Swann and KP question England’s bowling

Cricket365
April 2, 2016

Former England players Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann don't often agree, but they are of the same mind in expressing concern over England's bowling attack at the World Twenty20 in India.

Both feel that the pace attack is below par, especially after Chris Gayle blasted them to all corners in their opening group match. Pietersen, an IPL veteran, also questioned England's experience in India.

Pietersen said on Sky Sports after the loss to the Windies: "The only thing England should be concerned about is their bowling.

"Why did Adil Rashid only bowl two overs, for example, and who is England's other death bowler, besides Chris Jordan, who is brilliant at it.

"They haven't played cricket in India, though, and only Eoin Morgan has played in the IPL. That's a huge thing and it showed when Joe Root said 180 was a par score. It wasn't."

KP added that leg-spinner Rashid was a key component, given his recent efforts in T20 cricket in the Big Bash League: "He now has the ability to bowl his googly and leg-spinner a little bit quicker.

"He was previously a bit one-paced with his leg-spinner and his googly wasn't as quick but now he varies his speeds and bowls both balls at the same pace, so you have less time to pick them as a batsman."

Swann was equally concerned, writing in The Sun: "I won't try to give you false hope. I have worries about England’s seam bowling and it is unrealistic to expect their relatively inexperienced quartet to contain the biggest hitters on the planet.

"The absence of Steven Finn through injury and Stuart Broad (not chosen) means England’s pace attack is short of X Factor.

"It might be expecting too much to think Willey, Jordan, Topley and Plunkett can restrain all the big hitters in the world."