Reasons for positivity

Hmm, as per my last post, I listed Alex Lees as a potential future England player. Well for most of the season he has looked an imitation of the clear minded individual with fluent drives that prospered in 2014. He seemed to spend the season monitoring his back lift and his batting seems to have become very mechanical in the process. Chances are his time will come again but in the short term it will be back to the drawing board for the 22 year old.  Craig Miles on the other hand still looks a serious prospect but again probably wasn’t quite as consistent as he would have liked but he makes another England performance group this winter.

 

This season as a whole has been very positive in unearthing bowling talent with the potential of playing for England. Last year I was well aware of the likes of Jamie and Craig Overton, Olly Stone, Mark Wood, Craig Miles, Matt Fisher, Reece Topley and Charlie Morris, but this year has brought some new names to my attention.

Jake Ball- In 2014 he was a tallish, bustling, medium fast one day bowler for Nottinghamshire who looked ok but nothing exceptional. He came back this year obviously much stronger and was bowling 5mph quicker and has regularly hurried batsman in first class cricket this year.  He’s tall, swings and seams the ball at around 85mph and already is experienced in LO cricket. The next step will be to take this year’s 40 or so wickets and turn it into 60 wickets @ 25 and become leader of the Notts attack. He still can be a little profligate but don’t be surprised if he gets an ODI call up next summer if his progression continues.

Luke Wood – Another Notts seamer, whereas Ball is well built and tall, Wood is slight and less than 6 foot. The left armer really charges to the crease and continues the speed through the crease. His main threat at present is inswing. He’s early 80’s mph at the moment but at only 20 he should have a good deal of strength development to go through and as long as he keeps his snap in his runup and action he looks a fine prospect. To add to his bowling qualities he’s something of the original Stuart Broad type, happy go lucky strokemaker down the order.

Sam Curran- This guy. What a prospect. Only just 17 and barely looks 14 in both his face and his build but boy is his bowling impressive. Whippy pace from a short rhythmical runup allows him to shock batsman and with his late inswing that he gets against right handers he’s often good for one or two wickets with the new ball. If it’s not swinging he has a good bounce and like his brother and innate sense in how to bowl and the different variations to pull it off. Even more impressive is the fact that he a promising bat who long term Alex Stewart thinks will bat at 5 or 6. Has worked his way up from 11 to 7 or 8 in half a season and has not looked out of his depth on any occasion which is a massive compliment for someone so young.

Tom Curran – Slightly less headline worthy than his brother but Tom has been possibly the key figure in Surrey’s promotion and season as a whole. The one near ever present of the bowling lineup, he has shouldered the burden admirably putting in consistent performances throughout the season, over the different formats with no drop off in performance. It was his consistency that stood out as he rarely veered from a fullish length in the championship and his ability to adapt in the shorter formats as he often bowled in the toughest situations. I think he will have to add a touch of pace because at present he’s around the 78-80mph mark but that will come with time and a less stressful schedule. Like Sam, Tom is also another useful bat, and will prove likely to be a very good number 8 in time. The brother's are smart cricketers and that is a useful trait if you are going to make the stepup. They know what to bowl and they have enough confidence  and good enough technique to be able to bowl it.

A small mention to Matt Hobden. He had a poor season but I saw enough in a warmup game where he dismissed Lyth, Lees and Bairstow to know that  Hobden has a real chance. From his Jason Gillespie like action he generates good pace and can bowl with real hostility. Finding consistency will be the key for him over the next year or two.