Thomson's Views, What is he talking about? Options

[Guest_Thorpey_*]

I just read part of a Jeff Thomson interview on a Foxsports website:

Legendary Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson has stoked the coals ahead of the hotly-anticipated Ashes series by claiming the challenge of old sparring partners England is "embarrassing".
Thomson not only believes England's pace attack of Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison offer little to worry the tourists, but the 54-year-old - who was dubbed the world's fastest bowler for almost three decades after he was clocked at 99.8 mph in Australia in 1975 - believes the series will be a complete mis-match.

"England will lose the five-Test series 3-0 and the margin will be worse for them if it doesn't rain," he told PA International.

"If you put the players from Australia and England up against each other it is embarrassing.

"There is no contest between them on an individual or team basis."

Thomson's unofficial 1975 speed record was beaten three years ago by Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who set a new mark in New Zealand.

However, Thomson, whose fast-bowling partnership with Dennis Lillee in the 1970s took the Aussies to the top of world cricket, does not expect to see a lot of pace this summer.

"England's bowlers have improved, I'll give them that but playing against South Africa and then taking on Australia a few months later are vastly different tasks," said Thomson, who claimed 200 wickets in 51 Tests at an average of 28.

"Harmison was a big disappointment in South Africa, and I don't know the reason why, but he has to lift his game.

"The same goes for Yorkshire's Hoggard. He's like a net bowler when you compare him to (Glenn) McGrath and (Michael) Kasprowicz."

For a man who threw...sorry i mean slung a ball at 99.8mph and averaged a mere 28 with the ball, i feel these comments are a bit far fetched.

Firstly, Hoggard...a net bowler?!?! A top-order hat-trick against the Windies and 12 wickets in the recent Jo'berg test when he single-handedly bowled England to a historical win would suggest otherwise. South Africa have one of the strongest batting line-ups...Kallis, Gibbs, Smith would get into most test teams...and SA have one of the longest batting line-ups so it is a testimony not only to the English bowlers' talent...but also their improved fitness. And he has improved his bowling to left-handers no-end so there will be no repeat of the last Ashes series.

As for saying that putting the two teams together is "embarrassing".....lets just look at recent form....England unbeaten in 2004 and test wins against strong test nations....the Windies at home and away, New Zealand at home and South Africa away.

As for saying "There is no contest between them on an individual or team basis"...this is just complete ********! Tresco, Vaughan and Thorpe all average well over 40, Jones and Freddie over 30, Strauss well over 50 and Pietersen will soon have a Bradman-like average! If you take away Gilchrist, then the Aussies batting form hasn't been too great over 2004...

Also, 8 different century-makers in 2004 would suggest that we aren't heavily dependent on just one player (although i do feel that Thorpe - with a century in each series in 2004 - has been a pivotal figure in the team...but hey, I'm biased!)If someone failed, then others would stand up and be counted. This is the same for our bowlers...all the wickets have been pretty evenly spread thoughout.

And, as if his views weren't already a load of bull...he goes and finishes by saying that Hoggard is no comparison to Kasprowicz!!!....Who?!?! Gillespie, yes...but Kaspo?!?!....he averages over 30 with the ball....mmmm.....

This post has been edited by Thorpey_Fan: Apr 21 2005, 10:18 AM

[MaraudingJ]

Blow off some more steam, would ya?

The reality is that it's a mismatch. Plain and simple. Live with it.

Hoggard is a conditions bowler. If they suit him, he'll do well. If they don't, at least he doesn't get walloped for runs. Then again, he hasn't faced Gilchrist much...

Harmison? Well, he'll be at home, so it's a whole new kettle of fish (more puns?), but he's still probably the most overrated fast bowler in world cricket. At the same time, Kaspa is probably the most UNDERrated fast bowler in world cricket. His poor average stems from a horrible start to his career. If you look at his performances in the last two years, you'll see what Thommo's on about.

You're trying to compare Vaughan, Trescothick, Thorpe and Strauss to Ponting, Hayden, Martyn and Langer? That doesn't even include Gilchrist! Vaughan, who had one golden series and has been mediocre since? Trescothick, the man for no occasion? Strauss still has a lot left to do, and Thorpey... well, it's Thorpey. I'll give you that one. But on the Aussie side, we're talking about three hall-of-famers and two world-class batsmen. All of them, on talent alone, are streets ahead of the Poms. And, coincidentally, they're ahead statistically, as well (just wait for the Strauss anomaly to fall apart during this series).

