Death bowlers' spot wide open for Australia, says Damien Fleming

Australia have now lost 16 of their last 18 ODIs.

Damien Fleming (AFP)

Former Australian fast-bowler, Damien Fleming has said that it is very important for Australian Cricket to get their limited overs cricket set-up sorted as soon as possible and one of Fleming's biggest concerns is the lack of a proper death overs specialist in the team. 

Australian is a five times world champions in the 50-overs arena but the country is going through an all-time low phase with the results, having won just 2 of their last 18 ODIs. This is a big worry with the ICC Cricket World Cup less than a year away. All eyes are on the historically solid Australian domestic structure and Fleming believes it is time for the Big Bash League to produce the vital cog in every successful limited overs side in the world: a dependable death overs bowler. 

Fleming, who took 134 ODI wickets, was recently quoted saying to Cricket.com.au as, "Who's our best death bowler? I don't think we know who our best closing bowler is, Where bowlers (on the fringes) can get a gig is with death bowling. The challenge for our domestic bowlers and in the Big Bash, is to put your hand up to bowl the tough overs at the end."

"Because if you're the best closer in the Big Bash or in the 50-over format, you might get yourself a ticket to England. That last spot (in the World Cup squad) I reckon is up for grabs and it's the specialist death bowler. You are playing this summer trying to get yourself into that World Cup team."  

Even though Australia lost 5-0 in England against the world no.1 ODI side, Fleming is impressed with some of the young fast bowlers that were on show. 

He said, "I really like the bowlers who were there (in the UK) in (Billy) Stanlake, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Tye and (Michael) Neser, But If you're only scoring 250 and you're trying to bowl out an England team over there, you have to bowl a bit differently."

(Inputs from Cricket.com.au)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 13 Jul, 2018

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