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Cricket

England bowlers 'lack genuine pace'

09/07/2008

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur says the lack of "genuine pace" among England's Test bowling unit will be an area of weakness his batsman will look to exploit.

Speaking ahead of the four-match Test series between the two sides, which begins at Lord's on Thursday, Arthur claims the absence of players like Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff means there is no "out-and-out quick bowler" in the hosts' team.

Harmison's loss of form resulted in him being dropped from the Test side during the tour of New Zealand earlier this year, while a series of ankle injuries means Flintoff has not played Test cricket since the Ashes series in 2006/07.

And Arthur claims players like Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and James Anderson have failed to plug the gaps left by the two pacemen because they cannot regularly bowl above 90mph.

"When I did my planning for this series I watched the series against New Zealand," Arthur explained.

"I felt Anderson bowled superbly when it swung, but I thought him and Broad were pretty similar.

"Yyou had Sidebottom, who did a fantastic job giving variation and control, but I did think England lacked an out-and-out quick - something that Flintoff or Harmison brings."

He continued: "Any captain wants an out-and-out quick in their setup.

"The England attack looked very steady and could do a very good job as a unit, but I do think they lack the genuine, genuine pace that a Flintoff or Harmison or even a [Simon] Jones could bring."