The Hindu : Sport : Australian supremacy is over

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005

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Sport

Australian supremacy is over

It has been a long time since such a pessimistic field was set for an Australian speedster.

A tight series continues to hold the attention of a vast international audience. India is agog. More microphones fill the packed BBC commentary box than can be found at a Kylie Minogue press conference. Registrations are booming in youth cricket in both hemispheres. Partly it is the ancient attraction of an Ashes series. Partly it is the revival of English cricket and the possible fall of a long-standing champion. Mostly it is simply the boldness of the play and the unpredictability of the results.

Nothing has changed at Trent Bridge. Who is winning? England, by the look of it. Nothing, though, can be predicted with any confidence till the last ball has been bowled. That has been the lesson of this summer. Hardly a hair has separated these teams. Australia won the first Test by 239 runs and seemed on course to repeat the maulings of the last 15 years. Then Glenn McGrath twisted an ankle, Ponting misread a pitch, England dared to attack and, amidst frantic scenes, the hosts squeaked home by two runs.

Dictating terms

Michael Vaughan's men dictated terms in the third meeting of the series only to be denied by rain and a rousing contribution from the visiting leader. Accordingly the score stands at 1/1. Considering the poverty of Australia's bowling, the number of catches dropped, the mistakes made with the bat and all the other errors, it is astonishing that Ponting's side has not fallen behind. Australia has a number of fine cricketers from whom the highest standards are expected.

Meanwhile England has hesitated on the brink. Such has been Australia's deterioration, repeated at Trent Bridge, that a genuinely confident opponent would by now have established a secure lead. Certainly Australia played better in India not so many years ago, and lost.

Ponting's side continued to play uninspired cricket on a chilly second day. Although he took a wicket, Brett Lee's work with the old ball had little to commend it. He needs a hard pitch. On a slow surface, his limitations were revealed. Kevin Pietersen played him on the rise. He was much sharper during an unlucky burst with the second new ball.

The field placed for Michael Kasprowicz told the story of his approach on an admittedly docile track. Ponting did not consider that a single close fieldsman was required. It has been a long time since such a pessimistic field was set for an Australian speedster. Unfortunately it was also realistic. Kasprowicz bowled military medium pace. It is hard to believe that the England attack will be quite as impotent.

Ponting powerless

Ponting was powerless to stem the tide. None of his pace bowlers could secure a place in the opposing team. Shaun Tait was the most unreliable and dangerous of the faster merchants. It has come to something, though, when an erratic slinger has in a few weeks become his country's liveliest operator.

Shane Warne did his utmost to hold the attack together. Indeed he bowled admirably. He is, though, having to bowl long spells to confident batsmen. Inevitably, Glenn McGrath has been missed. Australian captains used to be able to throw the ball to this pair confident that they will put pressure on their opponents.

If Australia loses this match, the temptation to play a second spinner may prove irresistible. Likewise the selectors will be keen to change the balance of their team by including Shane Watson. Regardless of the result at Trent Bridge, though, one think is clear. The Australian supremacy is over.

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