Former wicketkeeper calls for fast bowling battery

Marsh warns to prepare for life after McGrath and Warne

Cricinfo staff

October 26, 2005

Marsh has called for strength-in-depth in Australia's bowling attack © Getty Images

Australia's former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh says the national team should be better prepared to deal with life after Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Marsh, who recently returned to Australia to take up a consultancy position with the South Australian Cricket Association after leaving his post as director of the ECB Academy, said a group of bowlers needed to be developed, but he was particularly worried about the dearth of young fast men.

"You can't take Warne and McGrath away from the Australian side, which is going to happen at some stage, and be the same side," Marsh said. "You need a battery, I reckon, of ten fast bowlers to choose from. Obviously if anyone's going to break down it'll be the fast bowlers, so that's what you need, and that's what Australia must develop."

Marsh also said Cricket Australia needed to use more of Terry Jenner and Dennis Lillee as specialist coaches. "TJ's the best legspin bowling coach in the world and he should be with [Cameron White] as far as I'm concerned," he said. "God knows that when Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill go you've got to bring on another leggie.

"Dennis is probably the best fast-bowling coach in the world and Troy Cooley, who's just left for Pakistan with the England squad, is the second best. I don't know what's going on here, but it would be nice to think there's some young fast bowlers around."

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