Around the Wicket

Alright, so the first test is over, and as expected, Australia take a 1-0 series lead. I can’t help but feel this was the Windies best chance at taking one off us, with Clarke and Hayden both out of the side. They didn’t, but they took us to 5 days, and showed some character – none more so than Shiv Chanderpaul who took a fearsome blow in the head, got up, and made a ton. It’s that sort of spirit the Windies need to show from here on in if they are to ever be a world power again.

Are there the first signs of some chinks in the Aussies armour? It’s been a while since an Aussie side was 5/17. Phil Jaques looked uncomfortable as the “senior opening batsman”, and Katich proved to all and sundry that he is NOT an opening batsman. He copped a raw deal from the selectors, and should have been batting 5 rather than facing a new ball. I hope for his sake that he gets a shot down the order again before they cast him off completely. Hodge is probably done at test level.

Ricky Ponting showed his brilliance again in the first dig, and proved why he is the number 1 batsman in the world. However, I still think he is a much better batsman with the score at 1/150 than he is at 1/10. That’s in direct contrast to Andrew Symonds. Roy seems to play better with the side in trouble. He’s the ideal number 6 – can score quickly when needed and can dig a side out of trouble if needed. I will admit to still having question marks over big Roy (much as I love him) being in the test side, but his last 18 – 24 months have been as good as anybody could ask of him, and he would now be one of the first picked.

Once again, Stuart Clark showed that he is the number 1 bowler in the team right now – and for mine, he should be pairing Lee with the new ball, with Johnson as first change. Clark seams it, and swings it – and Johnson isn’t doing either of those at the moment. Stuart MacGill didn’t exactly cement his spot in the side – and will need a big bag of wickets somewhere in this series if he’s keen on going to England in 09. I can’t help but feel that this would have been a great series to debut a young spinner, rather than play MacGill.

For me, the spotlight is on the following:
Stuart MacGill - needs to prove he’s still got it.
Mitch Johnson - needs to begin fulfilling his apparent potential, and keep Noffke, Tait, and Bollinger at bay.
Phil Jaques – can he be the no. 1 opening batsman of the future?