Has there been a quantum shift in bowling in ODI's? Good question. If one compares the 1992 bowling lineup with the current 2015 squad the answer would be yes.
The bowlers used in the 1992 cup were:
Pace attack
Danny Morrison
Murphy Sua
Willie Watson
Spinners
Dipak Patel
Batting Allrounders
Chris Cairns
Gavin Larsen
Chris Harris
Bowlers being used in 2105
Pace attack
Tim Southee
Trent Boult
Adam MIlne
Mitchel McLenaghan
Spinners
DanielVettori
Nathan McCullum
Batting Allrounders
Corey Anderson
Kane Williamson
Grant Elliot
Seven bowlers at their disposal in 1992 versus nine in 2015. Let's not forget it wasn't the bowlers that almost won us the cup in 1992, it was batting strikepower setting winning targets or chasing down scores. Are we thin in batting cover in 2015 with the dearth of bowlers?
Actually the bowling played a big part. Only two teams managed to score more than 210 against us. And it could be argued that if we had taken Chris Pringle into the tournament, he might have been the difference against Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteTwo of the players you have listed there will not bowl more than two or three overs in any match. The '92 team's all rounders were predominantly bowlers. I don't think anyone ever thought of Larsen as an all rounder at all.