England’s white ball groups now have a battery of left arm seamers, and infrequently go in with as many as three. The sudden profusion of left arm choices is, nonetheless, a reasonably latest improvement, as till not too long ago it was a comparative rarity for England to pick a left armer of their seam assault.
Maybe the perfect recognized England left armer was JK Lever, and though he predated my time as an England fan, I do have obscure recollections watching him late in his profession for Essex. his figures, it’s a shock he didn’t play extra, taking 73 wickets in 21 checks at a mean of 26, and 24 in 22 sooner or later internationals at 29 with the extremely respectable financial system price of three.71. It appears shocking that he didn’t play extra for England, notably within the early to mid 80s given his advantageous document.
The primary left arm seamer I watched reside for England was Mark Ilott, who performed a few checks within the dismal ashes 12 months of 1993, and a pair extra on tour in South Africa in 1994-5. A complete hearted county bowler, he was uncovered towards Check batsmen and performed solely 5 Exams, at a mean of 45. To be blunt, he in all probability lacked the tempo to essentially succeed at worldwide stage.
Alan Mullally, who debuted in 1996, has a extra substantial document than Ilott. He performed 19 checks and 50 ODIs, taking 58 take a look at wickets at 31. He was introduced in to attempt to give a poor England aspect some selection, and is maybe remembered extra for his dismal batting. Nevertheless, he was a strong worldwide bowler, albeit in all probability a greater white ball bowler than purple, taking 63 wickets in ODIs at an financial system price of lower than 4, indicating how properly suited left arm seam bowlers will be for shorter type matches.
Honourable mentions additionally go to “Sam” Brown, who performed one take a look at in 1996, and “Smudge” Smith, a diminutive county bowler who once more performed a solitary take a look at in 97, and missed out on a take a look at wicket when Graham Thorpe dropped Matthew Elliott. Each may swing the ball constantly at county stage however struggled of their sole appearances at checks. This was additionally, by the way, an issue for Mullally. He bowled at a sooner lick than Ilott however didn’t actually swing the ball into the right-handers constantly sufficient.
Arguably the perfect left-armer England have had lately was Ryan Sidebottom. He debuted in 2001 however solely grew to become a daily within the aspect when he was recalled in 2007. Sidebottom had a advantageous profession and ably changed Matthew Hoggard as England’s swing specialist. At a good peak of 6 foot 4, and bowling within the mid to late 80s, he had a strong take a look at document of 79 wickets in 22 video games with a bowling common of 28. He was additionally a advantageous sooner or later bowler, with a superb yorker and adjustments of tempo, contributing to England’s first ever World Cup trophy – the 2010 World T20.
Wanting again, Sidebottom in my view ought to have performed extra for England. Nevertheless, he suffered resulting from Duncan Fletcher’s notion that he lacked the tempo to succeed on the highest stage. His success after his belated recall, in fact, refuted this principle – though he generally pushed his physique too onerous and picked up niggling accidents.
The trendy period has resulted in a plethora of left-armers enjoying white ball cricket, notably the T20 sport. The primary England tried on this format was Harry Gurney, who exhibited some respectable abilities “on the loss of life” together with slower balls, which have change into such an integral a part of a seamer’s armoury in white ball cricket.
Of those that have performed extra not too long ago, David Willey is a constant swing bowler and a strong decrease order hitter, and Reece Topley is an exceptionally tall bowler with a superb yorker and bouncer. It’s only a disgrace about his continual harm issues.
England’s most distinguished left-armer of latest occasions, nonetheless, has been Sam Curran. Though his Check document is at present modest, he’s a formidable white ball bowler, notably in T20 cricket, the place his selection in addition to his skiddy trajectory could make him tough to play on the loss of life. His batting, whereas erratic, can be brutally efficient, notably on sluggish wickets
Whether or not Curran can become an efficient Check bowler stays to be seen, however his comparatively modest tempo and lack of peak implies that he’ll must swing the ball to threaten the batsmen. England even have a profusion of quick bowling choices in Check cricket so his alternatives is likely to be restricted.
The rise of left-armers in county cricket – George Garton and Luke Wooden spring to thoughts – could be a quirk of nature, however the deluge of T20 leagues and their obsession with ‘match ups’ has undoubtedly benefitted the practitioners of this specific artwork. The truth that left armers might be able to cramp the batsmen might partially clarify their recognition. Nevertheless, aside from Lever and Sidebottom, few of the gamers talked about above have actually satisfied at Check stage. England haven’t produced a Wasim Akram, or a Mitchell Starc, or perhaps a Mitchell Johnson. It’s about time they did.
Rob Stephenson
