Australia has a long tradition of some very useful players who came lower down the order and built a reputation to salvage a crumbling ship. As far as I can remember, there was Doulg Walters, who has played some magnificent innings during his time. Then there was Alan Border, again someone who always stood up when required and shepherded the tailenders to carve out a nice score. These days they have someone in the form of Michael Hussey. He brings in stability and some solidness to the batting order. He too has played some wonderful innings, the latest one being the one in the first test of the current series.
I think India’s VVS Laxman also falls in the same category. He is very Australian in that sense and probably that is the reason why he is so successful and respected by the Australians.
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Ashes 2010: England make a bold statement and Hussey finds form
At the end of Day 1 of the first test match, one got that “oh no, not again” feeling with England failing to capitalize on a good toss. Australian bowling also seemed to have found the teeth and sharpness that was lacking in the past few months with Peter Siddle claiming a hat-trick. One thought that the English team had frittered away a good opportunity get their hand up in this opening battle. They should have scored at least 350 in the first innings and I think the early loss of Strauss and that Siddle hat-trick really made the matters worse. Cook and Bell got some runs on the board but got out when they we settled and failed to get the big tons. Pietersen also got out after scoring a 40. Siddle was the surprise package and finished with 6-54.
The Australian reply was very strong and the openers got them to a good start. England came back strong and demolished their middle order cheaply but then came that superb knock of 195 from Mike Hussey. He and Haddin ensured that the Australians got a big enough lead to start thinking about a win. They finished with a lead of 221. I was very impressed with Steven Finn, who finished with a 6 wicket haul. He is tall, fast and has the ability to create some awkward angles for the batsmen with his height. I think he will cement his place in the side by the time this tour is over. Swann was also impressive but Hussey read him like a book and carted him all over the park. He needs to come back with Plan B for the next test match.
With that huge deficit on their minds, the English reply almost started disastrously with Hilfenhaus getting Strauss almost plumb in front in the very first over. Fortunately for England the appeal was overruled as the ball was going over the stumps as the replays suggested. From then on, it was just one way street. Strauss, Cook and then Trott piled on runs aplenty and England had the privilege of declaring the innings at 517-1 with a impractical ask. The only academic interest was if they could get some wickets and gain some psychological advantage. Australians lost Katich early but the pair of Ponting and Watson ensured a draw.
I think this test match has exposed the weakness in the Australian bowling attack. If you take out that one over when Siddle collected a hat-trick, there was nothing in the game for them. In the second innings they failed to pose any questions and when there were edges the fielders floored those edges. Mitchell Johnson must have realized that he is no Glen McGrath and he would do well to focus on his bowling rather than engage in sledging. He needs to get his radar repaired too. There is no spinner worth naming in Australian squad. So Ricky Ponting has a lot to think before the second test.
England on the other hand will come out stronger. They have managed to handle the pressure well, their bowlers looked to attack and they seem to have a more balanced attack too. So on technicality I would say this test is England’s on points, just by a whisker.
PS: And I must mention the one incident on the final day when Ponting claimed a catch and the umpires ruled against it. There was a big discussion among the Aussie commentators on how he is an honest fielder and a skipper. Well we Indians know very well from that infamous Sydney test incident.
The Australian reply was very strong and the openers got them to a good start. England came back strong and demolished their middle order cheaply but then came that superb knock of 195 from Mike Hussey. He and Haddin ensured that the Australians got a big enough lead to start thinking about a win. They finished with a lead of 221. I was very impressed with Steven Finn, who finished with a 6 wicket haul. He is tall, fast and has the ability to create some awkward angles for the batsmen with his height. I think he will cement his place in the side by the time this tour is over. Swann was also impressive but Hussey read him like a book and carted him all over the park. He needs to come back with Plan B for the next test match.
With that huge deficit on their minds, the English reply almost started disastrously with Hilfenhaus getting Strauss almost plumb in front in the very first over. Fortunately for England the appeal was overruled as the ball was going over the stumps as the replays suggested. From then on, it was just one way street. Strauss, Cook and then Trott piled on runs aplenty and England had the privilege of declaring the innings at 517-1 with a impractical ask. The only academic interest was if they could get some wickets and gain some psychological advantage. Australians lost Katich early but the pair of Ponting and Watson ensured a draw.
