For example, India have a reasonable bowling attack, but a fantastic batting line-up. Sometimes the cookie does crumble, but more often than the batting line up is able to pile enough runs to put pressure on the opposing team. The bowling unit does a reasonable enough job to wriggle out 20 opposing batsmen with some time to spare. As a strategy, this has served India well.
England too seem to be pursuing a similar strategy where batters are applying themselves more diligently and talking about contributions and partnerships. Graeme Swann who was handled reasonably well in Brisbane became a force when Australia were staring at a mountain of runs. My opinion is that Pragyan Ojha could have run through Australia with the friendly pitch and all.
Australia on the other hand can't seem to find a formula. The team at it's heyday scored runs at a furious pace and unleashed McGrath and Warne against their opposition. The results became a foregone conclusion. On occasions when McGrath and Warne didn't play (like against India in 2003) it became clear what the Aussies were missing. In those games too, Australia played Bichel with Lee. Good batsmen don't succumb to honest triers. And that's what I think Bichel was and so is Bollinger.
And this is where Australia's problem is. Their batsmen may find enough gumption to put up 400 plus scores perhaps, but without a bowler that can threaten to unsettle the English batsmen, they have no hope. So between Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Johnson, Harris, Watson and Bollinger Australia have one and a half bowler. Siddle being three quarters of the bunch. Australia's desperate search for a spinner is misplaced. Clarke is by far their best spin bowler. So why try to find something that doesn't exist and eat up a test spot?
Unfortunately, the lack of bowling options had led Australia to rely on Shane Watson. He can at best get an honorable mention. But much like India had to dispense with wicket keepers opening the batting, so that the "best" batsmen could play, Australia should invest some faith in true openers. With Katich now out of the lineup, Australia should perhaps bring in Hughes and Shaun Marsh. The latter may not be lighting up the grounds, but in modern day cricket the team needs a Hayden, Dilshan or Sehwag/Gambhir type approach. Maybe Marsh is their answer.
The worst number 6 batsman in the world needs to be dumped and maybe Watson needs to play at that spot. Ponting, Clarke and Hussey need to rediscover their touch too, but if between them, they can manage 400 plus each time, Australia will be ok. The first step though is to ensure the top order fires.
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