I wouldn't look at what Anderson did four years ago, that's a long time ago. It was against different players, he's a much improved player since then, and you've got to give guys credit, they can improve. Four years is a long time in cricket, and he's now at an age where he's more mature, and knows his game better. Hopefully the conditions here will pose different problems for him, but he's had a great 12 months so I wouldn't read too much into what he did four years ago. There's no doubt they've all got ability, they wouldn't be playing for England if they didn't, and they all bring different things to the table. [Stuart] Broad and [Steven] Finn are quite tall so get bounce and can move the ball about, Anderson is an out-and-out swing bowler who can bowl at reasonable pace, and [Graeme] Swann is one of the best spinners in the world, if not the best. It's a very well-balanced bowling line-up and we know we got tested last year in England. Hopefully in our conditions it will be a little better for us, but time will tell.

Lango making the case for respect to be paid to the England bowling quartet again ... not this time. The italicised comments above are from probably the most thoughtful of the current Australian players, Simon Katich. Many believe he should have been the man to captain Australia after Steve Waugh but he hadn't been in the right place for enough time. He has an impeccable record as a leader in domestic cricket and isn't given to rash statements or boasting. He's all that Ponting isn't and yet he thinks, as an opener, England led by Anderson are a threat.
Yesterday, Ponting's focus was more on himself, expressing a concern at the legacy his captaincy has created ("Ponting Concedes His Legacy Is On The Line" - ESPNCricinfo) and how his work in the top job will be viewed. He even outlined what a hard working bloke he is with the younger players ... oh come on! Excuse me dear, pass the hanky.

Meanwhile Mr Moody, Mitchell Johnson, using steam which Glen McGrath left bottled for him, has fired off the usual opening bowler's gambit naming Andrew Strauss as his target for the series and nominated the method as bonus. This tactic of attack the coin tosser in the other side is by now fairly old hat, especially when the guy you are pointing your pop-gun at is the cool customer that Strauss has grown into. If the real Mitch Johnson turns up in Brisbane it should be a keen contest between the two but only if he could deliver - McGrath like - a concerted, metronomic and focused attack at the batsman's perceived weakness. If he can, I must have been away the day he did it!

See the complete article featuring Katich and a similarly reflective Marcus North by Andrew Miller on ESPN Cricinfo.