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Aussie Marsh backs England pacemen

Former Australian wicketkeeper, Rod Marsh believes England's fast-bowling future is bright.

Updated on: Dec 14, 2007 12:58 PM IST
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Former Australian wicketkeeper, Rod Marsh believes England's fast-bowling future is bright in a timely boost for the English who were whitewashed 5-0 in the last Ashes series.

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HT Image

Australia have great hopes for seamers Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus, but Marsh, a former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) selector thinks England's fast bowlers are in better shape.

"England's bowlers are all big, tall blokes. There are a couple of kids from Durham about seven foot. You've got Liam Plunkett who people have discarded now, I don't know why. Graham Onions, he's bowling well. One from Middlesex, Steven Finn, he's a big, tall fellow," Marsh tells January's Wisden Cricketer magazine.

"(Steve) Harmison's still around. (Stuart) Broad's about eight foot and growing. People say you've got to have strength in your batting but you don't have to.

"If you have a big battery of fast bowlers who can run in and knock sides over, you don't have to make that many runs."

Marsh, however, admitted he is baffled by England's form since 2005 when they snatched the Ashes in a memorable series.

"(Australian captain) Ricky Ponting's team has won 14 Tests in a row. When was the last time England won 14 in a row? But why hasn't it happened? It boils down to competitiveness.

 
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Get the Cricket Live Score! including IPL Matches and track ICC rankings shifts, Cricket Schedule, and Players Stats along with detailed score profiles of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill.
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