- Morris and Starc could perform at the same time
- Pair are Australia’s fastest bowlers
- Morris is excited about making Test debut
Australian selector George Bailey has outlined a terrifying scenario for opponents that will see his two ‘fastest bowlers’, Mitchell Starc and the breakaway Lance Morris, playing in the same team, even if it won’t be in Perth.
Following the unveiling of Morris, dubbed the ‘wild thing’, in a 14-man Test squad for the series against Pakistan starting on December 14, Bailey suggested that the first-choice attack of Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins is expected to be ‘ fit’ would be. and shooting’ despite the heavy workload during the World Cup.
Both Morris and Scott Boland have been included with the expectation that they could be called upon, if not against Pakistan, then perhaps the two matches that follow against the West Indies.
Bailey said the selectors were keen to tap into Morris’ “unique talent” but were aware of his progress after he took 11 Sheffield Shield wickets this season following a stress fracture injury that sidelined him during the Australian winter.
Exactly when Morris will make his Test debut remains unclear, but the selectors’ fondness for him cannot be denied.
Paceman Lance Morris is waiting in the wings for his Test debut
Dubbed ‘Wild Thing’ by teammates, selectors view Morris as a special talent
“We obviously like the skills there and have done so for a while,” Bailey said.
“An unfortunate injury for him over the winter and he had to work, had to start playing again and he’s feeling really good. (He’s a) bull at a gate when it comes to wanting to play, like all players.
‘Where we are at the moment with him is trying to get him to work backwards a little bit and trying to get his mentality (right) with him when an opportunity comes in the summer, (figuring out) what that looks like for him is at his best and cherry ripe and that he respects the fact that he is back from a back stress fracture, which is clearly a debilitating and challenging injury to overcome.
“But we’re really happy to see how he’s progressed in the games with Western Australia. I think he’s getting better with every opportunity and I know he’s been referenced in the past about how much he loves being with the Australian team and especially those senior fast bowlers.
“It’s a unique skill set (he has), there’s a lot of areas where players can get better and improve, but having that raw speed is pretty unique.”
Bailey was also keen to point out that the selectors not only saw Morris as a potential replacement for Starc, but would also have to deal with injury.
Mitchell Starc and Morris were able to play together at an extreme pace on both sides
Starc and Morris would be a terrifying new ball attack and scenario for Pakistan
He said there was a scenario where they would play together, which could be a terrifying new ball attack with extreme pace on both sides.
“There’s potential for it, interestingly everyone tends to look at it as a group, and if one comes out there’s a through line of one coming in,” he said.
‘But I think it’s a lot like a batting line-up, for the team as a whole it’s about how that functions and what you want from each bowler depending on the surface you’re on and who you’re playing against and what you actually need have from the team.
“Obviously both boys are our fastest bowlers so there are some similarities but I think as Lance continues to develop there is no reason why they can’t play in the same team.”
