Nat West Series - Australia marks out of ten

Unlike England who played the same XI throughout the five games, Australia chopped and changed their line-up playing 15 men in the series for reasons of form and injury.

At first it looked like Australia were going to be humbled but with the introduction of the express Shaun Tait and some typically gritty performances, they managed to claw their way back to leave with a 3-2 defeat and arguably the momentum in their favour.

A 5-0 defeat may have left some scars that wouldn't have healed by the Ashes but a narrow series defeat with several key players missing and facing a buoyant England side, will give Ricky Ponting and his side some positives for November. However, the bragging rights are definitely with England for the time being.

So, how did the Aussies rate during the series?

Shane Watson - 7 (205 runs, avg 41.00, SR 85.06, 2 50s, HS 61. 2 wickets, avg 32.00 Econ 5.81 BB 2/55 Started the series as the only Australian in form but kept getting out when set much to his obvious disappointment. Bowling was pretty poor and the days of him being tagged as an all-rounder must now be gone.

Tim Paine - 6 (148 runs, avg 29.60, SR 63.79, 1 50, HS 54) A shadow of the batsman who shone in last autumn's series against the same opposition. Didn't score enough runs and those he did score were at too pedestrian a rate. Brad Haddin, your place is safe.

Ricky Ponting - 6 (144 runs, avg 28.80, SR 80.00, 1 50, HS 92) Unquestionably, the Australian captain is a player in irreversible decline as shown by his struggles in this series. But this was a batsman with the powers of Gandalf and this and his love of a fight, saw him set the foundations for his team's win at The Oval with an un-Ponting like 92.

Michael Clarke - 8 (220 runs, avg 110.00, SR 83.33, 2 50s, HS 99*) His 87 not out in the first match was not made at the pace his side required to set a winning target, but it is hard to criticise someone who had these stats for a one day series. His partnership with Ponting at The Oval was a matchwinning one however, even if it didn't give him the hundred he deserved.

Cameron White - 6 (145 runs, avg 36.25, SR 77.54, 1 50, HS 86*) A steady if unspectacular series for the normally big hitting White. It can't be often that his strike rate for a one day series is slower than Clarke's and his 86 not out at Cardiff proved to be too circumspect.

Mike Hussey - 6 (143 runs, avg 28.60, SR 97.27, 1 50, HS 79) Another Australian batsman who started the series in poor form and finished it close to his best. His 79 in the final match was a typical Hussey masterpiece and showed exactly why he is rated one of the best one day batsman in the world.

Shaun Marsh - 6 (59 runs, avg 59.00, SR 118.00, 1 50, HS 59) Just played the final match at Lord's and showed just what Australia had been missing. Could have played himself back into the team as Watson's opening partner.

James Hopes - 5 (2 wickets, avg 101, Econ 5.58, BB 1/30. 61 runs, avg 20.33, SR 103.38, HS 34) Reminds of one of the many bits and pieces cricketers England used to populate their one day side with in the nineties. Hopes' stats for the series bore this out too. His time must be nigh in this line-up.

Steve Smith - 7 (7 wickets, avg 26.00, Econ 5.05, BB 2/34. 94 runs, avg 31.33, SR 98.94, HS 41)Hugely impressive performance from the youngster especially as England would have targeted his leg spin as a weakness. Clearly he is no Warne, but he looks like he could have a long international career ahead of him all the same.

Nathan Hauritz - 5 (1 wicket, avg 100.00, Econ 5.55, BB 1/56) Played the first two matches before getting injured and must now fear that Smith will take his place in the test and one day sides. England would have been disappointed to see him go.

Doug Bollinger - 8 (9 wickets, avg 19.77, Econ 3.95, BB 3/20) Looks a very good bowler who wears his heart on his sleeve. Good performances throughout the series with wickets and a decent economy rate. Probably nailed on for a spot at The Gabba in November - form and fitness permitting.

Ryan Harris - 8 (10 wickets, avg 17.10, Econ 4.79, BB 5/32) Another impressive Australian bowler who bowls around 90mph, and despite playing four matches was the leading wicket taker for Ricky Ponting's men. Bowled beautifully at The Oval.

Shaun Tait - 9 (8 wickets, avg 12.37, Econ 3.88, BB 4/48) What would have happened if Tait had played the whole series? Must be the fastest bowler in the world at the moment and he combines taking wickets without leaking too many runs. Could be in line for a return to test cricket too - but is he fit enough?

Josh Hazelwood - 5 (1 wicket, avg 41.00, Econ 5.85, BB 1/41) The 19 year old made his debut at the Rose Bowl and seemed to do well enough, but was then never seen again. Did he get lost en route to Cardiff?

Clint McKay - 3 (1 match, 0/60) Also only played one match and didn't look much of a player on that showing. Strauss certainly punished his no-balls. 

Comments

[bettiwettiwoo]

Michael Hussey [...] showed exactly why he WAS rated one of the best one day batsman in the world. FTFY.

I think you have been very, very generous with the scores you've given Hopes, White, and of course Watson. (Although, I admit that the assessment of Watson's score is probably tainted by my intense Watson dislike.)

[The Reverse Sweep]

Thanks for the comments bettiwettiwoo, although I feel you are being a bit harsh on Hussey! I too share your dislike for Watson- does anyone actually like him?

[bettiwettiwoo]

'... you are being a bit harsh on Hussey'

I don't think recognising that Hussey isn't the batsman he once was is harsh. Or even unfair.

In Fellini's 'Intervista', they set off to visit Anita Ekberg and the comments they make about her are to the effect that she's a ruin, but oh, a ruin of something that once was so beautiful that one has to admire the ruin itself - not because of what it IS in itself, but because of what the ruin once was. It's an interesting sentiment/point of view. I feel a bit like that about Hussey. Or his batting, anyway.

[Cricket Burble]

I'd be careful about saying that Ponting is "unquestionably" in irreversable decline. People said the same about Tendulkar and Dravid who both showed they're not done yet. A similar small blip when aged 25 would be described as a short-term loss of form and just because he's 35 doesn't make it any different....if he was 40, perhaps. And I wouldn't mind a loss of form in which I scored 90odd in a 5 match ODI series!

[The Reverse Sweep]

I agree Cricket Burble that a loss of form with a great player like Ponting is all relative! I wrote as much last week after that 92 http://thereversesweep.typepad.com/blog/2010/07/theres-life-in-the-old-dog-ponting-yet.html

I guess being an Englishman, there is some wishful thinking on my part. I still fear a Ponting hundred at The Gabba!

[The Reverse Sweep]

Nice! I bet that Hussey has never been compared with Anita Ekberg before! I should explain that when I said 'unfair' I meant that Hussey is still one of the five best ODI batsmen in the World with Sachin, Morgan, Amla and Sehwag/Dilshan. In fact, Hussey is three batsmen with the different roles he can play - sometimes in the same innings!

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