Tournament review: Australia

Continuing our tournament reviews, here is an assessment of how Australia did.

Their 34-game unbeaten run in World Cups was ended by Pakistan, and they were then beaten by India in the quarter-final, prompting Ricky Ponting to resign. Ultimately they paid for having no spinner worthy of the name, with Jason Krejza invariably ineffective. Their policy of having three wicket-taking quicks worked to an extent, but always risked being one-dimensional in the sub-continent. Australia’s batting was over-reliant on Shane Watson and Michael Clarke.

Star man

Brett Lee, 34 but as ebullient as ever, claimed 11 wickets, including 4/28 against Pakistan.

Disappointment

Cameron White has a reputation for late-order destructiveness, so a tournament average of 17 proved a major hindrance for his side.

Prospects

They now have a new captain in Michael Clarke; don’t expect their rut to go on too long. Never seem short of batsmen, but their one-day bowling will suffer after Shaun Tait’s decision to only play Twenty20, especially with Lee ageing. Need a spinner from somewhere.

Test Team of the 2000s

As the 2000s come to a close, talk of the imminent death of Test cricket is rife. Yet the decade has seen Test cricket taken to a new level: gung-ho openers, ferocious lower-order hitting, reverse swing and arguably the two greatest spin bowlers of all time have ensured there has been plenty for fans to savour.

Here is a composite XI of all those who played Tests in the 2000s. All statistics are for the decade only, not the players’ careers. The five Australian faces are reward for a decade in which, bar the odd blip, they have taken the game to new heights.

Matthew Hayden (96 Tests in 2000s, 8364 runs @ 52.93)
Loathed by many as a caricature of the worst of Australians, Hayden was a brute of an opening batsman. His muscular hitting terrified many an opening bowler, as he amassed 29 centuries over the decade. Whether waltzing down the pitch to Shaun Pollock or slog-sweeping his way to 549 runs in three Tests in India in 2001, Hayden could be relied on to score quickly with his bludgeoning bat. On the rare occasions when he was tamed, as in England in 2005, Australia’s juggernaut acquired hitherto hidden vulnerability.

Virender Sehwag (72 Tests, 6248 runs @ 52.50)
You thought Hayden was scary? His strike-rate of 60 looks sedate when set against Sehwag’s scarcely credible 80. There is no one quite like Sehwag: the hand-eye co-ordination; the blistering bat-speed; the obliviousness to pressure, the opposition and the match situation. Yet, for all that, is not Sehwag’s most impressive attribute his concentration span? He has redefined the art of 'going big', with four 250+ scores, three at over a run-a-ball, in the decade. And he has done it regularly against the best, averaging 51 against Australia. To those who say he thrives only in good batting conditions, Sehwag’s 201*, out of 329, against Mendis and Murali in Sri Lanka was a devastating riposte.

Ricky Ponting (106 Tests, 9389 runs @ 58.68)
Over the decade, there has been no wicket more sought-after than Ponting, who has scored more Test runs and centuries than anyone else. Whilst seemingly eschewing risk, he has scored his runs at a
strike-rate of 62 over the decade, dominating bowling attacks and keeping alive the tradition that a side’s best batsman and captain should occupy the pivotal spot. Ponting’s sheer single-mindedness was epitomised by 576 runs at 82.28 in the 2006/07 Ashes whitewash.

Brian Lara (66 Tests, 6380 runs @ 54.06)
Perhaps perceived more as a man of the 1990s, Lara in fact scored 21 of his 34 Test centuries in the 2000s. Throughout, that x-factor, illustrated by his idiosyncratic high back-lift and scything of bowling through the offside, remained: Lara was a man who consistently demonstrated how thrilling the art of batsmanship could be. Few performances of the modern era can match Lara’s 688 runs in three matches in Sri Lanka in 2001 – though, typically, West Indies still lost every match. There was also the little matter of his 400* against England saw him, astonishingly, reclaim the Test record score.

Rahul Dravid (103 Tests, 8558 runs @ 54.85)
Few nicknames are as appropriate as the one that has been attributed to Dravid – simply ‘The Wall’. Sachin Tendulkar is the great icon of the Indian game, but it is Dravid who has been the key batsman in their crucial victories, displaying mastery of batting’s technical challenges especially when standing out away from home. His 305 runs, for once out, to defeat Australia at Adelaide in 2003 was testament to his mental fortitude. Dravid’s finely-crafted masterpieces are a common thread linking the seminal Indian victories of the 2000s: from Headingley, to Rawalpindi and Kandy via Kingston, Perth and, of course, Adelaide in 2003, when he scored 305 runs for once out.

Jacques Kallis (100 Tests, 8552 runs at 58.97; 202 wickets @ 31.70)
Hailed by Kevin Pietersen as “the greatest cricketer ever”, Kallis’s averages for the decade - 58 with the bat, and 31 with the ball – are extraordinary, especially when considering he played 100 Tests in the 2000s. His batting is perhaps more science than art, but his steady and unobtrusive accumulation has led many a captain to despair. And, as Kallis has proved in recent times, he does have another gear. He is also the consummate fourth seamer; when occasions have allowed, as in his 6/54 at Headingley in 2003, his swing has proved devastating.

Adam Gilchrist (91 Tests, 5130 runs @ 46.63, wicket-keeper)
Gilchrist’s demoralising assaults from number seven will, for many, be the standout memory of Test cricket in the 2000s. Whether he arrived at the crease at 100/5 or 300/5, his approach was the same: audacious, clean hitting that would seize the game’s initiative, most stunningly with a 57-ball century against England in 2006. As Gideon Haigh wrote, “Gilchrist seemed to invent a new cricket variant in which, while everyone else carried on as usual, he thrashed about him with apparent impunity.”

