Manee
Cricketer Of The Year
Fast bowling is good at the moment. However, I don't think we have reached a golden age. A golden age manifests as loads of bowlers in an era who perform consistently well. I don't think this will occur for the amount of bowlers that it did in the 1990s (look at Broad's career average or Ishant Sharma's, or Morne Morkel's). I don't think you can really place this down to pitches either. Zaheer Khan shows that you can succeed in any conditions with genuine consistency and to even suggest that he is currently tapping into all time great bowling each time is to be quite simply premature.Looks like we are at the dawn of a new age for fast bowling, we some young guns from SA, Australia, England, Pakistan, India ripping it up.
Australia have about 6 fast bowlers who can run through batting line ups.
SA has found some young guns as well.
England is finding good young speed merchants.
India as well all of a sudden has found some quality young quick's.
This is what happens when pitches start offering something for the quick's, it's great too see almost all nations producing fast bowlers, I think we are at the dawn of a new age of bowling. After decades of flat tracks, it's great to see the bowlers starting to come into their own.
Pakistan without Amir and Asif hardly are world beaters with their pace attack. Gul and Cheema are good but Cheema is getting on a bit and Gul is very inconsistent. Junaid and Wahab also are plagued with inconsistency. India have Ishant Sharma who has flattered to deceive, Praveen who has played a handful of Tests and Yadav who is wayward and I think will struggle over a long term career. South Africa and Australia have debut bowlers do well but I think Cummins, who spent a lot of time in the 130s kph and has played pretty much no FC cricket will not be much of a Test bowler. I have reservations that Philander will not perform much outside South Africa and I think De Lange is good but no more so than Morne Morkel who has averaged 30 in Test cricket. Pattinson, on the other hand, I think is good.
And of course, England do have some quality quick bowlers. Not enough for a golden age on their own but I think Anderson and Finn can be quality. Broad is maturing nicely, though it is 50/50 as to how his career will end up and Bresnan has done exceptionally but I think will go to a 30 average before too long.