All the early season talk has been of how the batsmen are scoring mountains of runs, resulting in most games being draws, but this week has seen bowlers make their mark.
Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball played extremely well against reigning champions Yorkshire recently, and he has now been touted for an England call-up. Ball took the wickets of Adam Lyth, twice, and Gary Ballance, while removing Joe Root for a first-ball duck.
You need somebody who can do the holding role. That’s crucial. Jake Ball has the likes of Harry Gurney, who can attack while he keeps away at that nibbling line and length that always worries batsmen. In the past, Notts had Ryan Sidebottom who held the game for them and it’s definitely a tactic that the team have realised is important in county cricket.
As long as teams have the guys who can be a little bit more attacking, and are not afraid to go for runs by tempting players into the drive, then it’s a brilliant tactic. Ball has brilliant control and that’s sure to stand him in good stead throughout his career.
This year, more than any other year because of the new toss rule, the cream of the bowling crop will come through.
It is a true test for bowlers. We have already seen more 400-plus scores at this time of year than I have ever seen before, which shows it’s not been easy, or going to be easy, for the bowlers.
Everybody is petrified of being bowled out cheaply, especially once you’ve been put in as a home side so the bowlers have to work doubly hard to get their wickets. The best disciplined bowlers will get wickets, and more attention will be paid to economy rates this year.
Once batsmen are in and set, they will be looking to score quicker than ever, so if you can keep hold of the game, and not go at anything above three per over, you’ll be doing well. That’s exactly what is needed in Test cricket and is one of the reasons this rule has been brought in.
There are bowlers who have performed really well, who haven’t been mentioned for international duty but ultimately, on flat Test pitches, you’ll need bowlers who have a little bit of nip with their pace. That’s something Durham’s Chris Rushworth has never really had. His control and swing is outstanding, but he’s played on very seamer-friendly pitches for half of his games.
He still bowled well away from home but he just lacks that little bit of pace that puts batsmen onto the back foot. You always felt like you could comfortably get on the front foot to Rushy, and you know his bouncer is not going to hurt you. Jake Ball is quick enough to give you a decent bouncer and that is the difference.
Bowlers have got to work hard to get their wickets, and I respect that, but when the likes of Jesse Ryder and Darren Stevens are ripping through teams, then something’s wrong. Those guys will not be getting anywhere near as many five-fors this year.
That’s not to say that wickets and stats don’t mean as much, but England selectors will be looking at players and asking if they will be as successful in the international game. That extra five to ten mph is the difference between the county circuit and the Test arena, even if you’re not always picking up wickets.
Not many bowlers have taken five-wicket hauls this year and it’s becoming more of a team effort. Bowlers are bowling shorter spells, but there’s more intensity now and spinners will come into it down the line. There’s already been more spin bowling in April than I have ever seen, so when the pitches get even more worn, they will play a huge part.
Mark Footitt is another name in the frame for England. He’s set to be out for a long spell with injury but, having recently moved to Surrey, the selectors will want to wait and see if he can be as successful in Division One as he was in Division Two. Mark has got pace. He’s tweaked his pace down slightly and gained more control, which is what the world-class overseas bowlers all did when they came over to England. They all had these long run-ups and tried to knock heads off and eventually they realised that if they bring batsmen forward they can take more wickets.
Mark was in and around the England set-up over the winter, so there are spots available. It’s almost the Tim Bresnan role that England want to fill – someone who’s got a bit of nip, but can give that control. It just builds pressure. On their day they can get a five-for, but they never let the game get away from them.
Brezzy was England’s unsung hero in that 2010-11 Ashes win Down Under. He always did a job but never got the praise and, without him, England would not have been as successful on that tour.
This piece originally featured in The Cricket Paper, Friday May 6 2016
