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 that he is as quick as anyone I have faced for a long time.

Considering I have recently completed Test series against Pakistan and West Indies, this may seem a pretty big compliment, but it is thoroughly deserved. Admittedly, we were playing on a lively Headingley pitch, but he bowled like the wind. I come from Perth, where the Waca pitch is traditionally the bounciest in the world, and Silverwood had the new ball flying through to the wicketkeeper as though he was playing on my home ground.

He reminds me of Jason Gillespie, my Aussie team-mate. 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 from such a bowler is not much fun, as the bruises on my arms and ribs can testify, but it makes batting a fantastic challenge when your feet have to move like those of a dancer in Riverdance.

The other aspect of his bowling that I admired was that he never gave up. The last ball he bowled was as fast and aggressive as the first, an 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, as well as his ability to bowl rapid outswingers and yorkers.

With the likes of Silverwood, Alex Tudor and Stephen Harmison, of Durham, England's bowling stocks look to be in good health. I only hope that the enormous quantity of cricket that these youngsters play in the county ranks will not ruin them physically and mentally. If they are managed sensibly, it may not be long before England has a fast bowling duo, or trio, to be feared.

The only other danger is that the England selectors may opt for the safe option rather than the option of exciting and dangerous youth. This sort of talent and enthusiasm should not be wasted and is a challenge to my good mate, Mike Gatting, the Middlesex coach and England selector.

From the printed edition of The Times, May 19, 1999

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