Australian fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath has backed the Australian pace bowling attack as being more versatile than England's, saying that the touring fast bowlers have shown adaptability and guile even on the tailor-made pitches for the home side in the Ashes.
According to the Guardian, the bowling attack has been a strength for Australia for a long time, especially in their home soil with dominating performances against India, South Africa and Sri Lanka from 2011-2013, and the blend of the fast bowlers have been a starring feature in the Ashes.
Insisting that the tailor-made English pitches are a big compliment to the Australian fast bowlers, McGrath said that England might have been trying to replicate the Indian pitches as with dry, slow turning wickets given England's victory and Australia's loss in the subcontinent.
According to McGrath, he was surprised that England did not have confidence in their own conditions despite having quality bowlers like James Anderson, adding that even though he regards Anderson and his fellow bowlers Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan as good attacking bowlers, they are not too dissimilar and do not have much to fall back on if their first plan of action fails.
However, McGrath backed Australia's pace attack, beginning with Peter Siddle, saying that Siddle has been the leader of the unit for a few years as he has started to bowl a much fuller length in the last few years courtesy of his mentorship by Craig McDermott, adding that Siddle bowls good areas tightly, gets swing and makes batsmen earn their runs.
Stating that Ryan Harris is quicker, gets more shape while Mitchell Starc is the left-armer, McGrath also said that all-rounder Shane Watson is different from the rest of the bowlers, adding that he allows his fellow bowlers to take a break and to come back without too much damage being done as he stops the opposing batsmen from scoring.
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McGrath also said that the all the Australian bowlers together form a potent combination as with their different styles, the opposing batsmen cannot get accustomed to a single bowling style, adding that the fast bowling cupboard in Australia is very full with more talent coming through despite the injuries.
However, McGrath said that the problem for Australia is that they have been keeping the quicks out from the main games, although he said that injuries, not the selectors, are to blame for that.
