ENG vs AUS: "The Thing I’ve Found Frustrating Is Our Use Of The Bouncer In This Series" - Tim Paine On Australian Bowlers
Published - 28 Jul 2023, 04:33 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:16 AM
Former Australian skipper Tim Paine expressed his disappointment over Australia’s fast bowlers’ short-pitch ball strategy in the ongoing Ashes series. Tim Paine believes that Australian bowlers didn’t use bouncers effectively against England cricketers in the tournament series.
Australia are currently taking on the Ben Stokes-led team in the fifth and final Test at The Oval in London. The Pat Cummins-led team bowled out the opposition for 283 runs on the opening day of the match. Mitchell Starc was the top performer for Australia, picking up four wickets.
They’ll Take It On – Tim Paine
Tim Paine said that the bowlers should use the bouncer strategy against Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, as they tend to take on the short ball.
“The thing I’ve found frustrating is our use of the bouncer in this series. For two reasons – because they’ll take it on, firstly. Zak Crawley I don’t think is a great player of the short ball,” Paine said on SEN Tassie Breakfast.
“But also, when you plant the seed of a short ball to an opening batter, he’s not going to be coming forward as much, then that opens up Mitch Starc’s ability to pitch up, swing it down the line and hit pads and stumps.”
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It’s A Key Weapon For All Of Our Bowlers – Tim Paine
Tim Paine criticized Australia’s inconsistent bouncer strategy, pointing out that they have either overused it with a spread-out field or not used it at all.
“For me, we’ve either been all-in on the bouncer and bowling it every ball with the field out, or we haven’t used it all. I’d like to see just a little bit more of a balance with it because I think it’s a key weapon for all of our bowlers with the pace they bowl at.”
The Pat Cummins-led team scored 61 runs for the loss of 1 wicket at the end of Day’s play. David Warner once again failed to convert his start as he was dismissed for 24 runs. The visitors are currently trailing by 222 runs in their first innings of the Ashes finale.
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