I have rarely seen an Australian team as focused, ready and have as much backup in the cupboard and be so superbly fit as this Aussie team. There is not one passenger amongst them in terms of being able to bat, bowl, field and throw. They always look fresh.
Brad Haddin has had two horrible years, but even he looked like a free man in his 42no and his keeping has been better than a pass.
It is the wise old heads that have prevailed around this Australian team.
Marsh, Inverarity, Bichel, Arthurs (nice name that), Clarke, Ponting and Hussey have pretty much read the Indians and played them on a very tight leash.
The key has been the accurate and hostile fast bowling. No team in world cricket can keep defending against such swing and bounce. They have hunted as a pack. And there is 10 more in the sheds.
And the ground fielding has been better than the catching, if that is possible.
Field placements – just a pass.
Clarke’s captaincy – pretty good. He gives people a go. He tries things. He can get more aggressive with field placements, but he is mindful of overuse of his bowlers.
The batting is still a work in progress. Ponting and Hussey are still working on their defensive technique and their strategies with the bat. Clarke also has defensive strategies that he needs to address like the low hands flirt outside off.
Ed Cowan, Tubby Warner and Shaun Marsh are works in progress. They need time in the middle. Best then that they stay aggressive and positive and keep after the bowling, not concede to anyone. Mix watertight defence with positive stroke play. Attitude is the key.
Australian Cricket at Test and 50-50 level should recall Shane Warne and Nathan Hauritz to partner Nathan Lyon and Michael Beer, maybe Luke Doran and Xavier Doherty.
Things look very bright on Australia Day.
I just wish we had two teams playing for Australia in both forms of the game because we have 50 great young cricketers in this country, we just need a place to play them.
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