Australia vs Pakistan Test Series review

[baggy_blogger]

The Baggy Green recorded their 12th consecutive victory in Test cricket against Pakistan while also taking the series 3-0, ending the summer with 5 victories and 1 drawn test.
It wasn't at all domination with plenty tense moments and good competition (from both Pakistan & the Windies) but the boys managed to win the big moments and tactically things looked a lot better this time around in the Test arena.
Pakistan were outplayed but I really think they have a good team to move forward with. It seems in world cricket most of the teams are now moulding sides they can really call their own with a group of players to take into the future with longevity in mind. Pakistan have that in their team. They are just lacking a strong leader, confidence and this is, as a result, affecting their confidence. There are some discipline issues too amongst the entire team from bizarre batting strokes in pressure situations and atrocious fielding, but it is something that they will be able to fix. Mohammad Yousuf can't be finger pointed at too much as it's important to bare in mind he was only recently thrown in the position of leadership with Younis Kahn needing some time out.
But they had some fine performers shine at times. My personal best for Pakistan was Mohammad Aamer. His stats at the end of the series aren't anything outstanding, but at 17 he has bucket loads of talent. He troubled our top order with the new ball and with more cricket and mentorship he will become a very, very good bowler.
Mohammad Asif did a neat job bowling up front and his series ended with 13 wickets from 135 overs, the most overs delivered by any bowler in the series.
The batting for Pakistan was a different story, and is the more evident reason if one was to further analyse their performance this series. They batted well below par and the notable collapse was at the SCG when the game should have been won by Pakistan, instead the never die attitude from Punter and the team resulted in some excellent bowling and panic in the Pakistan line-up.
Pakistan have a very good team, but they have a number of discipline issues to sort out to get to where they should most definitely should be in Test cricket.
Come to two tests in July, we will see if they have rectified these issues.

THE BATTING:
Australia convincingly dominated the batting front and this series saw the Centurion drought come to an end with Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke all scoring centuries this series. It was a happier time for our batsmen this time around.
Here are the Stats with batsmen qualifying over 100 runs.


