Image courtesy of: Zimbio

“It’s not just the bowling attack that’s on the field, I think it’s the backup we’ve got as well”

Australia fast bowling coach Craig McDermott has announced that the baggy greens have got the “best attack in the world” following their impressive performance against England in the first three Tests, which saw them regain the Ashes for the first time in five years.

While South Africa’s pace trio of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel are widely regarded as the best bowling attack in international cricket as of right now, McDermott is adamant that the times are changing.

“It’s not just the bowling attack that’s on the field, I think it’s the backup we’ve got as well,” McDermott said. “That’ll maybe be put to the test over the next couple of weeks. We’ll see.

“I think we’ve got the best attack in the world. It’s very well balanced, particularly with Nathan as our spinner – he’s bowled well – and you’ve got Watto there as your fifth bowler. He’s pretty handy as a fifth bowler. Nathan’s done an unbelievable job for us this year. He’s taken some very crucial wickets and very crucial times, particularly Alastair Cook twice with those cut shots where he’s got a little bit of extra bounce.”

Meanwhile, Australia pace bowler Peter Siddle noted that this was definitely the best bowling attack he had been a part of since making his Test debut back in 2008.

“We’re in a good place at the moment,” Siddle said. “We’ve been striving as a bowling unit for a long time to get that consistency right and to be able to complete innings together. That’s what we’ve worked towards and this series has shown that. We’ve been able to bowl teams out quite quickly, give our batters a big chance and be able to put a lot of pressure on the opposition.

“Everyone from Mitchell to myself and Rhino and Lyno, we’re all performing well and playing our role. We’ve always been about partnerships with bat or ball and I think with the ball at the moment this is probably the best line-up I’ve played in, where we’ve been able to stick it together and get everything right and win Test matches. At the moment this is definitely the best line-up that I’ve ever played in.”

However, Siddle was hesitant to share McDermott’s views about the current Australian bowling attack being the best in the world.

“We’re up there, aren’t we?” he said. “We’re winning Test matches, we’re bowling teams out, but it’s on the back of the batters. The batters have set a record of 500 for three consecutive Tests in a row for the opposition to chase. It does make it a lot easier for the bowling unit. The combination at the moment with batters and bowlers, we’re just playing good positive cricket and being consistent at it.

“It’s a known fact that you build enough maidens on an opposition, especially back to back to back, and you generate wickets.”