I think this test match has exposed the weakness in the Australian bowling attack. If you take out that one over when Siddle collected a hat-trick, there was nothing in the game for them. In the second innings they failed to pose any questions and when there were edges the fielders floored those edges. Mitchell Johnson must have realized that he is no Glen McGrath and he would do well to focus on his bowling rather than engage in sledging. He needs to get his radar repaired too. There is no spinner worth naming in Australian squad. So Ricky Ponting has a lot to think before the second test.
England on the other hand will come out stronger. They have managed to handle the pressure well, their bowlers looked to attack and they seem to have a more balanced attack too. So on technicality I would say this test is England’s on points, just by a whisker.
PS: And I must mention the one incident on the final day when Ponting claimed a catch and the umpires ruled against it. There was a big discussion among the Aussie commentators on how he is an honest fielder and a skipper. Well we Indians know very well from that infamous Sydney test incident.
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Ashes 2010: A curtain raiser
The 2010 Ashes series gets under way on the 25th and there is already a lot of discussions about the possible outcome this time. This series always generates the kind of excitement that I have not seen in any other series. So here is my take on the current version.
The Poms have done nothing wrong since they announced a near perfect squad for the tour. They have brought in a quality spinner in Monty and they have a unit that is well balanced in all the departments. They have solid opening batsmen, their middle order is good too and they have a wicket keeper who can contribute. Then they have a quality attack consisting of swing and spin bowlers. The only missing element in their squad is a true pace bowler. Most of them have scored runs and taken wickets in the prep games and seem to be in a good nick. Ever since Andy Flower has taken over as their coach, they have improved by leaps and bounds.
The Aussies on the other hand have had a wretched 6 months or so. They have lost to practically every team that matters and more importantly they have not won anything for a long time. Their batting relies mainly on Ponting and the rest of the batsmen are under the scanner for their poor run of form. The bowling department is also weak and the only threatening bowler they have is Mitchell Johnson. But you know the stories about his mental fitness and the radar problem that he has. That nervousness is also reflected in their team selection. The home team has declared a squad of 17 players for the first test.
Australia also has another problem to cope with. With the English squad so nicely balanced and in form, they have a tough task in preparing the wickets too. If they make batsmen friendly wickets, then the Poms will score heavily against a weak attack. If they go for fast, bouncy wickets then their own batting will come under the guns as the Poms have a decent pace attack. Turning tracks will also be disastrous. So what should they do? In my mind their best chance lies in either winning the first test match when the Poms would be still adjusting to the conditions or win one solitary game and then play for draws. If they select the second option, which is against their nature, the series will be a very dull affair.
So what is it going to be? My bets are on England winning it with a margin of one test, 2-1 looks like the most likely result. I am very eager to see the first test match and see what the Aussies throw at the Poms. Keep reading!!
The Poms have done nothing wrong since they announced a near perfect squad for the tour. They have brought in a quality spinner in Monty and they have a unit that is well balanced in all the departments. They have solid opening batsmen, their middle order is good too and they have a wicket keeper who can contribute. Then they have a quality attack consisting of swing and spin bowlers. The only missing element in their squad is a true pace bowler. Most of them have scored runs and taken wickets in the prep games and seem to be in a good nick. Ever since Andy Flower has taken over as their coach, they have improved by leaps and bounds.
The Aussies on the other hand have had a wretched 6 months or so. They have lost to practically every team that matters and more importantly they have not won anything for a long time. Their batting relies mainly on Ponting and the rest of the batsmen are under the scanner for their poor run of form. The bowling department is also weak and the only threatening bowler they have is Mitchell Johnson. But you know the stories about his mental fitness and the radar problem that he has. That nervousness is also reflected in their team selection. The home team has declared a squad of 17 players for the first test.
Australia also has another problem to cope with. With the English squad so nicely balanced and in form, they have a tough task in preparing the wickets too. If they make batsmen friendly wickets, then the Poms will score heavily against a weak attack. If they go for fast, bouncy wickets then their own batting will come under the guns as the Poms have a decent pace attack. Turning tracks will also be disastrous. So what should they do? In my mind their best chance lies in either winning the first test match when the Poms would be still adjusting to the conditions or win one solitary game and then play for draws. If they select the second option, which is against their nature, the series will be a very dull affair.
So what is it going to be? My bets are on England winning it with a margin of one test, 2-1 looks like the most likely result. I am very eager to see the first test match and see what the Aussies throw at the Poms. Keep reading!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)