Andrew Flintoff (74 Tests, 3695 runs @ 32.69; 220 wickets @ 32.38)
No one could conceivably claim Andrew Flintoff was a superior cricketer to Shaun Pollock. So why is he in this side over Pollock? With McGrath and Kallis parsimony personified, Flintoff can finally be unleashed as an impact bowler in short spells – like his series changing over at Edgbaston in 2005 - rather than forced into the containing role. When at his peak, Flintoff performed outstandingly in all three disciplines in the Caribbean, South Africa and India – and, of course, his 2005 Ashes performance was one of the finest all-round series enjoyed by any cricketer this decade. He was not only vital for what he himself achieved on the pitch, but the galvanising affect his deeds had on others.

Shane Warne (65 Tests, 357 wickets @ 25.17, captain)
Warne v Muralitharan has been the subject of so many pub debates over the years. And, while Murali’s statistics in the 2000s are marginally superior, he admitted that Warne “had a better cricketing brain than me.” Through sheer force of personality, the Australian could change the course of games on even the least helpful of surfaces. And, so often the symbol of the all-conquering Australian machine, his Herculean efforts in defeat in the 2005 Ashes – 40 wickets and 249 runs in five Tests – provided indisputable proof of his enduring greatness. Widely regarded as possessing the best cricketing nous of anyone who never captained his country in a Test, Warne will have the honour of leading this side out.

Dale Steyn (33 Tests, 170 wickets @ 23.70)
In an era when express pace seemed to be dying a sad death, Steyn has emerged to revive it. Bowling at speeds in excess of 90mph, he has created carnage with his devilish late swing with new and old ball alike. His yorker and bouncer alike have the capacity to destroy, and he was crucial in South Africa’s success against Australia in 2008/09, claiming 34 scalps in six Tests, including ten wickets in the famous MCG win. A more subtle and canny bowler than many of express pace, Steyn was also exceptional in India.

Glenn McGrath (66 Tests, 297 wickets @ 20.53)
It all seemed so simple, didn’t it? Plod up to the wicket, bowling with nip but some way short of express pace, hit a good line and length and perhaps extract a little movement. The most remarkable of unremarkable bowlers, McGrath could be relied upon to raise his game against the opposition’s star, and shared some memorable duels with Messrs Tendulkar and Lara. When there was a little in the pitch, as when he took 8/24 against Pakistan at Perth, McGrath was simply without peer.

With apologies to Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Shaun Pollock, Dan Vettori and Muttiah Muralitharan.

All statistics are based on Tests played from 1st January 2000 to 25th December 2009.

Captaincy and the art of batting

I write at lunchtime on day one of the fourth Test at Barbados and the Test Match Special team is busy admiring the change in Andrew Strauss’ batting. The consensus that the captaincy has brought a new dynamism to his strokeplay is hard to disagree with, which again poses the question of how captaincy affects the form of batsmen.

This issue is topical given the recent runscoring feats of skippers Mahela Jayawardene and Younis Khan (although the conditions they encountered at the Karachi National Stadium means their high scores can hardly be attributed to the responsibility of captaincy).

The sustained good form of Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith since taking on their respective captaincy roles is more telling. Of course both are top class batsmen, but there is little doubt leadership brings the best out of their batting.

Indeed, most current international skippers seemed to have improved their output since taking charge, but statistics tell only part of the story.

Strauss’ transformation from shot-restricted accumulator to fluent stroke-maker is the most marked change of style, perhaps along with MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle’s transformation in the other direction.

Full analysis of Strauss’ new dominating approach when in charge should be delayed until he faces tougher attacks on spicier pitches, but his productivity when he stood-in as skipper in 2006 suggests he likes to lead from the front.

That wish to set an example is what unites all captains, which means the responsibility of leadership often exaggerates players’ individual traits. Mike Atherton and Steve Waugh became more stubborn; Ponting seeks to dominate even more; Jayawardene is fuller of concentration.

It doesn’t always work out that way. The responsibility of captaincy can often weigh heavily, with the implications of bad form exacerbated by the duty of leadership. Atherton at times appeared consumed by his status as most prized wicket by the opposition, whilst Nasser Hussain and Mark Taylor, who generally revelled as their teams’ figureheads, endured horror runs that brought their place in the team into question.

All England supporters hope Strauss stays in the productive captaincy category. He has just lofted Sulieman Benn for six to reach a century in consecutive Tests, suggesting we might have to wait for the introspective spell that threatens most batting captains.

Written by Philip Oliver, an online sports writer who blogs about Test match cricket.

Looking ahead to the end of the decade

A look at the players who have dominated the past decade of Test cricket and those who will feature in a similar retrospective 10 years from now.

The last year of the first decade of the 21st century has begun in much the same way as the first year of the millennium did.

Ricky Ponting and Muttiah Muralitharan are churning out runs and wickets like they were early in 2000 and West Indies had just skittled out an opponent in apparent terminal decline at Jamaica (although Zimbabwe managed exactly twice what England recently managed in their second innings collapse at Sabina Park in March 2000).

Much has also changed in the intervening years. There is a new distinct format of the game, umpiring decisions are being made using a TV monitor and Australia’s grip on the number one ranking is now as weak as it was strong at the beginning of the decade.

Which players have shaped this decade of cricket? Ponting and Muralitharan are guaranteed to be the most statistically successful players – respective Test batting and bowling averages of 60.97 and 19.82 since the beginning of 2000 should belong to another era. Only Jacques Kallis and Glenn McGrath have come close to matching those numbers.

Makhaya Ntini is the second highest Test wicket taker of the decade so far, thanks largely to his longevity. The South African paceman has played 92 Tests, more than anyone in the top 10 of the 2000s wicket taking charts – Muralitharan, Brett Lee, Harbhajan Singh and Chaminda Vaas’ careers have also spanned the decade.

Rahul Dravid, fourth behind Ponting (95 matches), Matthew Hayden (96) and Kallis (96) in the run charts, has played every single one of India’s 97 Tests of the decade, a record that he looks like preserving until the end of the year thanks to his career-saving ton against England at Mohali in December.

