India wary of Australian fast bowlers

Right from the days of Ray Lindwall to the 70s when Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson terrorised opposition batsmen, and the 80s (Craig McDermott) and the 90s (Glenn McGrath & Brett Lee), Australia have always boasted of at least one world-class fast bowler in their bowling ranks. While the obvious reason for this non-stop supply of 'super quicks' is the fast and bouncy wickets Down Under, it has perhaps also got to do with their basic nature. Aussies are aggressive and spirited sportsmen who don't yield easily, two qualities that go into the making of a fast bowler. Even during their recent decline, Australia kept churning out quality pacers. Ironically, very few Australian fast bowlers have done well in the subcontinent, unlike the West Indian pacemen of yore who would succeed on any wicket. Lillee, for example, managed just three wickets in three Tests in Pakistan during the 1980 tour. The failure of Aussie fast bowlers on unhelpful wickets has largely been responsible for Australia's poor record in India. The exception was the 2004 tour, where McGrath, Jason Gillespie (19 wickets in seven Tests in India@21.21) and Michael Kasprowicz (19 wickets in eight Tests@39.21) combined beautifully to help the Aussies breach the 'final frontier' after 35 years. Boasting of proven performers and exciting youngsters, the present Aussie pace attack is one of the best to have toured India. It has the potential to match the exploits of the 2004 batch, which relied on frustrating the Indian batsmen to procure wickets. If this attack fails, Australia would be left searching for answers, because their spinners aren't likely to do what Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar did to India. Even though the conditions may not aid their art, this bunch has plenty of firepower to blow up the fragile Indian batting order, and reopen the wounds of India's 4-0 rout in Australia on their last tour. Cricket Australia's recent implementation of the 'rotation policy' may have come under criticism but it has helped this group stay fresh and eager to hunt. It would be a huge relief for these pacers that they won't have to bowl to the likes of likes of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, two batsmen who have tormented Australia for more than a decade. They would also hope that the two others from that awesome bunch in the Indian team, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, continue to fight their own demons. Amongst the youngsters, the Aussies will be a little wary of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, two men who can make them slog for long hours in the field. They would need plenty of perseverance and willpower to keep bowling under a hot sun on unresponsive wickets. The biggest test would come in the first Test in Chennai, where they would encounter stifling humidity. Kasprowicz' match-winning spell in Bangalore in 1998, when he took five for 28 to win Australia the Test, should serve as inspiration. The 'pace party' will be led by 31-year-old left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson, who has picked 21 wickets in the six Tests he has played in India. Whether Johnson turns out to be average or brilliant depends more on him than the conditions. On a good day, he can run through a side, but when off-colour, he struggles with his line and length. Partnering Johnson would be Peter Siddle who made merry against India at home in 2011-12. Siddle made his debut in India in 2008, bagging Sachin Tendulkar's wicket as his first Test scalp. Since then, Siddle has flowered, showing an ability to swing the ball at high pace. The other three fast bowlers in the Aussie armoury are all young, inexperienced but full of talent and raw pace. Their performance, when confronted by conditions alien to them, would be the yardstick by which bowling coach Ali de Winter, who has filled in the big shoes of McDermott in that position, would be judged. Mitchell Starc boasts of speeds that can touch 150km/hour, and is probably the best left-arm fast bowler in the world right now. He could leave India bleeding with his lethal, full-length deliveries that remind one of the 'Sultan of Swing' Wasim Akram. The ultra-quick James Pattinson has played just seven Tests, but an average of 22.09 while taking 31 wickets reflect his talent. Jackson Bird is a bit of an unknown commodity but Matthew Hayden feels he could be the star of the tour. Much of the success of this Aussie pace attack would depend on how well they are able to reverse the ball and also on how quickly they come to terms with low, slow tracks. Source: TOI