In this the second golden age of batting, or "standardized pitches" for the skeptics, genuine pace may be an anachronism. The McGrath model of sustained accuracy seems to be the new paradigm. Fast bowlers tire easily and find it hard to sustain long spells just because of the effort involved. Shoaib and Bond have been the poster boys for sustained injuries. Lee, Harmison, Flintoff have an average of above thirty. Good but not great. Even the mishits carry to the boundary and the more they strive for pace the more loose balls they produce.
The two new sensations (Clark and Asif) are both of the McGrath variety. They can bowl for long periods and accurately. As the batsmen have become extremely aggressive scoring at ever higher rates the fast bowlers are countering by giving up pace for accuracy and control.
The good fast bowlers still outnumber the good control bowlers but is the tide about to turn? It used to be said that on dead wickets one needs truly fast bowlers. McGrath disproved it and Asif showed that McGrath was not the exception. Clark can enhance the stature of the control bowler further.
Are there new fast bowlers waiting to happen or will they await another golden era of fast bowling?
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