Do you rate Mitchell Johnson?

[Uppercut]

That's been said about just about every seam-bowler who's ever had a poor start to their career - which numbers more bowlers than not.

Just because McGrath got better after a poor start does not necessarily mean anyone else will.

It does show that not many people start their careers well. So Johnson should certainly not be written off for his reasonable performances.

 

[Richard]

No he shouldn't, and I've said that several times about him. You'd be a fool if you thought, right now, that Johnson has no hope as a Test bowler, because he clearly does.

It just irritates me when people quote the McGrath case and compare it to other bowlers. Judge each bowler on his own merits - whether or not he has obvious potential. Not on what happened in McGrath's case.

 

[morgieb]

Lacks an ITO, I think he's alright, but the jury is still out.

 

[aussie]

He has a really strong action and is a really powerful boy.

Ive said before that Ive often been disappointed with his pace after lots of hype, but he certainly bowls a very heavy ball.

It appears (and I could be wrong) that on the right tracks and in rhythm he can be a real handful. Probably needs to add a little bit more to his game to force wickets when the going is not so fair.

What are his slower ball and bouncer like?

Has developed his slower ball in the current series, got Tendulkar out with a beautiful one in the first test. His bouncer (to the right handers at least) seems to really catch them by surprise. The left handers seem to handle him well though, but its pretty skiddy i'd say..

 

[NZTailender]

Seems like the type of guy who will never be up to much in the domestic scene but will use Tests as a way of stepping up and furthering his game. IMO he can only get better from here on in.

 

[Burgey]

Right now I rate his potential and his stamina - bowls fast all day.

Right now I don't rate his wrist position and the line he bowls. Or his catching, after yesterday

But I reckon he'll be the business in a few years providing injuries don't hamper him too much.

 

[James90]

As I can't decide on this one I'll take the literal meaning. By rating him 5/10 I'm rating him.

 

[FBU]

That's been said about just about every seam-bowler who's ever had a poor start to their career - which numbers more bowlers than not.

Just because McGrath got better after a poor start does not necessarily mean anyone else will.

Young bowers under 27. Only Asif and Steyn got off to a good start.

25 Tests - 128 wickets at 22.51 econ 3.61 s/r 37.40 - Steyn (25)
29 Tests - 104 wickets at 34.51 econ 3.64 s/r 56.70 - Anderson (26)
29 Tests - 100 wickets at 32.26 econ 3.28 s/r 58.80 - Pathan (24)
28 Tests - 91 wickets at 33.80 econ 3.86 s/r 52.40 - Malinga (25)
31 Tests - 69 wickets at 41.05 econ 3.26 s/r 75.40 - Mortaza (25)
16 Tests - 67 wickets at 31.55 econ 3.51 s/r 53.90 - Gul (24)
20 Tests - 63 wickets at 34.69 econ 3.60 s/r 57.80 - Taylor (24)
11 Tests - 51 wickets at 23.13 econ 3.03 s/r 45.70 - Asif (25)
14 Tests - 50 wickets at 31.46 econ 3.28 s/r 57.40 - Sreesanth (25)
12 Tests - 46 wickets at 33.32 econ 3.22 s/r 61.90 - Johnson (27)
13 Tests - 40 wickets at 39.10 econ 4.02 s/r 58.20 - RP Singh (22)
12 Tests - 34 wickets at 33.64 econ 3.26 s/r 61.70 - Sharma (20)
10 Tests - 32 wickets at 32.87 econ 3.71 s/r 53.00 - Morkel (24)
9 Tests - 28 wickets at 33.57 econ 2.98 s/r 67.50 - Patel (25)
9 Tests - 24 wickets at 43.41 econ 3.24 s/r 80.30 - Broad (22)
9 Tests - 23 wickets at 39.82 econ 3.57 s/r 66.80 - Plunkett (23)
5 Tests - 16 wickets at 27.37 econ 3.79 s/r 43.20 - Zondeki (26)
3 Tests - 5 wickets at 60.40 econ 4.37 s/r 82.80 - Tait (25)
2 Tests - 5 wickets at 39.60 econ 3.13 s/r 75.80 - Southee (19)
2 Tests - 5 wickets at 63.20 econ 3.76 s/r 100.80 - Tanvir (23)

 

[Top_Cat]

I rate his stamina and pace as well as seam movement when he gets it. He just seems to still be working out how to knock over Test batsmen consistently. If he keeps running in all day, he gives himself the best chance of doing that so I'd suggest he'll be in the mix for a while. He's no bowling genius but he's pretty solid.

