When we championed the selection of Ed Cowan for the Boxing Day Test we suggested that his call-up was a victory for the underdog promoted after years of hard yakka.
Cowan is also what Geoffrey Boycott would doubtless call a proper Test match opener - someone who is prepared to dig in, take the shine off the new ball and stick around for as long as possible.
It doesn't get much bigger for an Australian cricketer than a Boxing Day Test match at the MCG in front of 70,000 odd people.
Cowan faced this challenge down with real grit and did so in seam and swing-friendly conditions after Michael Clarke had made his latest adventurous move as captain by opting to bat after winning the toss.
Cowan did it the old fashioned way by barely scoring a run before lunch and waited patiently for the inevitable loose spell that Umesh Yadav (who like Steve Finn in last year's Ashes series bowled some superlative deliveries whilst being more expensive than Prada) obligingly delivered at the start of the second session.
Even then he had only just registered his half-century by tea. No wonder Simon Katich has already given Cowan his seal of approval.
It was only last year that Australia were beaten in their own backyard by an England side boasting a similarly obdurate opening batsman. Alastair Cook's runs set up a series win and Cowan's selection suggests that Australia's selectors have belatedly decided to follow suit in voting for solidity at the top of the order.
It's all very well having a Virender Sehwag or David Warner, but you don't need a whole team of them. There is room for a Cook or Cowan in Test cricket. I can hear Boycott voicing his agreement at Cowan's 68 off 177 balls. He'd also probably agree that he didn't get a thin edge either.
Where next?
Australia v India - Who will win?
Cricket memories of 2011: England retain the Ashes in Australia
Ed Cowan's selection for the Boxing Day Test is a victory for intellect and common sense
Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes
If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep
Comments