'Aussie Pacers Compare With My Era'

Fast bowling great Michael Holding believes Australia's hell-raising fast bowling attack can be compared with the mighty West Indian outfits that terrorised the cricket world for 15 years.

Australia's three-pronged pace unit of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee have become the talking point of rival sides and the prime reason Australia has firmed to the prohibitive odds to defend the World Cup.

Lee, 26, and Gillespie, 27, appear to be reaching the prime years of their careers while the steadiness of veteran McGrath, 32, is still one of Australia's prized assets.

No team in history has had such rich fast bowling depth as the West Indies teams that went undefeated in Test series between 1980 and 1995.

Holding believes the West Indies' only obvious advantage was that they had four world-class quicks compared with Australia's three but felt that Australia's trio were comparable with the West Indian greats of his era.

"Those three fast bowlers Australia has now are outstanding," Holding said.

"Brett Lee is extremely quick. Jason Gillespie has very good pace when he is quick and McGrath is just an outstanding fast bowler.

"If they were to have a fourth of a similar standard they would have a devastating attack. If you have four they are a little more difficult to get away and life is more testing. But they are outstanding fast bowlers comparable with the quality of the bowlers of our era. You can compare them.

"They are, however, different sorts of fast bowlers. When Andy Roberts first started, he was extremely quick but a different sort of fast bowler to Brett Lee but at that pace, you are going to worry people.

"When you can bowl in the mid 90m/h you are going to bother people."

Holding's career spanned from 1975-87 and featured 60 Tests and 249 wickets at 23 apiece as he joined forces with a string of exceptional fast men including Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Colin Croft.

The West Indies depth was so great Courtney Walsh was, for a time, a bit player in West Indian sides before blossoming into the most successful wicket-taker in Test history.

Australia's decision to rest Lee and Gillespie from tonight's (AEST) match against Holland has been seen as an example to other teams to squeeze the most out of their fast bowling resources.

Gillespie had a lengthy break after injuring his elbow after Christmas but Australia has rested him again to ensure his freshness.

South African captain Shaun Pollock played all 13 domestic one-day internationals for his country this summer before the World Cup and his opening partner Makhaya Ntini played 12.

The South Africans are not in favour of resting players, preferring to field their strongest side for both Tests and one-dayers.

They blitzed Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan during the summer but the heavy schedule and "no rest" edict has left them flat for the cup.

* SOURCE: The Courier-Mail.