Englands fast bowling unit & its future

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Now with the timing this may seem an odd time to write about Englands' fast bowling unit in the Test Match arena with anything but praise following the comprehensive drubbing of the West Indies in the First Test at Edgbaston this week and the previous Test Series victory over South Africa this summer too.

Currently in England we are blessed with quality fast bowlers throughout the County circuit and that is shown by the names left out of the current Test XI. For the most recent match between England and West Indies the unit consisted of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Toby Roland-Jones and all-rounder Ben Stokes backed up by off-spinner Moeen Ali. It is only when you see these names included do you truly notice those who have missed out. The likes of Chris Woakes who was arguably Englands best bowler last summer, understandable as he is continuing his comeback from the side injury which kept him out of the Champions Trophy. Then there are names like Steve Finn, Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett who are more experienced at both County and International level, but there are also those younger bowlers who are making their mark on the game, Bowlers such as Tom and Sam Curran at Surrey (the former who represented England earlier this Summer against South Africa in the limited overs series), Ben Coad of Yorkshire who started this season on fire having taken at present 47 wickets from 12 matches in Division 1 of the County Championship.

The strength in depth for England is something that should put fear into most opposition around the world as if one of the bowlers who occupy the positon in the XI gets injured there is a more than capable replacement ready and waiting to come in and fill the void, as most recently demonstrated by Toby Roland-Jones coming in for Mark Wood against South Africa.

It will fill the England coaching staff with great confidence the depth to the fast bowling department looking ahead to the future as the two spearheads of the current line up, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, approach the end of their respective careers. Don't get me wrong, I am not by any means saying that Englands two leading Test wicket takers are done by any stretch of the imagination. Personally I think that if not both Broad at least could carry on for another two years. But, forward thinking and looking to the future of the Test side when these two greats step aside is not a bad thing. In the three youngsters previously mentioned in this article as well as the likes of Roland-Jones and Wood the competition to lead the line will be fierce.

Bowlers who have the capabilities to adapt most to the conditions and situation of a game are those who prosper long term in the longest format of the game, just look at the longevity Broad and Anderson have had for England as the best example for this in modern times as well as greats like Pakistani due Wasim and Waqar who managed to be successful all over the world. Personally, I believe in time and with more experience, as long as they continue their progression how they have, Toby Roland-Jones alongside the Curran Brothers can lead England forward with ball in hand for a long time to come. They are handy with the bat as well which will help extend the tail in the Test team similar to that of the limited overs sides, Roland-Jones has already shown this with a few cameos already this summer.

Looking forward I can see Chris Woakes being a long term leader of the attack following his progression over the last few years as well as his overall ability in the field and with the bat, between he and Ben Stokes, England have two of the best genuine all-rounders in world cricket across all three formats, in my opinion. The area which England may be lacking moving forward is genuine pace bowlers. We have mid to low eighty miles per hour bowlers but Mark Wood and Steve Finn (when fully fit and in rhythm), England seriously lack the ninety plus miles per hour bowlers that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa produce regularly. Tom Curran could be one of these bowlers as he continues to develop as he is already a consistently high 80mph bowler as it stands. But this is an area in which England need to develop in the County game to be a serious force in all conditions and across all formats for years to come.

Finally, in my opinion, James Anderson is by far Englands greatest bowler. Not just because of the wickets he has taken which he nearing 500 Test wickets at the time of writing this, but for the spells he bowls and wickets he does not take. In the recent Day/Night Test versus the West Indies he could have easily doubled his five wicket match haul and against better opposition he would have. During both innings he bowled spells which were simply too good for the West Indian batsmen to lay bat on ball against him. I would like to see Jimmy continue for as long as his skills remain at the top.

Let me know your thoughts on the England bowling line up going forward and if you disagree say below.

JW