Strauss under pressure to find right balance for England bowling attack
By ANIThursday, February 3, 2011
SYDNEY - England skipper Andrew Strauss has admitted he had the job ahead of finding the right balance for his bowling attack after they were unable to defend 6-333, as most of his frontline bowlers are injured.
The squad is collapsing under stress after a long tour, with Paul Collingwood being the latest casualty with back spasms.
Bowlers Graeme Swann (back injury), Stuart Broad (stomach injury), and Tim Bresnan (calf injury) have all had time out with problems.
“At the moment we are a bit short on bowlers full stop. It’s not ideal - I need five bowlers, there is no doubt. Ideally you will have six bowlers at your disposal; five specialists and a Collingwood-type bowler,” he said
“We are going to have to decide what the best way of winning games out on the subcontinent is,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Strauss, as saying.
He also revealed that he had simply taken advantage of a recently changed law by asking for a runner for cramp-hit Jonathan Trott - - previously cramps had not been deemed a serious enough ailment to warrant such a request.
Heads turned when Trott was permitted to call for a runner while suffering from cramps midway through his 137 run knock, and recovered quickly enough to be able to bowl later.
“The ICC have changed the rule. If we all want to abide by the rules then we can. The rules were that you couldn’t have a runner if you have cramp and then they changed it to you can have a runner if you have cramp a couple of months ago,” said Strauss. (ANI)
