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Gus Atkinson


Proper cricketer.

Few lads on here very quick to write him off based on very little evidence on the previous page.

Before this test - where he picked up good wickets again - he had 55 wickets at 22, with a strike rate of 34. And a century with the bat!

Not many cricketers have started that well for England.

And then here he comes, with no real preparation, and is just bang on the money straight away. He's the only genuinely world class seamer we've found post Broad/Anderson. Him, Archer and Wood would be a very good attack down under, though odds have to be slim we can get them all on the pitch for long.
I agree. But the irony is we're looking for quick bowling close to 90mhp, who then break down with injuries and the answer is a quick who extended his career by bowling closer to 80mhp than 90mph.

Maybe the measure to pay attention to is not raw speed but consistent wicket-taking.

I was listening to an Aussie, I think it was Jarrod Kimber who said Aussie pitches are not what they were, pace-wise. And even in the old days there were bowlers like Alderton and McGrath. Even Siddle took a hatful and he's hardly express.

It seems we're aiming for fast pace and the result is broken bowlers.
Things that do well in Australia: pace, bounce/height, accuracy.

If a bowler has 2 out of three of those, he'll do well there.

Anderson had one good series there by bowling very defensive and maximising accuracy, but that was when we had ridiculous scoreboard pressure. In general, swing bowlers aren't that effective.

Atkinson, Carse, Archer, Wood could all propser. We've prepared well, just have to get them fit.
 
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I have expressed some doubts on this thread mainly because prior to his injury he looked to have lost his zip was bowling early 80s nd looked innocuous. I was wrong and Others argued he had been flogged to death and they were right. It was good seeing him bowling high 80s and moving it about again. He needs to build up his strength and stamina because there is a big drop off in his later spells but I’m sure he will do that.
 
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Big blow if he’s out. I’m a big fan.

A chance for Potts though? He’s probably England’s most consistent bowler when it comes to holding a line and length and he’s been treated very shabbily IMO.
 
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