• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

The most balanced bowling attack at the WC.

pup11

International Coach
I think its a close call between Australia and Sri lanka because both these teams have bowlers to exploit any given condition on any given day.


Both these sides have got a lot of variety in their bowling which is always important in a tournament like the WC to be consistent till the finals.

Though i think Sri lankan top-order batting might let them down in this tournament.
 

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
Sri Lanka rely on 10 overs from Maharoof, who isn't exactly a world class seamer, and that distorts the "balance" a bit IMO. Vaas, Malinga and Murali are good though, and they've got the best part-time options of any country though. Having Jayasuria, Dilshan and Arnold to choose from for your 5th set of 10 is great.

With Symonds and Watson in the team, Australia's attack is the most balanced. Four specialists with a fair amount of variety and two all-rounders for support. As far as the best attack goes, it's between Australia and South Africa, depending on how Tait goes. South Africa don't have a decent spinner, though.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
As far as balance goes, NZ for mine. Pace and swing from Bond, seam and accuracy from Mason, bounce from Oram, spin from Vettori, spin the other direction from Patel, and Styris's change-up mediums for backup. Not saying they have the best attack by any means, but they have the most balanced one IMO - especially if they pick Patel.
 

pup11

International Coach
I would say that South African bowling attack is probably the worst among the top 4 contenders(AUS,SL,NZ,SA) of this WC, IMO.


I think they are a one-dimensional and one-paced attack and when Pollock gets targeted the way he has been in the last 2 games then their bowling attack looks even more ordinary, because the South African attack is far better suited for seamer friendly conditions.
 

oz_fan

International Regular
I think SL has the most balanced attack. Malinga, Vaas and Murali all bring something special and different to the bowling and they have a lot of spin options suited to WI pitches like Jayasuriya, Dilshan, etc. I'd still rate Australia's bowling attack better in terms of quality and like others have said on a seamer friendly pitch SA would come close to being favourites.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
I would say that South African bowling attack is probably the worst among the top 4 contenders(AUS,SL,NZ,SA) of this WC, IMO.


I think they are a one-dimensional and one-paced attack and when Pollock gets targeted the way he has been in the last 2 games then their bowling attack looks even more ordinary, because the South African attack is far better suited for seamer friendly conditions.
They certainly aren't the worst attack, but they certainly are the least balanced.
 

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
They certainly aren't the worst attack, but they certainly are the least balanced.
Agreed. For me, "balanced" would mean that an attack had a variety of bowlers to handle different situations.

Having said that, I'd say who has the most balanced attack is probably irrelevant. South Africa have a clear weakness with their lack of variety and it cost them dearly against Australia, but all the other contenders have enough options that they can handle different sorts of wickets. It's quality that matters.
 

Goughy

Hall of Fame Member
They certainly aren't the worst attack, but they certainly are the least balanced.
Agreed.

In a number of conditions this SA attack would be the strongest, however the current conditions in WI aren't 1 of them.

Definately the least balanced, but in the same regard probably the most likley to role a top team over for under 120 if things suit.

Harris or Tshabalala should be there.
 

Fiery

Banned
NZ for mine...in fact the batting line-up is pretty balanced too. Take out Marshall for Taylor and hope 2 metre Peter can not try to be Lou Vincent and play a big shot like he did 2nd ball today and we're lookin' good
 

pup11

International Coach
Harris is injured if i am right and Peterson is a hopeless spinner, but South Africa doesn't even have decent part-timers who can add variety and take pace of the ball.


Saffie attack is the worst when compared to Aus,NZ and SL and SA bowling is the least suited to the general West Indian conditions among the top 4 teams, the same SA attack would have been lethal if this tournament was being played in Australia or South Africa.
 

Perm

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
New Zealand are fairly balanced in terms of our bowling attack. We have a genuinely quick bowler in Bond, a left armer in Franklin, three reasonably steady and accurate seamers with Gillespie,Oram and Mason. Then we have two good spin bowlers, Vettori and Patel plus two other slow bowlers, McMillan and Styris. Very balanced in my eyes.
 

corza_nz

School Boy/Girl Captain
yep new zealand definitely have the most balanced attack. they have all options covered and with styris as a 6th bowler they can get away with a bowler having an off day like franklin did yesterday as they can just stop bowling them and let the other bowlers make up the overs.
 

