Rough ride for Australia

Australia has a nasty schedule coming up, one that will test the stretched and redeveloping Australian side.

First off is India in India. Usually a tough tour for any team, the previous series in Australia left a lot of bad blood between both teams and fans that some still haven’t forgotten. India is in a tough patch at the moment having escaped with a drawn series against South Africa and then being defeated by Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.

The promise of Australia seems to bring out the best in India, who have had a recent history of providing entertaining and hard fought series against the world number one side. Tendulkar looked like a shadow of his former self prior to the 07-08 series, but he seemed to thrive on the competitiveness and the fact it was probably his final tour to Australia, scoring two centuries.

VVS Laxman is another who loves Australia, having scored perhaps the most legendary of all Indian centuries when he knocked up 281 in THAT test at Kolkata in 2001. Laxman is one of those rarities, a player that goes mad when he sees a baggy green cap and plays better. His record against Australia is vastly superior to that of other cohorts Dravid and Ganguly.

India’s bowling is an anomaly ahead of the series. Suddenly blessed with several gifted seamers, India’s decision is who will they play? Zaheer has led the pack well, but does not have a great record against Australia. Ishant Sharma is the best fast bowling talent to emerge from India since Kapil Dev, after that is guess work.

The spin department is a worry. Harbajan was ineffective against in their previous clash and Kumble is showing obvious signs of wear, tear, and 616 test wickets. Whether India chooses to play a different spinner or three quicks is a puzzle they will have to sound out.

Australia are facing their own problems ahead or their clash, with no obvious spinner and injury troubles to prolific opener (Especially against India) Matthew Hayden.

Australia’s fast bowling stocks are still in good shape (Lee, Clark and Johnson, backed by Doug Bollinger, Ashley Noffke, Pete Siddle, Shaun Tait and Ben Hilfenhaus), but their middle order is uncertain, with Brad Haddin yet to be tested at number 7 and doubt lingering over Andrew Symonds.

Following that tour, Australia faces a home and away challenge against the surging South African side, which are dying to knock off their greatest foes.

South Africa have failed to threaten Australia since readmission and despite having some impressive playing personnel, they haven’t been able to get over the ‘aura of invincibility’ that Australia used to have.

That aura has faded, but the Australian team still boasts a side on paper that is vastly superior to South Africa. South Africa has two young and promising strike bowlers in Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, but Makhaya
Ntini is fading and Paul Harris is about to find out what happens to spin bowlers in Australia.

South Africa’s batting line up has talent, but is enigmatic. Smith and Kallis, their superstars, have failed to deliver on their ability, and the middle order was occasionally exposed as fragile during their test series with England.

Nevertheless, Australia is in for a long road, and need to fight to the bets of their ability if they wish to remain the number one side in the world.