Ian Chappell, the best of the Channel 9 commentary team in my view, made the point as India was collapsing like a flimsy building in an earthquake in its second inning at the MCG that a team like Australia can re-build more quickly when it has a strong fast bowling attack.
As Chappell was making this point, the bowling attack of Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson (Man of the Match?) and Peter Siddle (the real Man of the Match) was ripping through the strong (on paper, at least) Indian batting lineup.
Good players like Gambhir and great players like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were just blasted away by the fire power of the fast bowling attack.
And it was an attack. There was very little negative bowling. Virtually every ball was bowled with the malice of taking a wicket. The ball was pitched up inviting the drive – and the mistake, as the ‘Little Master’, Sachin Tendulkar, found out to his cost.
What a change from a couple of years ago when the Australian bowling attack couldn’t take 20 wickets in a Test, even if they’d been given several weeks to do so. In this Test, Australia bowled 141 overs to the 180 or so by India. The bowlers took 20 wickets with a strike rate of a wicket every seven overs. This is an outstanding achievement.
A great deal of credit has been given to the new fearsomeness and efficiency of the Australian fast bowling attack has been given to the new bowling coach, Craig McDermott. He has insisted on the bowlers bowling a fuller length rather than banging the ball into the pitch in the hope of forcing a mistake.
By bowling fuller, the bowlers gave the ball more length in which to swing. And in the modern game, with all the protections available to batsmen, it is the fuller ball that forces mistakes rather than the shorter ball.
The strategy was so successful for all three fast bowlers that all of them had claims to the Man of the Match Award.
The question must be raised: why has it taken McDermott’s arrival on the coaching panel for this strategy to be employed?
Now the team needs some sage advice from the batting coach to get a better result from the team’s batsmen. At one stage in the second innings Australia was 4 for 27 and on the brink of a total, match-losing collapse.
Significantly, old hands Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey rescued the team. Hussey and Ponting were lucky that the DRS was not available because Hussey was actually ‘dismissed’ three times without being given out, and Ponting was ‘dismissed’ once when he was 15.
By putting the senior batsmen through a batting camp where a two-piece ball was used to get the players used to the extravagant swing that the Indian bowlers sometimes achieve, the new coach Mickey Arthur was establishing (I believe) his credentials to fix up his team’s batting problems. If he can help eliminate the now almost customary collapses, Arthur will make Justin Langer’s position as batting coach redundant.
Aside from the admirable bowling by the fast bowlers, the main feature of Australia’s performance was the brilliant captaincy of Michael Clarke. Clarke had his critics before his appointment.
The criticism, to be fair, was mainly directed at his Generation-Y lifestyle. But he is emerging as a fine attacking captain in the tradition of Richie Benaud, Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor.
When Tendulkar looked like smashing the bowlers out of the game in the second innings, Clarke had a long conversation with Pattinson and got him to bowl full on Tendulkar’s fourth and fifth-stump line. The ploy worked. The great batsman immediately looked human, even mortal.
Then Pattinson was taken off and Siddle was brought on. His first ball, on the fourth-stump line, saw Tendulkar pushing forward and getting a nick which was snaffled by Hussey in the gully.
Clarke also is not afraid to bring on his spinner Nathan Lyon, especially at the tail-enders. Lyon got hit for a few boundaries before David Warner took a brilliant catch on the boundary to end India’s second inning.
Before the Test the Australian side had a transitional look about it. There were the three tyros at the top of the order and two veterans in the middle, the return of a journeyman bowler who had struggled badly in the Ashes series and a keeper who no longer scores important runs.
The tyros are still in a transitional phase, even though Ed Cowan’s 68 was the 10th best score by an Australian opener in his first innings in a Test.
When – probably sometime well into next year – Shane Watson returns, a decision might have to be made about whether to leave him at opening or to bat him either at four (Ponting’s position) or six (replacing Hussey).
I think that for the balance of the side, Watson needs to bat down the order so that he can be the fourth medium/fast bowler.
This leaves the opening positions and number three to be worked out. Time, and how the tyros perform, will provide the answers here in due course.
As for the keeping question, I think it is now a waiting game for Tim Paine’s finger to heal properly before he takes over as Brad Haddin’s successor.
By the time the next Ashes series comes around the Australian side will be different from the side that played so splendidly at the MCG this week. But the heart of the side will be there.