 

[howardj]

He's shocked me this tour - set to be a marque player over the next few years.

 

[Precambrian]

Young bowers under 27. Only Asif and Steyn got off to a good start.

25 Tests - 128 wickets at 22.51 econ 3.61 s/r 37.40 - Steyn (25)
29 Tests - 104 wickets at 34.51 econ 3.64 s/r 56.70 - Anderson (26)
29 Tests - 100 wickets at 32.26 econ 3.28 s/r 58.80 - Pathan (24)
28 Tests - 91 wickets at 33.80 econ 3.86 s/r 52.40 - Malinga (25)
31 Tests - 69 wickets at 41.05 econ 3.26 s/r 75.40 - Mortaza (25)
16 Tests - 67 wickets at 31.55 econ 3.51 s/r 53.90 - Gul (24)
20 Tests - 63 wickets at 34.69 econ 3.60 s/r 57.80 - Taylor (24)
11 Tests - 51 wickets at 23.13 econ 3.03 s/r 45.70 - Asif (25)
14 Tests - 50 wickets at 31.46 econ 3.28 s/r 57.40 - Sreesanth (25)
12 Tests - 46 wickets at 33.32 econ 3.22 s/r 61.90 - Johnson (27)
13 Tests - 40 wickets at 39.10 econ 4.02 s/r 58.20 - RP Singh (22)
12 Tests - 34 wickets at 33.64 econ 3.26 s/r 61.70 - Sharma (20)
10 Tests - 32 wickets at 32.87 econ 3.71 s/r 53.00 - Morkel (24)
9 Tests - 28 wickets at 33.57 econ 2.98 s/r 67.50 - Patel (25)
9 Tests - 24 wickets at 43.41 econ 3.24 s/r 80.30 - Broad (22)
9 Tests - 23 wickets at 39.82 econ 3.57 s/r 66.80 - Plunkett (23)
5 Tests - 16 wickets at 27.37 econ 3.79 s/r 43.20 - Zondeki (26)
3 Tests - 5 wickets at 60.40 econ 4.37 s/r 82.80 - Tait (25)
2 Tests - 5 wickets at 39.60 econ 3.13 s/r 75.80 - Southee (19)
2 Tests - 5 wickets at 63.20 econ 3.76 s/r 100.80 - Tanvir (23)

Eh? What about Taylor, Sreesanth, Anderson, Malinga, Gul?

 

[Craig]

Needs a "still undecided option", simply not good enough forcing people to give a yes or no now. *Insert stuck-up smiley that STILL doesn't exist*

Said a fair few times - Johnson isn't and never has been in the top three or even four seamers (in the longer game at least) in Australia, I've never thought otherwise there. But has he done badly enough, right now, to be dropped from the Test team? I don't think so.

Not to mention this post is made in the middle of a match - the final match of a series, what's more. So things can change very quickly. Better time to make this poll IMO would've been at the end of the match and series.

Didn't want a 'cop out' option so I tried to hold people to make up their mind.

 

[pskov]

I think he could be a handy 3rd seamer and a good number 9 for Australia in the years to come but never any better than that. I just don't think he has that 'it' factor to be a top class wicket taking threat against the best line-ups. I reckon his career bowling average will end up somewhere around 28-31.

By contrast I think Tait definitely has 'it'. I'm convinced if he can stay fit and get a decent run in the side he will be a very, very good bowler. Even if he ends up like Bond and always battling injury and thus only having a short test career, I really rate him and hope he can stay fit and get selected soon (though not necessarily in the Ashes!).

 

[pasag]

Johnson will be a very good number 8, IMO.

 

[Uppercut]

Young bowers under 27. Only Asif and Steyn got off to a good start.

