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Hi All,
Yes I enjoyed the first day too and it was terrific. For mine, the most incredible thing has been the change in Australia's bowling over the last 12-odd months. I wasn't particularly impressed when they decided on Craig McDermott as the bowling coach but figures don't lie, he has transformed the attack.
Last season the Australian bowlers could hardly buy a wicket let alone take the twenty necessary to win a test match. They were straight, inconsistent and hittable but this season they've been miserly, the ball has been hooping around all over the place for them and they look like they're about to take a wicket at any moment -- all the time. Craig McDermott really has done a very good job with them, particularly Siddle and Hilfenhaus both of whom I always thought were going to be pro-tem members of the side until someone with real ability turned up on the scene. Despite injuries, the attack has performed consistently and whoever is in the side for any given test-match does the job. Just think, if they were all fit we have Siddle, Harris, Hilfenhaus, Johnson, Pattinson, Cummins, Copeland, Starc and Hazelwood all vying for one of three spots. That's a good position to be in !
Once everyone is fit, Watson at No 3, I think they will make a very formidable side. It would be good if there were a couple of young batting prodigies hammering on the door demanding Ponting and Hussey's spots (when they do retire) but maybe that'll be next season.
On the other side of the coin, the Indians have looked pretty ordinary with the only batsman to do well is the great Tendulkar. Dravid ought to give it away I think. Bowled 4/5 times in the series so far says: I don't have the timing or the reflexes/mental speed to play at this level any more. Dravid is a great player but is past his use-by date. What has happened to Ishant Sharma over the last few years? He was a top quality young bowler last time they were here but now looks pedestrian. What is the underlying fault behind all this? Maybe IPL T/20 ??
Looking forward to another mauling today ...
Best,
Les D
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