Matthew Hoggard is the only Englishman to feature in either top 10, despite England so far playing 116 Tests this decade, 13 more than Australia (six players) or South Africa (four), 19 more than India (four) and 30 more than Sri Lanka (four). Brian Lara is the only West Indian to feature.

Of the batting and bowling top 10, only Graeme Smith and Harbhajan Singh started their careers after 2000, which suggests the most successful players of the next decade will already be in their national teams by the end of this year.

South Africa’s steady recent improvement is partly due to the performances of players who have plenty of service left in them such as Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Ajantha Mendis might be safe bet to be the top wicket taker of the 2010s.

However, the most successful players of the decade 10 years from now might feature some Englishman - Ian Bell, Alastair Cook and Monty Panesar are apparently safe from the drop and are young enough to be going strong in 2019. The calls for their axing will be deafening by then…

Written by Philip Oliver, an online sports writer for Betfair – check them out for Grand National betting odds.

Australian Summer Ratings (Test)

With the home summer nearly over, it's time to rank this season's Australians in both test and ODI cricket. While some players have starred, such as Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson, others have faltered in the heat and let Australia down at a time of need, such as Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden. As Australia lost its mantle of undisputed champions, some stood up and others sat back and failed. So just like the ever common England ratings, here is the Aussie ratings by your resident Aussie:

Test Season:
Matthew Hayden: 4/10 - Most people are well aware that Hayden had a woeful season, with only a few decent innings. Retirement was well advised, and in the end Hayden decided he would not recover and did so. The opener, once the best in the world, struggled both physically and mentally, and seemed to have forgotten how to build an innings.

Simon Katich: 8/10 - Katich was one of the summer's stars, amassing runs consistently and looking in control throughout. Against South Africa in times of need he was one of the Aussies' best. The one thing that was disappointing was a lack of big scores, with a lot of scores ending in the 60-80 range, but overall it was a great revival of the talented batsman's once tattered career, filling the openers' position expertly.

Ricky Ponting: 7/10 - Ponting started and finished the season on a good note, with his maiden century in India and a stunning display of leadership, scoring a century and a 99 in the same match in Melbourne, but in both matches he was not enough to win the game for Australia and as a whole it was not Ponting's best. Having said that, despite a form slump in the middle, Ponting stood up when required and his numbers were not as poor as they might have seemed.

Michael Hussey: 5.5/10 - Hussey endured first real form slump of his short but decorated career, backing up a good tour of India with a poor home summer, scoring less runs than Hayden against South Africa. His tour of India saved his rating to an extent, but overall it was a poor showing from the man many call Mr. Cricket.

Michael Clarke: 9/10 - Clarke was stunning all year, picking up a century in India, and then some more big scores against New Zealand and South Africa. Clarke's maturity soared since being named vice captain, and his performances were calm and controlled, something the once very aggressive youngster would never have dreamed of. He saved many an Australian innings and announced himself truly in the game's elite batsmen.

Andrew Symonds: 4.5/10 - Following a breakthrough season against India just a year ago in which Symonds belted run after run, the all-rounder's performances were weak all summer. It started badly for Symonds after he was suspended from the tour of India after going fishing instead of attending a team session, and he picked up just one 50 all summer when he returned to the side. Symonds' career now appears in tatters with another controversy, and this will be remembered as a season to forget for the burly all-rounder.

Brad Haddin: 6.5/10 - Haddin started the season with a mediocre tour of India which included sloppy glovework and poor batting, but when he returned home he found form picking up a pair of centuries and his keeping improved along with it. It was a good sign of things to come for Haddin, and Australia will be hoping he can continue his late form into the new year.

Brett Lee: 5/10 - Like Symonds, Lee started 2008/09 in the form of his life, and also like Symonds, his form dropped immediately. A weak showing in India was followed by a good test against New Zealand, but his work against South Africa was below mediocre, as Lee's ability to penetrate and trouble batsmen seems to be disappearing with his speed. With an injury ending a forgettable year for Lee, it seems that his test career could be in serious danger, as selectors will be taking a huge gamble to play him for the Ashes with no cricket in several months beforehand.

Mitchell Johnson: 9/10 - Johnson and Clarke were Australia's two standout "comers of age", as Johnson was one of Australia's few half decent bowlers in India, but he stepped up further against New Zealand, with a scintillating 7 wicket spell being the highlight, and he turned into Ponting's go-to man against South Africa, further enhancing his development with 3 more great tests. Johnson looks to be Australia's new spearhead, and will need to stay fit as a large workload will be on his plate now with Lee and Clark gone for a while.

Stuart Clark: 6.5/10 - It is hard to criticise Clark's season as most of it was injury interrupted. He only played a couple of tests in India and they were not his best, although the injury no doubt played a part in this. With Clark missing the tour of South Africa, Australia will be hoping he is fit for the Ashes, or they will be in serious trouble in the bowling stocks.

Peter Siddle: 7.5/10 - Siddle's debut season was spectacular. He played his first test in tough conditions, against India in India, but he announced himself onto the scene with a team-high of 4 wickets for the match. While Clark's return from injury saw Siddle back out of the team, his being forced out was Siddle's chance once again, and while he bowled poorly in the first test against South Africa at the WACA, he redeemed himself ripping through the South African lineup in a great spell in front of his home crowd which put Australia in a winning position (which they squandered), and went one better at the SCG. Overall it was a great showing for the 24 year old, who will figure as a major option for the future.

Nathan Hauritz: 7/10 - Hauritz was considered an unglamorous and defensive option from the selectors, but he proved effective at stemming the run flow, and picked up wickets at the same time. While he does not seem a great long term option as a test spinner, he performed his role well and has been picked in the squad for the tour of South Africa.

