Ashes 2013/14: Top Bowlers

Australia’s bowling attack isn’t as strong as it could be but it’s the highlight of their side based on all recent evidence and much of their chances for this series would seem to rest on the ever so fragile frame of Ryan Harris. Harris is the glass frame of the Australian attack. How do we know this? He’s played just 16 tests at the age of the 34 and the first time he managed to play 4 tests was the last Ashes series this summer.

However, there’s equally as strong a case to be made for him as Australia’s best attacking option this series. He has 71 test scalps at 22.26 in just 16 test appearances and in the summer he took 24 wickets, 7 more than any other Australian, an impressive record considering that the rain stopped his most impressive spell of the series when he’d taken two of England’s three second innings dismissals with figures of 2/13 and the rest of the day still to come! He only made 3 tests when England last came but still had 11 wickets to his name and has the most control over the ball of any of the Australian attack, something backed up by his excellent strike rate in comparison to the others with a wicket every 46.1 balls to Siddle's 56.3; Johnson is 63.2. James Faulkner’s terrific domestic fomr following on from a starring role at the Oval do make him a potential threat but the stats say the Harris is an outsanding favourite if he makes 4 out of the 5 tests. Given that he was second in the totals over the summer, he’s also a tempting shot for the top bowler title at 11/2 with Ladbrokes if you’re so inclined. 

For England, the choice between, Anderson, Broad, and Swann is too difficult to make with any confidence and any one of the three could find themselves on top. 

Advice

1 pt Ryan Harris top Australian Bowler (5/2 Ladbrokes)