Australia and England surprised by new bowlers

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Australia and England were both taken unawares by new bowlers at the Champion's Trophy game last weekend. England who pride themselves on their meticulous preparation had no clue about Mitchell Johnson:

After Johnson's first over in Jaipur, England's opening batsmen Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell held a mid-pitch conference in which they expressed surprise at the pace Johnson had generated from a seemingly economical run-up.

You almost wish Australia had kept him under wraps and unveiled him at the Gabba although a bit more international experience for Johnson is better preparation. Pietersen was surprised by a Mitchell bouncer and I like how he expects to face short pitched bowling during the Ashes:

"Being, say, a dangerman, they are going to try a little harder against me but it's a challenge and I don't mind a challenge."

He sure does have tickets on himself, does self-proclaimed dangerman Pietersen! Conversely, Australia's top order were taken by surprise by new English bowler Sajid Mahmood. I read with interest how he "got wild reverse swing when he took three wickets in his opening five overs against Sri Lanka". Considering reverse swing only comes later in an innings when the ball gets old, I wonder how Mahmood could've got "wild reverse swing" in the opening overs of a one day match. I suspect the lollies were out in force that day!

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Posted by JC on Wed 25 Oct

3 comments

Saj's three wickets against Sri Lanka were in a test match rather than a one-dayer, and he didn't open the bowling but came on as 2nd change - his first wicket came in the 21st over.

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Posted by Rolla on 2006-10-26 04:13:15

I stand corrected...

... England still use lollies though :-)

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Posted by JC on 2006-10-26 08:12:07

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