Jason Krejza: 7/10 - Krejza's first test has been well documented as one of the most successful debuts of all time, as he picked up 12 wickets against India, the self proclaimed kings of playing spin, but the Tasmanian off spinner found himself out of the team for the first test at home due to no need for a spinner, and when he was ready to play his second test he found himself injured. When he finally did get a second chance, the Aussies dropped him after a match which wielded too many runs and not enough wickets. He now finds himself in the outer once again, with Hauritz and Bryce McGain the two choices for the tour of South Africa.

Shane Watson: 7/10 - Watson had a successful tour of India with the ball, generally his weaker discipline, but he was Australia's second best seamer on the tour, and while his batting was not great, it was seen as Watson's breakthrough tour, but when Symonds returned from suspension he was once again relegated to playing for Queensland, and some good form put his name back into the ring until, as is often the case for Watson, injury struck at the worst of times. It was an encouraging although unspectacular year for him, but the selectors made a big mistake not cashing in on his better form.

Cameron White: 5.5/10 - White was picked as a specialist spinner in India, a surprise for all seeing as the man himself does not consider himself much of a bowler, but while his performances were not eye catching, he did not bowl too badly, and his (traditionally stronger) batting was serviceable too.

Andrew McDonald: 5.5/10 - McDonald made his debut when Symonds was forced out through injury and Watson was also unavailable, and the Victorian all rounder had a tough start to his career, his bowling was tight and disciplined but undamaging and his batting was fairly weak. Some great domestic performances ensured he survived the cut for the tour of SA, but McDonald will need to improve to be called test standard.

Doug Bollinger: 5.5/10 - Like McDonald, Bollinger played one test at the SCG, and bowled reasonably well, but (perhaps unluckily) failed to pick up enough victims to be called a success. He is in the squad for SA, so he will be hoping another opportunity will be given, and that he will be able to capitalise.

ODI ratings to come at the conclusion of the New Zealand series.

Aussies on the decline, or is it just another tour of India?

Much has been made of Australia's series loss to India, their first in a very long time, and the immediate speculation is of course whether Australia has lost it. No more McGrath, Warne, Langer, Martyn or Gilchrist, no more Australia? It's the question that's been asked more often than any other in cricket, but one that is perhaps a little hesitant.

The first thing to consider is that when any team loses five of its best players (although Martyn was hardly a star at the end), it's going to take some time to adjust. A half-team turnaround is difficult to manage, no matter how good the youngsters are.

Secondly, let's remember the fact that in Australia's period of dominance, they only won a series in India once. Even at home, they have traditionally struggled against the Indians, always finding it difficult to cope with their spin. Of course now, India have found themselves a pretty decent pace attack, with Ishant Sharma one of the most promising young fast bowlers in the world. All in all, it seems that Australia failing its mission impossible for so many years is not something to read too much into. The tour of India has always been Superman's kryptonite after all!

As Australia get ready to host South Africa, once again brimming with confidence at the prospect of knocking off the Australians, we stand to get our best indication of where the other challengers of the crown are at, and where the former invincibles are too. How the Aussies cope with Dale Steyn will be an interesting battle, Steyn the hottest fast bowler in test cricket at the moment, and Australia seemingly vulnerable to the swinging ball, it stands to be a contest to savour.

History has shown, however, that South African confidence can often be misplaced, for many a time have the Proteas travelled down under on a high, in form and ready to pounce, only to be sent packing home by an Aussie side too strong. Graeme Smith has made it a habit of making bold pre-series predictions, perhaps desiring to live up to his former opponents' (McGrath, Warne) arrogant reputations. Smith will be the key to his nation's success, as a captain he will need to stand up and continue his great form, and as an opener he will need to get a solid start to their innings.

With Ricky Ponting under a wrist injury cloud, only time will tell whether he has indeed lost it, and his ability to cope with Steyn will prove telling. His vulnerability against spin was always obvious in India. After all, how many great spin bowlers are there outside the subcontinent these days with Shane Warne gone? Daniel Vettori certainly comes to mind, so the Australians' victory over New Zealand (weak though they may be) will be a relief for many.

It's showtime though, as two of test cricket's best clash down under. Are Australia on the decline, or is it just another case of India-itis? Once again, only time will tell, but if South Africa can shake a monkey off their back and record a series victory down under, it may be more serious than we though.

Australia - defeated and now a little vulnerable

As many had predicted, Australia did indeed lose their series in India. In the final analysis, they were twice thrashed and shaded one of the two draws: it was a humbling series, leading many to question whether they are the best side in the world any longer. India were disappointing in their recent series with Sri Lanka and South Africa – so, if the latter can gain a draw and a win from their two up-and-coming series, they could justifiably call themselves the world’s best.

Amidst all the gloom, there were three significant positives to emerge for Australia. Off-spinner Jason Krezja made a spectacular debut in the final game, claiming twelve scalps – although his economy rate of almost five illustrates that he received plenty of stick. But a wicket-taking spinner, even one who needs to improve his control, is something Australia needed and may just have found.

Shane Watson, batting at number six, mirrored Andrew Flintoff’s role in the England side. And there were signs the enigma can replicate his limited-overs form in Tests. He found batting hard, but hinted that he is capable of Test hundreds. And his reverse-swing and control evoked Flintoff: he was Australia’s best seamer. That was not saying too much, however, as Brett Lee had a torrid time, Stuart Clark proved toothless and Mitchell Johnson struggled after a fine start. From this vantage point, England will hope to have the better pace attack come next summer.

Finally, the unobtrusive Simon Katich had a fine series, averaging nearly 50. Unlike England with Mark Ramprakash, Australia have ignored age and past Test failings to reward first-class brilliance: Katich, with three hundreds in seven Tests since his recall, is fully vindicating them. His minimalist technique and eschewing of risk, save for the very occasional injudicious shot, made him invaluable at the top, while he even displayed the ability to dominate the bowling. Just as Justin Langer transformed himself from tenacious scrapper to top-order dominator, so could Katich.

