Test legend Dennis Lillee believes Australia’s pacemen aren’t running enough, claiming they’re lacking the right kind of fitness needed to perform at a peak level.
With the likes of Ryan Harris, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson currently nursing injuries, Australia’s selectors are desperate to avoid overworking the country’s pace stocks.
But Lillee, who snared 355 wickets during his glittering 70-Test career, said bowlers needed to improve their fitness levels rather than worrying about breaking down.
“If I had a squad of fast bowlers myself at the moment you can bet they would be doing a hell of a lot more running and pushing themselves into the deck a bit more,” Lillee told ABC radio.
“You don’t stop running. Running is your game. Running is fast bowling.
“Obviously you’ve got to be able to bowl, but running is what gets you there.
“If you’ve got a good base there that’s terrific, but you’ve got to keep that motor going and keep that fitness up during the season. I think that’s where a lot probably do fall away.
“(When I was playing), I’d put the runners on and go for a run while guys were batting.
“I’d have to bowl the next day but I’d still go for a five or six kilometre run.
“I didn’t do that once every 10 or 15 days, I did it regularly.”
Meanwhile, South Africa will attempt to bat Australia into oblivion when the third Test at the WACA Ground resumes on Sunday.
The tourists are in a dominant position at 2-230 in their second innings – an overall lead of 292 – with Hashim Amla unbeaten on 99 and Jacques Kallis 17.
With three days remaining, Proteas paceman Vernon Philander said his team would try to bat as long as possible in order to set Australia a near-impossible victory target.
Despite the daunting task, Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is refusing to give up the fight, claiming the WACA pitch will be ideal for batting by the time Australia’s second innings starts late Sunday or early Monday.