England Better than Australia?

Sreelata YellamrazuDec 12 2008

That is a general perception, and not just on the basis of the second day’s play.

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England did what Australia hoped, with a wrong strategy in tow.

Australia chose a four bowler option through the Test series, hoping their part timers, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey and Simon Katich would do the trick of compensating not only for a fifth bowler but also, the role of the second spinner.

Ricky Ponting relied heavily on pace, sometimes even against logic and his manner of using the spinners suggested he was simply not comfortable either with the idea or the quality of the personnel since the retirement of Shane Warne.

That meant Jason Krezja, like Graeme Swann, enjoyed a dream debut but only in the fourth Test by which time Australia were calling their shots of last resort instead of putting their best foot forward.

In contrast, Kevin Pietersen woke up late to the fact that an additional spinner would help in the one day series but used logic for the Test series, giving Swann his rightful debut in the first Test itself alongside Monty Panesar. Suffice it to say, it worked like a charm!

By providing more balance in the team with five bowlers, indicating a more attacking approach that suggested England wanted to compete to win, they have also shown unintentionally how defensive Australia were in India and it also explains their downfall then in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.