The Aussies have McGrath, Gillespie, and Warne. Backing them up are Lee, Kaspa, and MacGill. The Poms have... Wibbly, Wobbly, and the King of Spain? Come on, man. Get real.

I'm of the opinion that Thommo often spouts his mouth off without good reason, but this time, he's got it right. 2004? What a joke. England played West Indies in West Indies when they were at their lowest, and then again in the same state, at home. Any West Indian will testify to that being probably their weakest team in six decades. They then played a New Zealand team decimated with injury, one that never tours well, at home, and then flew down to South Africa to play a controversy-riddled, ill-prepared South Africa (with its weakest bowling attack in years) over five Tests, a series which they barely ended up winning. And, lest you forget, they got spanked 4-1 in the one-day series by the same South African squad that had lost almost 20 straight ODIs previously. That, my friend, was their last taste of international action.

So, you can live in your little fantasy world and dream of British conquests, but the reality is, they're going to lose, and, if they're not careful, they're going to lose badly. This is a much better England squad than we've seen in the last decade, but it's still not nearly good enough. And that remains true, with or without Freddie.

[Greeny]

Oi, wind yer necks in you two, or I'll get my moderating stick out! (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Seriously though I agree with both of you, the Aussies are a far better team, it's time for the England lads to step up to the plate (Sh1t, I'm starting to sound like Barry Richards now I've had my name changed....)

[Guest_Finisher_*]

"Aussie Mick"! I love it! (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Thanks MJ for saving me all that typing. Sorry Thorpedo old son, while we all agree that England have improved dramatically, you can't claim that they've been seriously tested in the last year. The proof was on the SA tour. All that talk of a whitewash and they barely won the series. The consistency just isn't there yet. Getting there, but still a way to go I'm afraid.

Not trying to stir, but I agree with Thommo that the poms will offer little competition. I hope I'm wrong, but ...

[Guest_Thorpey_*]

Not trying to stir, but I agree with Thommo that the poms will offer little competition. I hope I'm wrong, but ...

You don't hope you're wrong (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Greeny]

The proof was on the SA tour. All that talk of a whitewash and they barely won the series.

Barely won it my arse! If the umpires were stronger we would have won at least one more Test in that series me old jockstraylian friend! (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[Shane]

"Aussie Mick"! I love it!  (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Thanks MJ for saving me all that typing. Sorry Thorpedo old son, while we all agree that England have improved dramatically, you can't claim that they've been seriously tested in the last year. The proof was on the SA tour. All that talk of a whitewash and they barely won the series. The consistency just isn't there yet. Getting there, but still a way to go I'm afraid.

Not trying to stir, but I agree with Thommo that the poms will offer little competition. I hope I'm wrong, but ...

Ditto to Finisher and a BIGGER ditto to MJ who as finisher said saved us all a lot of typing. (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Poor old swin fan.....where would he be without those farkin stats he keeps dragging up..........wonder if he has even been to a real cricket match!! (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Guest_Thorpey_*]

"Aussie Mick"! I love it!  (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Thanks MJ for saving me all that typing. Sorry Thorpedo old son, while we all agree that England have improved dramatically, you can't claim that they've been seriously tested in the last year. The proof was on the SA tour. All that talk of a whitewash and they barely won the series. The consistency just isn't there yet. Getting there, but still a way to go I'm afraid.

Not trying to stir, but I agree with Thommo that the poms will offer little competition. I hope I'm wrong, but ...

Ditto to Finisher and a BIGGER ditto to MJ who as finisher said saved us all a lot of typing. (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Poor old swin fan.....where would he be without those farkin stats he keeps dragging up..........wonder if he has even been to a real cricket match!! (IMG:http://abcofcricket.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Cinfo has crashed.....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

And by the way i do go to cricket matches, albeit not as much as I'd like.....i went to two last year! Surrey-Warwickshire at Guildford and the 5th day of England-Windies at Lords....reasons: Firstly, my team Surrey, don't actually play in Surrey much (try and figure that one out!) ...one county match and a one-day game at Guildford and a game at Whitgift School...and secondly - lack of finances, hence the 5th day of the test at Lords (only £10 a ticket as opposed to £50+ for the first 4 days). I am fortunate enough to have Sky Sports though, which shows every England match, Australia's matches at home, Windies matches at home, and SA matches at home as well as international tournaments and county matches.

[Prouty]

I've always liked Thommo. Smart guy.

[Greeny]

I've always liked Thommo.  Smart guy.

Yeah.....not bad for a chucker.