Redbacks new look: Adding depth to their bowling battery with nine speed demons
The Redbacks have assembled one of the most potent and deepest fast paced bowling attacks in their history. See who the players are.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It's a case of if one doesn’t get you another one will.
The Redbacks, who host defending champion Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield clash at Adelaide Oval starting on Thursday, having assembled one of the most potent and deepest fast bowling attacks in their history.
Headlined by new Australian speedster Spencer Johnson, who is on the comeback trail from a strained hamstring, South Australia’s pace cartel runs nine deep and brings a combination of raw speed, fire and brimstone and clever swing and seam bowling.
Johnson, the 27-year-old Croweater who made his Australia T20 International debut in August, is the quickest of the group and is flanked by a strong supporting cast.
They include two Victorians (Jordan Buckingham, 23, and Wes Agar, 26), four New South Welshmen (Nathan McAndrew, 30, Harry Conway, 31, Henry Thornton, 26, and Liam Scott, 22), a Queenslander (Brendan Doggett, 29) and a South Australian (David Grant, 26).
That’s nine quicks that coach Jason Gillespie can call on to throw at opposition batters.
It was also a key factor in Ryan Harris’ decision to move back to SA – as the Redback’s new bowling coach – where he started his state career after a long playing and coaching stint in Queensland.
While Johnson and Agar have represented Australia in white-ball cricket at international level,
Buckingham, McAndrew, Doggett and Thornton have donned the Australia A cap.
Doggett was named in Australia’s Test squad for their 2018 series against Pakistan but did not play.
Conway, Grant and all-rounder Scott round out the pace attack.
“This bowling group is why I came down from Queensland,’’ said former quick Harris, who played 27 test matches for Australia from 2010-15, snaring 113 wickets at an average of 23.52.
“It is very talented, definitely one of the better groups going around in state cricket as far as quality, depth and variety is concerned.
“WA always seems to have a terrific group of pace bowlers but for us to have nine is pretty handy.
“I know it’s tough for Jason and the selectors to pick a bowling unit every game with the calibre of bowlers we have to leave sitting on the sidelines.’’
Johnson, Thornton, who last month claimed the best ever List A figures for Australia A when he took 7-39 against New Zealand in a one-day game, and Doggett are the quickest of the group.
Left-armer Johnson has been clocked at over 150 km/h in the Big Bash League.
Harris said he was still getting to know his bowlers because several played overseas in the off-season or had national commitments but that they were working well together, despite the competitiveness for spots.
“They are all quite tight and are helping each other on the field and at training, which is one of my goals with them,’’ he said.
“I can help with their development and skill-based stuff but ultimately they are out on the field doing it together.
“With so many options it’s tough to leave players out but good teams have depth – bowlers do get injured – and if we’re talking about doing well and winning trophies, we’re not going to do it with three or four bowlers.
“If we bowl consistently well, like we did against NSW last week, we shouldn’t lose too many games because we won’t have to chase too many runs.’’
The selection task has been made easier this week, with Johnson (hamstring) and Buckingham (side strain) sidelined by injury.
The Redbacks, chasing their first Shield title since 1995-96, start their third match of the 2023-24 campaign sitting second after a first-round loss to Tasmania and second round win against NSW.
Their bowlers have been the early star of the show, with Buckingham snaring 7-71 in the first innings against the Tigers and McAndrew taking match figures of 10-61 against the Blues.
Conway chipped in with six wickets against his former side NSW while Doggett claimed five victims against Tasmania.
Buckingham said the depth of SA’s pace attack kept the bowlers on their toes.
“Having so much depth is great, I’m sure every state wishes they had the depth that we do,’’ he said.
“It makes selection tough but that’s a great problem to have and ensures you always put your best foot forward.’’
Ranked: The Eyre Peninsula’s top 50 footballers of 2025
The Eyre Peninsula is stacked with star country footy talent so we’ve drawn from the region’s four main leagues to rank the top 50 players of 2025. See who made the cut.
Footy club risks losing historic oval access after 60 years
A country footy club faces a fight to stay on its historic home ground, because the local council says it’s too unsafe and should primarily be used for horses.