There is a group of fast bowlers now who can take wickets in Tests, at last. And there is a captain, again at last, who knows how to use a good fast bowling attack to force a strong batting side into a rout.
jamesb
Guest
Batting for Australia will be a problem for a couple of years yet. However, there is promise with our batsmen. Cowan and Warner can become a good opening pair. Cowan is the traditional type, while Warner did show in that Hobart test that he can play a "test'' innings. Once Ponting and Hussey leave, Clarke and Watson will become the senior batters. It will be interesting to see how Marsh and Khawaja go. I feel as though that if Khawaja makes a couple of decent scores he''ll be there for a fair while. Marsh's first class average does worry me a little, so will wait and see. Young batsmen to look out for: are Nic Maddison, Kurtis Patterson, chris Lynn, Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell, Tom Cooper and hopefully Phil Hughes. Young allrounders in Mitch Marsh and James Faulkner are also players to look out for.
Jason Cave
Guest
This is why the Australians would have to work on their batting between now and England 2013. While Ponting & Hussey have extended their careers for now, however, will they still be there in 2 years time when the selectors sit down to name the Australian squad for England in 2013?
cruyff turn
Roar Rookie
I completely agree with your point regarding overseas "stars". Fair enough if the player is Chris Gayle, or someone who can draw the crowds and add something to the competition, but like you say, those squad spots should be given to young Australian players. Kurtis Patterson, for example, is only 18 years old. He hit 157 in his Shield debut last month, but is he playing in the BBL? Just did some research and he was offered Phil Hughes' place, but he turned it down. OK, maybe a poor example, but he's the type of player the sides should be targeting, instead of the middle-of-the-road overseas recruits you mention.
Red Kev
Guest
Khawaja's two low running catches in the BBL tonight would aggressively disagree with that statement.
MrKistic
Guest
Wade plays for Victoria. Skull will talk down a Victorian every time. He's like that.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
Great article and some very thought provoking comments. I agree totally with the general sentiment of how the bowlers finally pitching up has meant they are taking more wickets. That said I think fair mention should go to the curator who created a pitch that gave the bowlers a chance. Too often in the last ten years batsmen have turned up to pitches that anyone could score on, the MCG pitch offered the quicks some movement if they took advantage of it. Kudos goes to the bowlers for doing just that and kudos to Clarke for setting them fields that allowed them to attack. It is funny, last year it seemed the bowlers were the problem and couldn't buy a wicket with a bank loan but now the batsmen are coming well and truly under the microscope.
sheek
Guest
Spiro, I also endorse the Chappelli remark. I've been a fan of Chappelli's since before he became test captain. The guy spruiks practical, common sense advice. Yes, he can preach at times (even his old team-mates raise their eyebrows at his capacity for chatter) but most of what he says is worth listening to.
sheek
Guest
Spiro, For all its faults, it's in bad times that we see the good that the Sheffield Shield does for our cricket. Any successful national side is underpinned by a strong domestic comp. Sometimes in a sport in a particular country, you might get a "golden generation". But how often do they come along? However, during their absence, you need strong domestic structures churning out high-quality, highly competitive players. Australian cricket usually bounces back quickly after a down-turn. Precisely the same thing happens with the All Blacks & Springboks in rugby. It's no accident. Historically & traditionally, Australian cricket (Sheffield Shield), New Zealand rugby (NPC/ITM Cup) & South African rugby (Currie Cup), are all under-pinned by powerful domestic national comps. Something for both the CA (keep the Shield) & ARU (fund a national comp) to ponder.....
Chris
Guest
Dwayne Bravo a pretender?
Tommy
Guest
Skull made a comment on the ABC that he wasn't sure about Wade's keeping. Despite living in a post Gilchrist world, the first job is still to keep, second to score runs. That may explain why they are waiting for Paine.
Bayman
Guest
Luke, Hilfy has also got rid of the knee problem - at least for now - and that has allowed him to drive through the crease more. He's a fair bit quicker today than in the last year or so. As Brett has said, he's also worked on his action with de Winter so he has changed quite a bit since last year. I was surprised by his selection - did not see it coming - but he certainly paid his way and backed up the selectors faith. Add him, again, to the growing list of Test quality fast bowlers. Now, for the batting..........