Ricky Ponting had a rather rough start to his summer. He wasn't getting it quite right but sure enough he saved the best for last when it was most needed too! The media latched onto his form issues and immediately the talk began to stir about his abilities at the number 3 role. Players of this quality can lose their touch but it isn't a surprise if they just get it all to click back into place. It did for Punter and at the Bellerive Oval he scored his 5th double century and then backed it up with 89, resulting in his highest aggregate in a Test match. The double ton came just a day after he was named Cricinfo's player of the decade and he just motored away, not shying away from the pull shot and carving some outstanding cover drives and lofted shots. Two spectacularly entertaining innings resulted in Punter climbing to the top of the run scoring list and an average of 66. Good to see Punter seeming himself again in the middle! He's leading this Squad very well, and good to know the hunger to fight back at England is growing daily!
Shane Watson has just been sensational at the top of the order. After being put in an awkward position after Phillip Hughes' Ashes shortfall, Watto filled the void and has ended a dream run in 6 Test matches with flying colours. He only managed 1 run in his final innings of the Tests but it didn't overshadow his other efforts as we had already seen the best of Shane Watson. His maiden-century ended the cursed Centurion drought, which then had the shackles released for the rest of the batsmen. He started off though burdened in the nineties and for a few games I thought we had 'the new Michael Slater', but Watto held it together to once again reach the nineties. Luck prevailed and he was dropped on 99, the adrenaline kicked in and he set off for the single that gave him the dream century. Not ideal but they often say it doesn't matter how you get 'em as long as you get 'em. He averaged the highest and ended 32 runs behind Punter, which resulted in him being nominated and winning the player-of-the-series award!
Salman Butt was the only Pakistan batsmen who stood up with any real notice after a century in Hobart and a half-century earlier in the series. He started in the warm-up game against Tasmania really well but couldn't hold any consistency at the top of the order. On a personal note for him it was a well needed ton for after a century drought of his own and it was good to see one Pakistan batsman make the milestone and give the batting fanatics something to cheer about.
Michael Clarke hit a well needed century, which didn't only brush aside any criticism but it also gave him his highest test match score, beating his previous best of 151 which he made on debut. His 166 was a classy innings alongside Ricky Ponting as the two of them recorded the 6th highest partnership for Australia in Test cricket. It was a good sign to see Captain and Vice-Captain alongside one another steering the side in the direction to the 12th consecutive Test victory against Pakistan. He will now be riding some good confidence as he leads the Squad full-time in the Twenty20's this summer. There was a hint we may see him send down a few overs in the ODI's too! Good to see Pup continue his newer profile with Test cricket; a mature and confident batsman with the patience and discipline to learn from his mistakes and perform like a senior and a leader.
Simon Katich can rarely be faulted since his return to the side in 2008! He has had to deal with the pressure opening the batting in a team that has seen drastic change as well as his own opening partners falling in and out since his return but with Shane Watson they are forming a strong partnership. They complement each other really well with Katto prepared to be his cautious, conservative self in the start of the innings with his crab-like shuffling while Watto will send the kitchen sink at something if it is there to be demolished, even though he has shown some outstanding discipline since taking on the role. They can both play their shots and they have the ability to speed things up or slow them down if needed. But Simon Katich also ended a terrible time in nineties like his opening partner. 92, 98, 99 and finally 100! It couldn't happen again, surely? This is what was on most people's minds when Katto was on 99 in the Hobart Test, but a nudge down the leg side brought up the needed triple figures, not for his form but his own sense of achievement.
Michael Hussey can consider himself a fortunate man the selectors kept so much belief in his abilities, even though it can't be argued over how good his work ethic is and how much hard work he puts into his match preparations. He was dropped three times on his way to a match-winning century at the SCG by Kamran Akmal who had a nightmare Test which ended up being the axe over his place in the side for the final Test, but the damage in that Test match would haunt Pakistan as not only did Huss reach the century that was needed for himself but Peter Siddle played the 'thorn in the side' role as himself and Huss controlled the match to get the Baggy Green into a winnable position at the SCG! Needing 176 to win, Pakistan succumbed to the pressure and lost what should have been their memorable victory. But as the stats indicate, their batting was a big let down and some horrible fielding ruined any chances...too many drop catches!
But Michael Hussey proved how tough Test cricket is and sometimes you need that luck in your favour, which it certainly was. His ODI cricket has been unstoppable so we'll see how he flows into the shorter form of the game.
Umar Akmal, Kamran's brother, started off his series with a warning to the Aussie's following a fine start to his Test career. It didn't materialise the way he would have wanted it too but there's no doubt in my mind this young man has the making of a leading batsman in the Pakistan team. Time will tell as youth is very much on his side!
Marcus North would be the major concern. While I don't think he will be cast aside for New Zealand tour just yet (my gut feeling atleast suggests this) but his summer has been forgettable. He couldn't get the runs that he needed and he continued to struggle. The thing is though that in these situations a lot of the time it is a confidence problem. All he needs is probably one really good innings, a half-century plus and there will be a spark again to the reputation he has developed as a consistent contributor to the middle order. He has yet to really stand up in a pressure situation, but I am sure we will see more from Marcus. He achievements over the last year cannot be overshadowed by this form slump.
Brad Haddin wasn't very effective, but his form is there and after the chance of an entertaining hit out came to an end after he was run-out in the 2nd innings at The Bellerive Oval after hitting one crisp six, it will be T20 and ODI time now so Had's can be prepared for that!
He is there as a wicket-keeper primarily and after there was major concern shown over his 'keeping, there are no more questions now! He has been sensational behind the stumps, taking his catches, executing the run-outs and setting a standard that is at the highest in the elite arena! His catch at the SCG to remove Salman Butt was a screamer and one of the best catches you will see from a 'Keeper! He also reached his 100th catch in Test cricket in the final Test, which is amongst the fastest of all time! A solid comeback and the injury layoff did him the world of good judging by his summer with the gloves!

BOWLING:


