October 17 Thursday 2002
'England pace duo a danger to Aussies'

SYDNEY: Former Test fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz has warned the Australian team to beware of England's new pace duo Simon Jones and Steve Harmison.

Kasprowicz played alongside Jones for Glamorgan in English County Championship earlier this year and rates the 23-year-old as one of the quickest bowlers in the game.

Jones, who began the English season as a relative unknown, was included in three England squads before eventually making his Test debut against India at Lord's, blasting a quickfire 44 before taking four wickets in the 170-run victory. 

Although a side muscle injury ruled him out of the squad for the rest of the summer, his absence opened the way for Durham's Harmison, who also enjoyed a positive debut with five wickets in the drawn second Test in Nottingham.

And with Darren Gough out of the first two Ashes Tests with a knee injury and Alex Tudor relegated back to the Academy squad, the two now find themselves vying for a spot in the first Test line-up alongside the established Andrew Caddick, Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff.

Both spent last summer with the England Academy under director Rod Marsh and Kasprowicz believes they have the potential to catch the Australian camp by surprise. "I was impressed with Simon's pace. You can't teach anyone to bowl quick, it's a raw talent and he's certainly got that," said Kasprowicz, who will return to Glamorgan next season. "I played with him last year and he started the season with a bang.

"He bowled a really good length, really quick and he shook a few guys up. If he does the same thing when he comes to Australia, finds the right length to bowl and with that pace, he'll definitely give a few blokes a few things to think about." Harmison, 23, only took three wickets compared to Kasprowicz's 11 playing for Glamorgan against 
Durham in August but his potential was clear. "He had a lot of pace and a lot of bounce and certainly there is talent there," said Kasprowicz. "It is up to him to find the best way of taking wickets out in Australia. If he can find the right length I reckon he can do that."