadly with Warne.

It's Australias batting strength that's keeping them going now as their bowling has been significantly weakened.

It'll be interesting to see in the months to come, statistically just how effective Australias current bowling attack is compared to their old McGrath, Lee, Warne, An other.

I'm willing to bet quite a lot of money that that their old attack was far more effective than their current one.

Apparently not surprisingly !

I just pulled the following quote from the home page of Cricinfo - Baggygreen

I've been Lee's biggest critic for years.. but he should be given the benefit of the doubt at present: he appears to have upped his game.That's harsh: best bowler in the recent series by some way and for my money the best bowler in world cricket (pushed only by Hoggard and Asif).More like Mahmood

Rachael, Lee was the best bowler in the recent two Australian test series by a long chalk. Do you rate bowlers then on their ability to take wickets or whether they conform with your hopes and desires to medium paced accuracy (and 2.7 rpo analysis). Asif has hardly taken a wicket for 12 months, the Pakistan selectors appear to have really messed him up.

The leading (non spin) bowler in world Test cricket must be Steyn at the moment. He has taken wickets for fun over the last 12 months, albeit too expensive for your tastes. Clark's ability to LEAD an attack must be still open for debate. A bit like a recent Pollock for me!

I think the problem is one of perspective. The current crop are being compared to the likes of McGrath and Warne who were so far above the rest you can't really compare them.

Perhaps It's more a case of looking at how do the current crop stack up to the likes of Kasprowicz, Gillespie and others who bowled predominanatly in the shadow of McGrath/Warne.