Australia ‘s decision to stick with an unchanged frontline pace attack last summer might have raised a few eyebrows. Now, following the injury of allrounder Cameron Green, selectors are having another look at their seam bowling options ahead of the upcoming series against India.
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood had demonstrated extraordinary stamina: before last week in Adelaide. They played in Australia’s previous nine Tests in succession, going back to the Ashes tour. That laboriousness wasn’t exactly onerous last summer either, given bowler-friendly conditions at home. And in New Zealand, where none of the seven matches went into the fifth day. Indeed, only three innings in those seven matches required more than 78 overs from the Australian bowlers. Allowing the fast men a reasonable intensity.
That, however, is a different challenge as India has a powerful batting lineup going into the coming five-match series over seven weeks. There are concerns Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood might not see out the series. As the workload may be too extreme with such unrelenting pressure.
So for now, Australia’s pace depth is being stretched. Several reserve bowlers are on the road back from injury. Lance Morris, a regular squad member who is yet to debut in Test match cricket, had a quad strain last week. But will be available towards the end of January. Scott Boland and Michael Neser, who both got off to good starts during the Sheffield Shield, are also back and fit after off-season injuries. And will play in Australia A’s upcoming red-ball series against India A.
Australia’s chair of selectors, George Bailey, pointed out on Monday that the selectors had prepared for the fast bowlers not to play every Test last year, but they did. “Potentially, that might have been an outlier, and again this summer we’ll prepare for adjustments if needed,” he said.
Green’s expected stress fracture in his back, which will rule him out all summer, will add to the workloads of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood. There was judicious usage of Green’s bowling in his fledgling Test career. But he was predicted to play a more significant role against India.
Mitchell Marsh would most likely replace Green. But he has sent down just four overs since returning from a hamstring injury suffered during the IPL. Though he has been batting well for Western Australia, Marsh did not bowl in his last match.
If the selectors go for a like-for-like replacement, Aaron Hardie and Beau Webster come into contention. Hardie missed the opening Shield round with a quad injury but is due to return for WA’s next match.
Australia ‘s management has been cautious regarding the workloads of their fast bowlers. Cummins didn’t tour England for the white-ball games to rest. And it’s expected both Hazlewood and Starc play at least one Shield match before the Pakistan series.
Bailey reckons every single player’s pre-season Test summer is different. “Pat, Mitch, and Josh have been great in picking and choosing which franchise tournaments they play in and taking breaks when they need to,” he said.
ANI