But, save for Michael Hussey, the other batting was disappointing. Matthew Hayden fought hard but appears in decline: Australia’s selectors must be tempted to select Shaun Marsh soon. Ricky Ponting faded badly after beginning with a century, ensuring his record in India remains grim.

In the absence of Andrew Symonds and a spinner in whom they could trust, Australia’s team selection and on-field tactics were more confused than for years. Cameron White, a spinner who barely bowled, batted at eight, leaving Australia with only three bona fida bowlers. And Ponting resorted to a part-timer, in Michael Clarke, too much – he bowled only eight overs fewer than White – even though Katich looked the far more threatening spinner. His over-reliance on spin on the fourth afternoon of the final Test led Allan Border to criticise him for putting pocket before country. Had he bowled his seamers instead of part-timers, the over-rate would have suffered more, as would Ponting’s pocket – but Harbhajan and Dhoni may not have been able to share a crucial hundred partnership.

Amidst all the talk of empires ending, it is worth recalling that Australia were beaten in India in 2001 too. But that series was won by Herculean, career-defining efforts from Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman; man-for-man, no one thought Australia the inferior side. On this occasion, they have simply been worn down by a side superior in top- and middle-order batting, wicket-keeping, spinners and even, almost incredibly, pace. That is something altogether more worrying.

Australia and West Indies show why Tests are best

For those of us for whom England's 12th consecutive match against New Zealand is a less-than-enthralling prospect, West Indies' Test with Australia has captivated and reaffirmed what we already knew: Twenty20 may come and go but Test cricket remains the pinnacle.

Three days in, the game has showcased cricket at its very best. A majestic century from Ricky Ponting in tricky circumstances, followed by a fine half-century from Brad Hodge, benefiting from a series of ill-fortune to earn a surprise recall. The West Indies then rallied commendably. Australia's bowlers struggled, but were bailed out by Stuart Clark. Exhibiting the virtues of line, length, a touch of seam and the most phlegmatic of temperaments, Clark showed why he has enjoyed such a phenomenal start to his Test career.

West Indies then fought back, before Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson, having previously suffered from no-ball problems, responded superbly, in a way the shorter forms of the game allows ample time. Lee then hit Shivnarine Chanderpaul on the helmet. The West Indies feared he would go off. Chanderpaul remained resolute, exploding into life and reaching a majestic century. His performances over the last 12 months have been little sort of astounding; his idiosyncratic technique and unrivalled concentration making bowlers the world over thankful for the brittleness of his team-mates. In his last 16 innings, he has passed 50 on 11 occasions, with four centuries and many others denied by being undefeated or resorting to slogging when left stranded, as so often, with the tail. Despite his brilliance, an Australian lead of 119 seemingly made comfortable victory inevitable.

How can a game played over five days change so much in so little a timespan? How indeed. The West Indians were simply lethal on the third evening: Fidel Edwards and Daren Powell were outstanding, hostile and able to swing the ball late - with devastating results. The sight of Michael Hussey's stumps being decimated as Australia slipped to 12/4 was testament to the capacity of this game to produce sport at its most riveting and astounding. Twenty runs off an over simply does not come close to matching the simmering of tension; the personal, sometimes gladitorial, duels; and an even contest between bat and ball.

As the cricketing world threatens to lose all sanity in its approach to Twenty20, a worthy and sometimes captivating game but one that risks saturation, Test cricket has been done sterling service by this match just when many appeared willing to forget its merits. And if Test cricket is to enjoy a resurgence, wouldn't it help if these shoots of a West Indies revival grew into something more substantial?

Ponting's fortress

Ricky Ponting has an extraordinary record as Australian captain. In his 39 Tests in charge the Australians have racked up 31 wins, 5 draws and just 3 losses. All of the losses have occurred away from home, though Australia's record on their travels is still very impressive - 11 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses in the 17 Tests they have played.

Yet it is at home that Ponting's Australians have set new standards. On familiar turf, backed by their vociferous supporters, they have won 20 of the 22 Tests they have played, drawing the other two.

Most of the top Test playing nations have good home records, as you would expect when a team has the advantages of familiarity with the pitches and conditions, crowd support and the comforts of home, but the Australians under Ponting have taken it to a new level.

Playing their brand of hard, aggressive cricket, Australia have attacked the opposition from the beginning, never relaxing the pressure until victory has been achieved. This has incurred criticism from some quarters, but the results cannot be argued with. Under Ponting, Australia are literally unbeatable at home.

The only flaw in Ponting's record came at the hands of the old enemy, England, when he was forced to hand over the Ashes after a 2-1 loss away from home. Having suffered a lot of personal criticism for the loss, as well as the team being written off, Ponting sought to prove himself once again.

It is no surprise that he chose to do so back at home. In the 21 Tests since the Ashes defeat Australia have won 20, drawing the other one. Of those 21 matches 16 have been at home, the other 5 being 2 in Bangladesh and 3 in South Africa. Those 21 Tests have also included the recent world record equalling 16 wins in a row, 11 of which came at home, including the last 9.

Given their amazing level of dominance at home it may be that Ponting's men will be asked to play all their future Tests away, just to give the other Test playing nations a chance to bridge the yawning gulf between them and the Australians.

Saluting the Australian machine

The tumultous fall-out to Australia's remarkable victory over India has rather overshadowed their equalling of the Test record 16 wins. Over eight years after the first run began, Australia continue to be imperious and awesome. Their aggressive self-belief is simply phenomenal. Every professional cricketer possesses this, of course, but collectively Australia's is perhaps unsurpassed in cricketing history. And, as the Sydney Test proved, sometimes even the umpires are unable to stand in the way of the juggernaut.