Laurrz

International Debutant
Sri Lanka rely on 10 overs from Maharoof, who isn't exactly a world class seamer, and that distorts the "balance" a bit IMO. Vaas, Malinga and Murali are good though, and they've got the best part-time options of any country though. Having Jayasuria, Dilshan and Arnold to choose from for your 5th set of 10 is great.

With Symonds and Watson in the team, Australia's attack is the most balanced. Four specialists with a fair amount of variety and two all-rounders for support. As far as the best attack goes, it's between Australia and South Africa, depending on how Tait goes. South Africa don't have a decent spinner, though.
well said, agreed
 

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
As far as balance goes, NZ for mine. Pace and swing from Bond, seam and accuracy from Mason, bounce from Oram, spin from Vettori, spin the other direction from Patel, and Styris's change-up mediums for backup. Not saying they have the best attack by any means, but they have the most balanced one IMO - especially if they pick Patel.

Bond hasn't really been that fast tho, he's been mid-80s. Australia have all the bases you mention covered, plus something a bit different in Hogg.
 

KiWiNiNjA

International Coach
Bond hasn't really been that fast tho, he's been mid-80s. Australia have all the bases you mention covered, plus something a bit different in Hogg.
Bond came out before the tournament and said that he is not focusing on pure speed, but dropping his pace back and using his guile to out fox batsmen, occasionally throwing in fast ones and using a lot of variation.

That being said, I still think you can class Bond as fast. He is bowling 140km/h plus and isn't even bowling at full tilt

I think that all 3 of Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka have reasonably balanced bowling attacks. Ofcourse, Australia has more quality. But when talking about balance:
Australia: Accurate and experienced right-armer in McGrath, pace and youthful exuberance in Tait, left-armer in Bracken, the wrist spin of Hogg, and then the all-rounders in Symonds and Watson.
Sri Lanka: Accurate and experienced left-armer in Vaas, pace and unorthidox action in Malinga, Murali (the only word you need), then Mahroof who is better than average IMO, followed by Jayasuriya, Dilshan, and Arnold.
New Zealand: Pace and brains in Bond, flight and guile in Vettori, accurate and containing medium pace in Oram and Styris, spinning it the other way in Patel, left-armer in Franklin, the Gillespie/Mason who are decent ODI bowlers, if only that
 

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Tait is fast, Bond is fast medium the way he's been bowling. I don't care whether he's supposedly holding back or whatever, we're going on what's happened so far here - not on conjecture. Australia's bowling attack has everything NZ's attack has, plus Hogg and genuine consistent pace in Tait.
 

KiWiNiNjA

International Coach
Tait is fast, Bond is fast medium the way he's been bowling. I don't care whether he's supposedly holding back or whatever, we're going on what's happened so far here - not on conjecture. Australia's bowling attack has everything NZ's attack has, plus Hogg and genuine consistent pace in Tait.
I consider anything over 140km/h on average as FAST.

If you compare everybody to Tait then you might aswell put Tait in a higher speed bracket and call him SUPER FAST
 

irfan

State Captain
I consider anything over 140km/h on average as FAST.

If you compare everybody to Tait then you might aswell put Tait in a higher speed bracket and call him SUPER FAST
Whoaa. OMG What was that ??

Is it a bird ?..

Is it a plane?.....

No it's SuperTait ?
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
I would say that South African bowling attack is probably the worst among the top 4 contenders(AUS,SL,NZ,SA) of this WC, IMO.


I think they are a one-dimensional and one-paced attack and when Pollock gets targeted the way he has been in the last 2 games then their bowling attack looks even more ordinary, because the South African attack is far better suited for seamer friendly conditions.
It's one thing targeting him, quite another getting away with doing it.
 

Top