The man who guided Australia’s bowling attack in England’s whitewash four years back has warned the touring England team that the current Australia attack is more venomous than its predecessor who hunted “like hyenas round a dying zebra”. Craig McDermott, who was the bowling coach of Australia back then, feels that the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Jose Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins will test an uncertain England batting line-up with raw pace.
“We will have more aggression this time. We will have Starcy plus Cummins as well and Josh Hazlewood is not backwards in coming forwards these days, either. It’s great if we can have three blokes bowling well – keeping the ball up at the Gabba and, at other places around Australia, allowing the ball to swing both normally and in reverse,” McDermott, who picked 291 Test wickets in 71 matches stated.
Mitchell Johnson led Australia’s pace battery four years back which demolished the England batting order with bouncers and good quality swing bowling following it up with Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle’s accurate line and length. The inclusion of Pat Cummins after a long battle with injury will be an advantage for the Aussie captain Steve Smith in the upcoming Ashes series. McDermott believes that left-hand pacer Starc is in ‘awesome form’ and will lead a ‘top-notch attack’.
“He is bowling quick, swinging the ball, he is bowling good reverse [swing] – he has that many variations to his bowling now both over and around the wicket. Josh Hazlewood is as good along with Pat Cummins who has bowled really well,” he further mentioned.
He also praised Australia most successful off-spinner Nathan Lyon saying that he bowls well at Gabba.
“Nathan Lyon also bowls well at the Gabba. Last Ashes series here, obviously Mitchell Johnson along with Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, put the Poms on their backside. Hopefully, Mitchell Starc can do the same thing,” he signed off.