The big test for Australia remains how they will deal with the long-term loss of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, two of the five or so greatest bowlers in their history. However, Brett Lee has stepped up to the plate with remarkable - and inevitable - good timing and swiftly seems to be becoming the consummate fast bowler, having already claimed 29 scalps in the four games of this Australia summer. Stuart Clark, meanwhile, has fitted seamlessly into McGrath's void; unerringly consistent, he averages just 20. So, far from having a weak bowling attack, Australia clearly have two of the best seamers in the world. Hope for the rest of the world centres on the indifferent performances of Mitchell Johnson and Brad Hogg against India. If Lee were to get injured, then cracks would start to appear in the bowling line-up. Yet somehow, someone always comes to the fore, as illustrated by the six wickets shared by Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke in the SCG win.

With the bat, Australia are even more exceptional. While their bowling prowess is likely to wane, they remain, and promise to remain, one of the finest-ever batting units. Additionally, the likes of David Hussey and Simon Katich, both of whom have consistently figured in the highest echelons of the first-class averages in England, are waiting eagerly for a chance, and would be permanent fixtures in many sides by now.

Aided by good batting tracks, short boundaries and less-than-awesome opening bowlers throughout the world, Australia amass scores of 450 with supreme regularity. Matthew Hayden's bludgeoning bat continues to pulverise opponents - and Phil Jaques looks like his heir apparent. Below the openers, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey (despite having just played 20 Tests) will almost certainly end their careers as all-time greats, while Clarke and, increasingly, Symonds, are exceptional talents also. What stands out in the batting unit is the incredible hunger for runs, epitomised by Ponting's anguished reaction to being dismissed for 196 in the Brisbane Test against England in 2006. Doing just enough is never enough. The aim is to grind the opposition into the dust, eliminating even the possibility of victory and relenting only when their spirits are spent. England's batsmen, with their penchant for stylish half-centuries, should be watchng in awe.

John Buchanan once remarked that he believed the Australian side could, one day, be genuinely ambidextrous. While that remains one of Buchanan's more curious observations, Australia have pioneered a form of 'total cricket'. Besides Jaques, there are no weak links in the field; their fielding unit is supreme, with players able to field anywhere with distinction. They have no need to play five bowlers when Clarke and Symonds, seemingly relatively innocuous, are able to prove match-winners through sheer force of will, and the intoxicating pressure the side can exert. And the days of tolerating a rabbit at eleven are long since over, such is the side's constant desire for self-improvement. In any other side McGrath's batting would have been allowed to descend into a source of hilarity; instead, he worked indefatigably on being able to hold up an end. The upshot? A once unthinkable Test fifty.

Behind it all lurks Ponting. Villified after the 2005 Ashes, his captaincy skills are now beyond doubt. The side's aggression, win-at-all-costs mentality and downright determination to maximise every ounce of talent also mirror his traits. Australia's supremacy in skill, and personnel, is unquestionable. Yet what sets that apart from the rest, above all, is their collective belief and constant striving for self-improvement. It is a force that transcends mere individuals; as such, their dominance looks sure to last for several years yet.

The Dominance Continues, or Shane Who?

In 3 days one can get over early week blues, one can receive an interstate package, a house can become as dirty as it was before the cleaners came, and the Australian cricket team can put any doubts over its capabilities to rest.

In the space of just 3 days, I can barely remember the excitement of seeing Shane Warne roll over his shoulders preparing to come into the attack, or the amazement at Glenn McGrath’s figures, or even the sheer enjoyment of watching Justin Langer play another classy stroke. This void has been quickly filled with excitement at a new Australia. Not all the players are young guns, but the player’s surviving the not-so-aptly titled, ‘Dad’s Army,’ of the 5-0 Ashes victory, are refreshed, and many of the middle aged players have grown in maturity.

Already, Sri Lanka is on the ropes, at 2/80 in their following on 2^nd innings after a brilliant performance from the Aussies with both bat and ball. It began with new opener Phil Jaques’ maiden test century, and continued with shows of improvement and increased maturity from Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds. The middle order continues to improve, and with no shakeups since the New Years Test between Australia and England, they appear to be ready to help out the less settled opening pair with solid contributions.

The bowling attack was always going to be an interesting and exciting one to watch, and they did not disappoint, bowling out the Lankans with ease, Brett Lee spearheading the attack with his typical pace and flamboyant style, and taking full advantage of the conditions, despite the fact that they were beginning to improve. Mitchell Johnson looked impressive on debut, opening the bowling with Lee, with great pace and swing causing trouble for the Sri Lankan batsmen, and Stuart Clark was dangerous and accurate as ever. Stuart MacGill, the new spinner, battled hard and despite only one wicket, MacGill seems to still be a good bowler. On the other hand only Muralidaran seemed to contribute, and he was over-bowled to the extent that his two wickets could not do too much.

The match seems to be ready to be wrapped up tomorrow, with Sri Lanka ruing their decision to play ‘Give me a tonking’ Fernando ahead of ‘Slinger’ Malinga. As for the controversial Jayasuriya decision, it looked out to me. Sri Lanka have bigger issues than that, as does their coach Trevor Bayliss, who might be missing the relative calmness of his old job in Sydney by the end of this series. Much awaits to be seen tomorrow, with the Aussies, who have in the past struggled with the follow on decision, attempting to fnish things a day early.

Who will join Bradman?

The battle for a middle-order spot is exceptionally fierce, with the likes of Tendulkar, Chappell, Compton, Border, Waugh and Walcott not having reached the final 28-man shortlist. Essentially, the question is effectively which two middle-order players will join Don Bradman (at three) and Garfield Sobers (probably at six) who are fundamentally must-picks; their places in the pantheon was illustrated by them receiving 100 and 90 of the 100 votes for Wisden’s Five Cricketers of The Century. No one else received more than 30 votes.