Without Ben Hilfenhaus the pace unit for Australia really had to regroup and they did a good job collectively with Nathan Hauritz spinning ahead of them predominantly after they had captured the initial wickets of the top order. Nathan Hauritz just systematically picked out the wickets of the Pakistani lower and middle order with consistency, almost eventual predictability. It was pleasing to see him wrap up his series with 18 wickets at the top of the list! He added two 5-wicket hauls to his stats and, like our batsmen had to do, he shrugged off the criticism and concern over his place in the side by letting his performances do the talking! He's valuable member of the lower order line-up and these efforts have presented a tougher edge to his character which makes him look a better part of the team. He's becoming tough ambitious cricketer who will get better the more he plays. That is evident already. Confidence is a spin bowlers best attribute and after the beating he took from Chris Gayle at the WACA, he brushed it aside and took a catch I won't forget! Mohammad Yousuf blasted a ball straight back at Ritz at the SCG in a do or die moment and he took it in the chest, while also doing his finger in as the ball ripped off his finger nail. It was an Ashes moment all over again, but this time the team were victorious and these moments shouldn't be forgotten easily by supporters. As for Mohammad Yousuf, I'm sure he considers himself unlucky on this moment!
Mohammad Asif was the closest to Ritz with 13 wickets and he worked hard for those wickets sending down 134 overs. But it was Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger who picked up 12 wickets each to give Australia the dominant appearance on the Stats sheet.
Mitchell looked a lot better this summer. His radar came right and he delivered some balls that reminded me of his summer in South Africa. Mitchell will always have the wayward delivery but the shocking thing is that 80% of the time some batsman will lose the plot, chase after one and Michael Hussey is more often than not the receiver in the gully. The thing is that Mitchell seems better at the first change slot and with a good break coming up for him, it will be a nice opportunity to just let his body re-energize! He will return to the side later in the ODI series against Pakistan as a part of his workload management.
Doug Bollinger has taken a strong liking to his opening spot with the new ball! A tall and very bold man he delivers the new ball with pace and steep bounce which awarded him a number of wickets first up. He also developed a very good skill in cleaning up the lower order. While it didn't pay off in Pakistan's 1st innings in the final Test, that killer instinct is there to just wrap up the tail of the opposition. Dale Steyn of The Proteas has this down to a fine art and it has been a big part of his game plan in getting quite a number of 5-wicket hauls. Douggie B has the same opportunity to add this to his armor!
Peter Siddle was the bowler who was a bit off colour all summer. It is fair enough the say that he had quite a number of frustrating moments! Thick outside edges over the slips, fine edges between the slips, LBW decisions just not holding...yes it was a tough summer for Sids. He doesn't have the pace to threaten the opposition, well not since the Test against the Proteas at the MCG, but he's become a smarter bowler and his variation and focus on line and length will be where he will become a solid performer. He reaped the rewards in Hobart at long last and it was great to see him wrap up the Test match. I am not too sure how much he will feature in the ODI series as he is still new to the format, but the aggression has returned to his game and this final Test would have just boosted his confidence!
Lastly, Shane Watson only picked up 5 wickets, but they were very important wickets! His workload is being carefully monitored so he delivers fewer overs but he has the ability to manage to older ball effectively with reverse swing becoming a prominent feature in his bowling, probably courtesy of Troy Cooley. It was Watto's series with the willow, but the old leather ball performances can't be forgotten!

The Baggy Green Squad representatives can walk away from the recent performances with a great sense of satisfaction. Avoiding the concern of slipping into a post-Ashes depression the guys stood up with high intensity and collectively the side looked better.
In the Ashes the individual performances were notable but collectivism and synergy is what gets the key moments, which England were able to do. Individual performances make a difference but without the Squad complementing one another, it can all fall apart. This is what was different this summer, and 5 victories out of 6 Tests which weren't all that easy are however, indicating that the shape of things to come are taking the right form. Time for the Squad members to slip into the Green and Gold while the next performance for the Baggy Green to regroup will be for the Chappell-Hadlee series in New Zealand.

Stats courtesy of Cricinfo's StatsGuru

[Gazza]

Good stuff, pretty comprehensive. You really are the man in this section of the forum, one for the PC awards

This reminds me, I have to do this for my blog

[aussie1st]

Those are some whacky stats, Hauritz far and away the best bowler but I'm still on the fence with him and the Pakistani still don't rate him one bit.

Bollinger had another good series and bowled significantly less overs but was only 1 behind the leading paceman and was the leading seamer for us. Watson will wish he skipped the 3rd Test as his average was 89 IIRC, so it took a major hit.

[baggy_blogger]

I think Ritz has the personality of the modern spinner. The opponents are expecting the next bloke with the Warnie attitude, what they perceived to be the fully intimidating deal. Jason Krejza kind of has that slightly more energized ambition, but I think Ritz deserves his place...I think if he shows more confidence all the supporters may be a bit onboard with him. Just a thought 'cause I know what you're saying Sylvester!

Gaz, thanks mate. Btw what is your blog address?

[Gazza]

You don't wanna know mate

I had to delete all my stuff because I entered it in an application and I don't want them to think I copied lol.

I'll let you know once it's back up and running, I'd love to hear what you think.

[baggy_blogger]

Cool man. Yeah keep me posted on that one. Always keen to read other guys articles on their own sites.

[aussie1st]

Originally Posted by baggy_blogger

I think Ritz has the personality of the modern spinner. The opponents are expecting the next bloke with the Warnie attitude, what they perceived to be the fully intimidating deal. Jason Krejza kind of has that slightly more energized ambition, but I think Ritz deserves his place...I think if he shows more confidence all the supporters may be a bit onboard with him. Just a thought 'cause I know what you're saying Sylvester!

How he does in the Ashes could well determine his future. Also will be interesting seeing how he goes in India, although we can't really judge him too much if he fails considering Warne and other great spinners have an average record over there.

[Gazza]

He went pretty well on debut in India, took five wickets in the game but that pitch was a minefield. Clarke 6/9, so that really doesn't matter.

And he was less than ordinary in the ODI series this year. So that's not promising.