Bayman
Guest
.....that would be....."just happened to coincide....."
Bayman
Guest
Viscount, I think you'll find that in England, where batsmen only seem to push forward, it will be very sufficient indeed. You may find, however, that's it's more Cummins and Pattinson than Siddle and Hilfy. McDermott's method simply reflects the modern urge to go forward which, in turn, has been brought about by short form cricket and truckloads of protective equipment. There were always "front foot" players but today that's everybody. Not too many catches at cover or mid-off/on in Melbourne. Pretty much all bowled, lbw and caught in the arc. Classic front foot dismissals to balls pitched up and doing a bit.
Big Steve
Guest
agreed MrK. How is hadding getting such an easy ride and why are they waiting for paine he hasnt played since july, how can he possibly be in form. What if he comes back and plays badly or gets injured again. Haddin could be there for the next 10 years waiting. . Dropped a catch and didnt score runs. He should be out and Wade in. Wades last non 20-20 innnings. 6, 38no, 53,120,29,60,108,80,31 and 19 catches. And is 24 so has a bit of experience.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
IMHO a position has to be found for Copeland - who would be ideal for English conditions for the next Ashes - this way Clarke will not have to use Warner or Hussey when the batsmen are set. For me having Pattinson, Siddle (or Cummins) and Copeland along with Watson and Lyon would be all that is needed to bowl the Poms out twice. The problem is the lack of technique displayed by the batters. Warner, Marsh and even Clarke's poor use of the feet were the main reason for their dismissals. They are too used to batting on roads where a good "eye" allows them to get away with technical defiencies. As long as they leave their gates open they are inviting the bowlers to knock over their poles. Mind you the same could be said of the Indian batsmen, who were no better.
Bayman
Guest
Harry, Yes, I too saw the Langer embrace and had the same "cheerleader" thought. Given that Australia's batting since Langer arrived has been a tad fragile I am amazed he hasn't attracted more comment. It is entirely possible that McDermott's elevation has just happed to coincide with the arrival of some genuinely fine fast bowlers, and a pretty handy spinner, but the real reward has been Peter Siddle. Long criticised, correctly, as quickish but straight up and down Siddle has been transformed by McDermott if we are to believe the press. Years of back of a length rubbish has been replaced by a bowler of genuine menace. All power to McDermott if he's the reason and all power to Siddle for listening.
Bayman
Guest
Viscount, I think you're right about the bowling...........and the batting!
Luke
Guest
The one thing that stood out most about England's performance last Summer was their ability to bowl as a group, and bowl with continuous pressure. None of their bowlers from memory really bowled any spells that were "unplayable", but because they all kept the run scoring pressure on from their end it made the attack as a whole seem alot more potent as the batsmen were worried about where their next run was coming from, which in turn made them play strokes that they probably otherwise wouldn't of. Steve Finn, their number 1 wicket taker at the time, was dropped because he was releasing too much pressure at his end (that shows their mentality right there). Johnson's cards may have to be marked "never to play again". Yes he can bowl the rare matchwinning spell, but the leaking of runs down his end just puts too much pressure on the guys down the other end. People sometimes think that guys like McGrath and Warne bowled unplayable deliveries every ball which is what made them greats, that's not true. What made them great was the suffocating pressure they applied to the batsmen ball after ball. And I agree with Harry's comments about 2013 Ashes. In 2006/07 guys like Cook, Strauss, Pietersen and Anderson looked out of their depth. The Australian people (and the team in some ways) underestimated the England team to some degree 4 years later (stuff like "Anderson can't bowl in Aus", "Cook knicks off too much for Aus conditions", "they will fold just like they did in 06/07"). I hope England make the same mistake in 2013 and underestimate Australia because you never know, they may have a nasty little surprise waiting for them.
Brett McKay
Expert
I guess we'll only know what's sufficient in 2013 when it is 2013, Viscount, but your point is noted..
Harry
Guest
I share those reservations. I was dismayed watching the presentation of Ed Cowan's cap to see him smothered in an embrace by the person next to him a seond after receiving the coveted cap. Let the bloke enjoy his moment. Of course that person turned out to be Langer. He needs to be reminded he's there to be a technical coach, not cheerleader or defacto team member. And as we all know, there is still an awful amount of work to be done with our batsmen.