George Headley was often referred to as the ‘Black Bradman’, having played in the same era as The Don, but, crucially, in a much weaker side. He scored 10 Tests in just 22 Tests for his country; during this time, there were just five other 100s scored by Caribbean players. Renowned for playing the ball extremely late, technical excellence and astonishing on-side play, Headley’s pre-war statistics mark him out as perhaps the second best batsman in the game: 9,532 runs in first-class cricket with an average of 72.21; and an average of 67 from his first 19 Test matches. Though he played relatively few Tests, because of the era he played in, these figures were sustained over a decade, proof of his enduring excellence. Out of desperation as much as anything, critics often point to his average of 37 in Australia as evidence of his limitations; but, after failing in his first four innings, Headley, aged just 21, scored two hundreds in the last three Tests and over 1000 runs on tour in all.

Two other modern West Indian batting giants made the shortlist. Viv Richards was as terrifying for the opposition as their plethora of brilliant fast bowlers; with his swagger, arrogance and contempt for ‘playing every ball on its merits’ he could drive bowlers to despair. The Antiguan scored 24 Test hundreds, the most memorable perhaps a superlative 291 at The Oval in 1976, and came to embody the Windies’ relentless dominance of the world game with his sheer power. However, it is worth noting that, out of five nations, he only averaged over 50 against England.

Brian Lara, more or less, followed Richards in the side, which gradually became weaker. Like Headley, he should gain credit for bearing an extra burden, though his average of 53, with 34 hundreds, more than speaks for itself. An enigma until the end, Lara thrilled millions with his flashing blade and ability to take on the world’s best bowlers; yet he also had a Bradmanesque ability to amass gargantuan scores, as his 375, 400* and 501* (the latter for Warwickshire) illustrate. Two series, above all, stand as testament to his greatness: the ‘98/99 one against Australia, when Lara scored three hundreds, including Wisden's second greatest Test innings of all time (see below), 153*, to secure a one-wicket win chasing over 300; and, in ‘01/02, when he scored 688 runs at 114 in Murali’s backyard. Oddly, though, he averaged only 35 against India, though 14 of his 17 Tests against them were at home.

Ricky Ponting was a slightly controversial selection on the shortlist but his 33 hundreds and, especially, an average of 72 in his last 58 Tests, made him impossible to ignore. At only 32, Ponting could yet become an automatic selection in a side such as this; but, his meagre average of 12 in eight Tests in India means there is a slight question mark over his ability against top-class spin in testing conditions. Nonetheless, no one can doubt his relentless scoring of runs, his qualities all round the wicket and his single-minded determination. An innings of 156 at Old Trafford in 2005, made against top-class fast-bowling when Australia were entirely dependent on him, perhaps stands as his finest.

Graeme Pollock, owing to South Africa’s ban from Test cricket, only played 23 Tests, but still accomplished enough to be a true great of the game. Moreover, his average of 61 is even more impressive when it is considered that his Test career ended when, barely in his 27th year, he was not yet in his prime. Elegant, classical and seemingly unstoppable, Pollock was considered by Bradman to be the best left-hander in cricketing history – above even Sobers – and scored seven Test tons, including a phenomenal 274 against Australia; but, alas, he only played in two more Tests.

Wally Hammond is the sole Englishman in the list. In 77 Tests until 1940, Hammond averaged 61, with 22 hundreds. Of course, he had an excellent technique; but he also had the rare ability to adapt his game it to different conditions. On his first tour to Australia, in 1928/29, for instance, Hammond decided he would be best served scoring primarily in the ‘V’; and was stunningly vindicated with 905 runs at 113. He also had a temperament well-suited to scoring long innings, as his astonishing haul of 36 first-class doublehundreds, six in Tests, is testament to. Hammond was a tremendously powerful player, to supplement his other qualities, a brilliant fielder and an under-rated bowler. The only slight caveat is an average of 35 against the West Indies.

Additional information
The Wisden 100 greatest innings of all time
Regarding the point of playing in weaker sides, it is interesting to note that, as a percentage of team runs, the leading batsmen are Don Bradman (23%), George Headley (21%) and Brian Lara (20%)

Sobers will be analysed amongst the other all-rounders on the shortlist.

Who do you think should join Bradman in the middle-order for the Greatest Test XI of the last century? Leave a comment below.

Team of The World Cup

Matthew Hayden (AUS)
- Top run scorer, in domineering form, what more can you say?! Haydos is back and with some bang! He plundered three hundreds and one fifty, with 659 runs, at an average of 73.22, including the fastest ever World Cup Hundred off just 66 balls.

Adam Gilchrist (wk) (AUS)
- Sealed his place with his innings of 149 in the Final, which was the fastest and highest ever scored in a Final. His best knock came at the most vital of times and it won his team the game. Tidy behind the stumps as ever with 12 Catches and 5 Stumpings.

Ricky Ponting (c) (AUS)
- Captained the winning team to victory. Captaincy was easier for Ponting than for others, however he did what was required and played some sumptuous innings. Clever user of the powerplays and particularly Shaun Tait.

Mahela Jayawardene (vc) (SRL)
- Played one of the innings of the tournament in the Semi-Final, showing a lot of players, notably England’s, how to construct a one day innings. Commands the respect of his troops and the world.

Scott Styris (NZL)
- Surprise package at the World Cup. Had been out of form after injury, but came back to deliver on his talent on the biggest of stages. Handy with the ball as well, he was the lynchpin around which the Kiwi’s batted.

Kevin Pietersen (ENG)
- The only player who did not make it into the Semi-Finals. Two hundreds and one of them in a victory, a first for KP. He showed why he is number one in the world and looks set to up his game to a new level, having displayed higher levels of maturity and shot selection as the tournament progressed.

Michael Clarke (AUS)
- Down as the finisher, as that is what he ended up doing for Australia from number four! Four not outs, during which he guided Australia home, he took over from Mike Hussey and is really turning into one of Australia’s most dependable performers. Class fielder too.