25 Tests - 128 wickets at 22.51 econ 3.61 s/r 37.40 - Steyn (25)
29 Tests - 104 wickets at 34.51 econ 3.64 s/r 56.70 - Anderson (26)
29 Tests - 100 wickets at 32.26 econ 3.28 s/r 58.80 - Pathan (24)
28 Tests - 91 wickets at 33.80 econ 3.86 s/r 52.40 - Malinga (25)
31 Tests - 69 wickets at 41.05 econ 3.26 s/r 75.40 - Mortaza (25)
16 Tests - 67 wickets at 31.55 econ 3.51 s/r 53.90 - Gul (24)
20 Tests - 63 wickets at 34.69 econ 3.60 s/r 57.80 - Taylor (24)
11 Tests - 51 wickets at 23.13 econ 3.03 s/r 45.70 - Asif (25)
14 Tests - 50 wickets at 31.46 econ 3.28 s/r 57.40 - Sreesanth (25)
12 Tests - 46 wickets at 33.32 econ 3.22 s/r 61.90 - Johnson (27)
13 Tests - 40 wickets at 39.10 econ 4.02 s/r 58.20 - RP Singh (22)
12 Tests - 34 wickets at 33.64 econ 3.26 s/r 61.70 - Sharma (20)
10 Tests - 32 wickets at 32.87 econ 3.71 s/r 53.00 - Morkel (24)
9 Tests - 28 wickets at 33.57 econ 2.98 s/r 67.50 - Patel (25)
9 Tests - 24 wickets at 43.41 econ 3.24 s/r 80.30 - Broad (22)
9 Tests - 23 wickets at 39.82 econ 3.57 s/r 66.80 - Plunkett (23)
5 Tests - 16 wickets at 27.37 econ 3.79 s/r 43.20 - Zondeki (26)
3 Tests - 5 wickets at 60.40 econ 4.37 s/r 82.80 - Tait (25)
2 Tests - 5 wickets at 39.60 econ 3.13 s/r 75.80 - Southee (19)
2 Tests - 5 wickets at 63.20 econ 3.76 s/r 100.80 - Tanvir (23)

I know what Richard's going to say. "So why do they keep picking young seamers if they almost always fail?" Fair point.

 

[Richard]

Young bowers under 27. Only Asif and Steyn got off to a good start.

25 Tests - 128 wickets at 22.51 econ 3.61 s/r 37.40 - Steyn (25)
29 Tests - 104 wickets at 34.51 econ 3.64 s/r 56.70 - Anderson (26)
29 Tests - 100 wickets at 32.26 econ 3.28 s/r 58.80 - Pathan (24)
28 Tests - 91 wickets at 33.80 econ 3.86 s/r 52.40 - Malinga (25)
31 Tests - 69 wickets at 41.05 econ 3.26 s/r 75.40 - Mortaza (25)
16 Tests - 67 wickets at 31.55 econ 3.51 s/r 53.90 - Gul (24)
20 Tests - 63 wickets at 34.69 econ 3.60 s/r 57.80 - Taylor (24)
11 Tests - 51 wickets at 23.13 econ 3.03 s/r 45.70 - Asif (25)
14 Tests - 50 wickets at 31.46 econ 3.28 s/r 57.40 - Sreesanth (25)
12 Tests - 46 wickets at 33.32 econ 3.22 s/r 61.90 - Johnson (27)
13 Tests - 40 wickets at 39.10 econ 4.02 s/r 58.20 - RP Singh (22)
12 Tests - 34 wickets at 33.64 econ 3.26 s/r 61.70 - Sharma (20)
10 Tests - 32 wickets at 32.87 econ 3.71 s/r 53.00 - Morkel (24)
9 Tests - 28 wickets at 33.57 econ 2.98 s/r 67.50 - Patel (25)
9 Tests - 24 wickets at 43.41 econ 3.24 s/r 80.30 - Broad (22)
9 Tests - 23 wickets at 39.82 econ 3.57 s/r 66.80 - Plunkett (23)
5 Tests - 16 wickets at 27.37 econ 3.79 s/r 43.20 - Zondeki (26)
3 Tests - 5 wickets at 60.40 econ 4.37 s/r 82.80 - Tait (25)
2 Tests - 5 wickets at 39.60 econ 3.13 s/r 75.80 - Southee (19)
2 Tests - 5 wickets at 63.20 econ 3.76 s/r 100.80 - Tanvir (23)

Most of that lot are highly unlikely to amount to anything and some of them should never even have played a single Test so far.

In any case, Steyn's start (first 3 games) was distinctly poor and Asif's Test debut revealed a bowler hopelessly prematurely promoted.

As I say, not taking to Test cricket like a duck to water is not at all unusual, for a multitude of reasons, but McGrath is not the only example and most people who start poorly will still never amount to anything. Just because you start poorly doesn't mean you'll get better.

 

[Richard]

I know what Richard's going to say. "So why do they keep picking young seamers if they almost always fail?" Fair point.

There's certainly something in that, and some countries are more guilty than others. Some of it is hands being forced by unavailability of established players, clearly, but there's no doubt of times superior candidates are overlooked for the sake of youth, which simply makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[SJS]

Yes I do.

197th in all time great pace bowlers

 

[Flem274*]

Most of that lot are highly unlikely to amount to anything

Harsh. I think quite a few on that list will be quite good, with a few exceptions, like RP Singh and Plunkett.

 

[Precambrian]

Yes I do.

197th in all time great pace bowlers

That's still good.