Young talent should not be wasted

In terms of sheer pace, commitment and stamina, Chris Silverwood looks to be a young player destined to play more cricket for England. He is relatively young, very fit and very quick. On Friday evening I had the pleasure of seeing him from 20 yards away, and I can report he is as quick as anyone I have faced for a long time. Considering I have recently completed Test series against Pakistan and the West Indies, this may seem a pretty big compliment, but it is one thoroughly deserved. Admittedly we were playing on an extremely lively Headingley pitch, but even so he bowled like the wind. I come from Perth, where the WACA pitch is traditionally the bounciest in the world, but Silverwood had the shiny new leather cricket ball flying through to the wicket-keeper as though he was playing on my home ground in Australia.

He reminds me of my Aussie teammate Jason Gillespie when he was first coming through the ranks. Both have long bounding run-ups, incredible stamina, and accuracy and control beyond their years. More excitingly, they both bowl like Carl Lewis sprints, very fast. Standing 22 yards away is never all that much fun, as the bruises on my arms and ribs can testify, but it makes batting a fantastic challenge where your feet have to move like those of a dancer in Riverdance.

The other aspect of his bowling that I admired was his ability to never give up. The last ball he bowled was as fast and aggressive as the first, a positive indication that he is a fighter with a strong character. It must be a Yorkshire trait, as Darren Gough is so admired because of these characteristics alone - as well as his ability to bowl rapid outswingers and yorkers.

With the likes of Chris Silverwood, Alex Tudor and Durham's Stephen Harmison, England's bowling stocks look to be in good health. I only hope for cricket's sake that the enormous quantity of cricket these youngsters are expected to play in the County ranks won't ruin them physically and mentally. If they are managed sensibly, it may not be long before England has a fast bowling duo, or trio, that has batsmen around the world fearfully contemplating a contest against this year's World Cup hosts.

The only other danger of this becoming reality is that while the potential is most certainly there, the England selectors may opt for the safe option rather than the possible match-winning, entertaining option of exciting and dangerous youth. This sort of talent and enthusiasm should not be wasted. There is a challenge to my good mate, Middlesex coach and England selector Mike Gatting.

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