Shane Bond (NZL)
- Did not deliver in the Semi-Final, but up to that point he was sublime and extremely economical. If he can stay fit he can achieve a lot more and maintain that ridiculously low strike rate in the teens.

Lasith Malinga (SRL)
- Star of the tournament with the ball, despite being sidelined by injury half way through. With four wickets in four balls for the first time in international cricket against South Africa, he is going to be a star for years to come. Best bowler for Sri Lanka in the Final too.

Muttiah Muralitharan (SRL)
- They still can’t stop him and he did it all with a smile. Surely now the World’s best and most enthusiastic! He may now retire from One Day Internationals, but Shane Warne’s Test Wickets Record is under serious threat.

Glenn McGrath (AUS)
- Pigeon signed off in style as the leading World Cup 2007 wicket taker, with 26 and he is now comfortably the World Cup's highest ever wicket taker. Sides tried to get after him, but he usually got his own way in the end, as ever! Can walk off in to retirement a proud man indeed.

12th Man: Brad Hogg (AUS) / Jaques Kallis (SAF)
- The mysterious googly of Brad Hogg proved to be many a batsman’s undoing and in need of an extra spinner he is surely the man to fit the bill. He now has his eyes on Stuart MacGill’s assumed Test place. Meanwhile, Jaques Kallis gets a mention as South Africa’s best player, just ahead of his captain, Graeme Smith, but ultimately he was a letdown in the big games, uncharacteristically giving his wicket away on too many occasions, having been criticised for scoring too slowly against Australia earlier on.

Preview: Australia vs Sri Lanka

The tournament favourites meet in Grenada today in what should be a compelling encounter. Both sides are favoured to meet in the final and they will be eager to impose themselves upon each other early on. The pitch in Grenada has been quite slow and difficult to play on so far and it may well favour Sri Lanka's style of play, especially as they are a Malinga down. Whilst Farheez Maharoof is a decent one day bowler, he is still a bowler the Aussies will fancy getting after and so the likes of Tilakaratne Dilshan and Russell Arnold could prove to be crucial with their contributions of part time spin on the slow surface.

Australia meanwhile must decide who to play instead of Shane Watson. Brad Hodge has been favoured to date, but both Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson are pressing hard for places in the starting line-up. It is likely that they will again favour the extra batting and the part time spin of Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and even Hodge. Along with Brad Hogg, a threat because of his rarity, they have decent slow bowling options to match Sri Lanka. Murali of course has strangely not always enjoyed playing the Aussies.

Prediction: Fascinating encounter. Sides have been getting closer to Australia and it could be time for a reality check. Without Malinga though, Sri Lanka are missing that extra penetration. Australia to win the pre-final, maybe Sri Lanka to save their best for the real thing.

Players to watch: Ricky Ponting and Mahela Jayawardene.

Preview: Australia vs Bangladesh

Bangladesh were many peoples' tips for an upset in this tournament and they have done wonderfully well to get out of a tough group. They have come on leaps and bounds in recent years and they have some exciting young talent in their ranks. They are though still very raw and incredibly inconsistant. They tend to be at their best when they are expected by everyone to lose. However, today they face a certain level of expectation. Having beaten Australia back in 2005 and drawn a home Test match against them in 2006, many people believe that they could pull off a shock here. That will not help Bangladesh.

It is near impossible to see how anyone could beat Australia on present form and that is a credit to Australia, who just a month ago seemed in crisis. The team's success is built on wonderful fielding and superlative batting. These two facets rarely fail. The bowling is where Bangladesh have a chance. This Australian side has one of the least threatening bowling attacks for years. Glenn McGrath has visibly lost a bit of nip, the spearhead, Brett Lee, is absent and without Shane Warne their is not a world class spinner. Both Shaun Tait and Shane Watson are raw in bowling terms and Bangladesh should look to target them.

Prediction: Australia to avenge 2005 in style.

Players to watch: Ricky Ponting and Mushfiqur Rahim.

Previews: England vs Canada and Australia vs Netherlands

No more shocks today people, plain sailing all the way! Six sixes anyone?!

England vs Canada:

Prediction: England, but probably with the odd hiccup!

Players to watch: Michael Vaughan (surely 100 up?!) and John Davison.

Australia vs Netherlands:

Prediction: Aussies to coast it.

Players to watch: Ricky Ponting and Ryan ten Doeschate, who else?!

Previews: Australia vs Scotland; Kenya vs Canada

Australia vs Scotland:

Prediction: Australia to cruise home.

Players to Watch: Ricky Ponting of course and Ryan Watson.

Kenya vs Canada:

Prediction: Kenya by a fairly comfortable margin. They are the side capable of a shock in this group.

Players to Watch: The two captains and war horses, Steve Tikolo and John Davison.

Is Ponting the best player in the world?

As the World Cup approaches, Third Umpire will be selecting a ODI World 11, with one player featuring every day. We continue with our number three, Australia's Ricky Ponting.

Ricky Ponting’s place amongst the pantheon of the world’s greats is now beyond doubt; he has 30 Test hundreds and averages an amazing 72 over his last 54 Tests. Having regained the Ashes in spectacular fashion, Australia suffered an uncharacteristic slump in form, losing six out of seven ODIs and, perhaps crucially, Brett Lee to injury. But they rightly remain favourites: and Ponting's quite brilliant batting has a huge part to play in that.

Ponting is an enforcer with the bat, capable of playing every shot to perfection; but he is also a supreme technican able to adapt his game on the more testing tracks we may see in the Caribbean. Add in his exemplary fielding and increasingly impressive captaincy and there is a huge case for arguing that he is the world's best player. His task in the Caribbean is simple: to retain the World Cup, as his phenomenal 140* against India in the final of 2003 helped so much to do. Few would bet against him doing so.

Any thoughts on our World 11? Leave a comment.