I think that if he bowled another 7-8MPH quicker, then he would be a very useful cricketer.
Unfortunately in the shorter formats, he bowls at that 'Hoggie' pace of around 78-82mph, which at that level tends to be very hittable.
That is unless you look at someone like Jimmy Faulkner (the Aussie), who is about the same pace, but has a real variety in his bowling.
Or Vernon Philander or Glenn Mcgrath,
Willey can't be compared to Glenn McGrath mate!!
Philander is a bit different again, in that he bowls straight and it skids on whilst doing a bit in the air or off the pitch - similar to Hoggie.
The comparison for Willey would be Chris Woakes, whom looked like a real county trundler when he first broke through, but is now bowling regularly over 85MPH. I have heard that he put in a lot of gym work, and gained muscle to increase his speed, as he knew that he wasn't quick enough.
When I have watched Willy in recent times, he looks like a bit of a weak leak in the bowling attack.
I think that if he bowled another 7-8MPH quicker, then he would be a very useful cricketer.
Unfortunately in the shorter formats, he bowls at that 'Hoggie' pace of around 78-82mph, which at that level tends to be very hittable.
That is unless you look at someone like Jimmy Faulkner (the Aussie), who is about the same pace, but has a real variety in his bowling.
Or Vernon Philander or Glenn Mcgrath,
Willey can't be compared to Glenn McGrath mate!!
Philander is a bit different again, in that he bowls straight and it skids on whilst doing a bit in the air or off the pitch - similar to Hoggie.
The comparison for Willey would be Chris Woakes, whom looked like a real county trundler when he first broke through, but is now bowling regularly over 85MPH. I have heard that he put in a lot of gym work, and gained muscle to increase his speed, as he knew that he wasn't quick enough.
When I have watched Willy in recent times, he looks like a bit of a weak leak in the bowling attack.
his ODI bowling average isn't much worse than likes of Plunkett and Broad, and he is a better batsman than them 2. Decent player if it's swinging, perhaps only a back up if its not.
I think that if he bowled another 7-8MPH quicker, then he would be a very useful cricketer.
Unfortunately in the shorter formats, he bowls at that 'Hoggie' pace of around 78-82mph, which at that level tends to be very hittable.
That is unless you look at someone like Jimmy Faulkner (the Aussie), who is about the same pace, but has a real variety in his bowling.
Or Vernon Philander or Glenn Mcgrath,
Willey can't be compared to Glenn McGrath mate!!
Philander is a bit different again, in that he bowls straight and it skids on whilst doing a bit in the air or off the pitch - similar to Hoggie.
The comparison for Willey would be Chris Woakes, whom looked like a real county trundler when he first broke through, but is now bowling regularly over 85MPH. I have heard that he put in a lot of gym work, and gained muscle to increase his speed, as he knew that he wasn't quick enough.
When I have watched Willy in recent times, he looks like a bit of a weak leak in the bowling attack.
In terms of speed he can, which is what the crux of the previous comment was about.
barely, Wood's not been too bad actually. Roland-Jones can carry a bat but I want him to take wickets, not score runs.
Yes Wood can bat. But bats below Broad. TRJ could be classed aa a proper all rounder, he has on occasion batted as high as 6. He will certainly bat ahead of broad.
I agree we should be picking bowlers for their wickets and their batting is largely irrelevant given we already have allrounders. But he is certainly a step up from wood on the batting front.
sorta agree on both fronts. is Dawson likely to play? we should bat a long way down and I'm sure we won't bat as badly as we did in first innings last test . we tend to enjoy The Oval but can't get out of my head the last time we played SA there and Amla seemed to bat for 4 days and got a thousand runs on his own
Going Saturday, but in recent years, I swear we've spent more time at the oval in the bar areas due to rain than watching the cricket. Forecast currently looks good but I dare say will change.
Don't see Wood as a long term test bowler, will possibly be one of those guys suited to the shorter formats (Malinga etc).
We look to be missing some real pace, or a nasty bowler who can rough the oppo up a bit and shake things up.
Steve Finn was supposed to be the man for this role, but the last I heard he was morphing into more of Angus Fraser type, and is no longer a 90 MPH bowler.
Real shame as he had all of the tools to be one of the great England bowlers.
Comments
Philander is a bit different again, in that he bowls straight and it skids on whilst doing a bit in the air or off the pitch - similar to Hoggie.
The comparison for Willey would be Chris Woakes, whom looked like a real county trundler when he first broke through, but is now bowling regularly over 85MPH. I have heard that he put in a lot of gym work, and gained muscle to increase his speed, as he knew that he wasn't quick enough.
When I have watched Willy in recent times, he looks like a bit of a weak leak in the bowling attack.
I agree we should be picking bowlers for their wickets and their batting is largely irrelevant given we already have allrounders. But he is certainly a step up from wood on the batting front.
is Dawson likely to play?
we should bat a long way down and I'm sure we won't bat as badly as we did in first innings last test .
we tend to enjoy The Oval but can't get out of my head the last time we played SA there and Amla seemed to bat for 4 days and got a thousand runs on his own
We look to be missing some real pace, or a nasty bowler who can rough the oppo up a bit and shake things up.
Steve Finn was supposed to be the man for this role, but the last I heard he was morphing into more of Angus Fraser type, and is no longer a 90 MPH bowler.
Real shame as he had all of the tools to be one of the great England bowlers.
Jennings c Elgar b Philander 0
No surprise, I'd have dropped him.