Fitzpatrick feels the need for speed

Australia fast-bowling legend Cathryn Fitzpatrick believes the Southern Stars aren’t far off producing a new-ball pace partnership to strike fear into the hearts of batters around the world.

Fitzpatrick, coaching the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad on their current tour of Sri Lanka, is excited by the up-and-coming fast-bowling talent in Australia, both within her squad of under-21s and in the junior ranks.

While Australia had an abundance of in-form spinners, batters and ‘keepers pressing their cases for international selection this summer, their pace stocks were not as strong, an issue not helped by injuries and illness suffered by Ellyse Perry, Holly Ferling and Lauren Cheatle at various stages of the season.

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Unsurprisingly, the Southern Stars played to their strengths in their T20 and ODI series against New Zealand last month, fielding four frontline spinners in the 20-over matches and handing the new ball left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen in four of six games.

However, Fitzpatrick can see that trend changing, believing a world-beating pace partnership will be crucial for the Southern Stars to maintain their position at the top of the world rankings over the next decade.

“There are plenty (of fast bowlers) coming through,” Fitzpatrick told cricket.com.au.

“At the moment, England have a really good opening combination, so it’d be great for Australia to get things right there and really dominate.

“Successful teams have good balance throughout, but a good pace combination up front I think is really important and England have shown that in recent times.

“Australia have some good fast bowlers but we haven’t had a steady combination.

“If we get a few options in there, we can start a good dynasty, not just for a year or two but for 10 years.”

With a large contingent of seam bowlers currently en route with to Sri Lanka with the 13-player squad, Fitzpatrick hopes to see the fast bowlers of the future put their hands up during the six-match limited-overs series on the subcontinent.

They include 19-year-old NSW right-arm quick Belinda Vakarewa, ACT young gun Maitlan Brown, Western Australian Piepa Cleary and South Australia allrounder Tahlia McGrath – who has played one match for Australia, against South Africa last November.

"Vakarewa, Cleary, McGrath and Brown will really spearhead our pace attack for us," Fitzpatrick said.

“McGrath is quite tall and has the ability to get a high release and she swings the ball away as well, while Vakarewa bowls around the same pace but she’s quite tall and strong and gets some good kick off the wicket."

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And the talent currently rolling their arms over in the junior ranks could be even more exciting, Fitzpatrick believes, having recently watched two 14-year-olds from NSW and South Australia clock speeds faster than the national league average.

“If we can keep these girls bubbling along and bowling at great pace, it would be great to have the most feared pace attack in world cricket,” she added.

“Dressing rooms talk about fast bowlers.

“They talk about spinners too and the different things batters do, but in most dressing rooms I’ve been in, if there’s a girl bowling quick, people start talking about it.

“Batters might not want to admit it, but if someone out there bowling genuine pace, it keeps them on their toes.”

Shooting Stars squad: Jemma Barsby (Qld/Heat), Maitlan Brown (ACT/Renegades), Piepa Cleary (WA/Scorchers), Tess Cooper (Qld/Heat), Heather Graham (WA/Scorchers), Mikayla Hinkley (NSW/Thunder) (pending fitness), Alana King (Vic/Stars), Tahlia McGrath (SA/Strikers), Georgia Redmayne (Tas/Hurricanes), Lauren Smith (NSW/Sixers), Rachel Trenaman (NSW), Belinda Vakarewa (NSW/Thunder), Georgia Wareham (Vic/Renegades)

Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v Sri Lanka schedule

30 March: First ODI, Moors, Colombo

1 April: Second ODI, Moors, Colombo

3 April: Third ODI, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo

6 April: First T20, Bloomfield, Colombo

8 April: Second T20, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo

10 April: Third T20, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo