Ponting’s lament as Ashes loom

 

Roar Guru

By vinay verma, 29 Jun 2009 Vinay Verma is a Roar Guru

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 Cricket, Nathan Hauritz, Ricky Ponting, The Ashes

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Ricky Ponting is suffering from PMT which for the uninitiated is Post McGrath Tension. Throw in Hauritz as a replacement for Warne and it becomes a full blown migraine.

In 1993 Border instructed Warne to bowl pies in the lead up matches. He then unleashed the legspinner on an unsuspecting opponent. The bemused look on Mike Gattings face said it all. The rest is history.

I do not believe Ponting has asked Hauritz to do the same.

English batsmen have been fed a diet of offspinners since Laker. They have had, over the years, off spinners ranging from Titmus to Emburey and now Swann.

The selection of Hauritz was ill conceived and Bryce McGain would have been a better option. McGain was dumped after one bad Test foray. He had just come back from a shoulder operation and in hindsight was rushed back.

Unless the Cardiff pitch is turning square I would not contemplate playing Hauritz. And after contemplating briefly I would still not play him.

Marcus North can impersonate Hauritz and also improve on him. Michael Clarke and Katich will have to start earning some of the guaranteed $1.5 million promised to Australia’s elite cricketers.

Siddle continues to excel at every opportunity and has already been “locked” in to partner Mitchell Johnson.

Brett Lee’s profligacy with no balls should ensure his omission from the starting XI. The Australians bowled 37 no balls in this practice match. They have become proficient in this art form. Lee bowled 14 and Hilfenhaus 11.

Even Hauritz bowled 8 no balls. Inexcusable for a spinner. Siddle and Clark rectified this in the second innings but not the other three.

Lee had a caught behind denied because of a no ball. So the importance of staying behind the line cannot be overstated.

Siddle and Johnson can both bowl in the 150 plus range and the English batsmen will be wearing extra protection. Johnson will have the same effect on the English that Warne had in 1993. In partnership with Siddle this looks the most potent new ball attack since the halcyon days of Lillee and Thommo. I smell the blood of an Englishman!

The last bowling spot appears to be between Lee and Hilfenhaus and I expect a four man pace attack with the option of using Clarke, North and Katich.

The Australian batting looks steady and Philip Hughes was assured in the second dig.

This is finally Ponting’s team and his leadership qualities will be tested.

He has established his credentials as a batsman and is one of the Modern Greats. How he leads this side will determine his standing in the hierarchy of Australian captains.