Smart Blokes These Poms

David Hussey - one of our best

If the current ODI mini tour by the Australians to the Old Dart was intended to expose players to English conditions in preparation for the Ashes bout in twelve months, then any learning which has taken place hasn't been for the good. The English have again won the psychological war. Not only did they dud the Australians in the programming but they have flogged them on the paddock.

Having learned the lesson from Australian authorities always starting the Test tour down under with a carnival game, a couple of yawns against the lesser lights of the Sheffield Shield and then Tests in quick succession at Brisbane and Perth - our most Pom-unfriendly pitches - the ECB now plays the same game. Michael Clarke's boys were drawn to play against Leicestershire and Essex, both teams the bottom of County Division 2 and their Clydesdale domestic one day group. In between was Ireland but rain ruined that without a ball bowled. Any result other than a thrashing by the Australians against any of these opponents would have been failure but easy wins did nothing for the batsmen or the bowlers. The batsmen faced no swing and the bowlers faced no one good enough to take them on - exactly the way it was designed.

In the ODI's, Australia has been outclassed and their susceptibility against the swinging ball exposed again, especially at Chester-le-Street. If the main task of the tour was to give the Australian batsmen a chance to have match practice against swing, then losing a one day series is of no consequence but it doesn't look like much intel has been gained by blokes like Peter Forest. He has looked hopelessly out classed but then, he's unlikely to be playing Test cricket for Australia in twelve months. Clarke has clearly been our best, with George Bailey, Dave Warner and Shane Watson all showing glimpses of what they might achieve but none of them looked the goods when Steve Finn was bending it at Chester-le-Street.

Interestingly, the one batsman apart from Clarke who has looked comfortable in all conditions has been David Hussey and yet, he is on the outside of the Test team. Time for a re-think if we want to bring the Ashes home.

I have said it before, batting Matthew Wade at seven in one day cricket is like having Rodger Federer in your Davis Cup team to just play doubles. He should open, Clarke should bat at three and Watson at six. The rest are blanks which can be filled in as you wish.

The bowlers have been woeful. Only Clint McKay has shouldered the load and his line and length have been the only thing to worry an English batting side which has surrendered only 11 wickets in three games and brushed the Australian bowlers aside. Ben Hilfenhaus, the best swing bowler in the ranks, has played only one of the four games, a selection decision which seems baffling and when he did play, he looked a much better proposition than the aging Brett Lee, the returning Mitchell Johnson, the unsuited Xavier Doherty and the string of youngsters who have fallen well short of the mark. For our bowlers to gain anything from bowling in English conditions, they have to be settled into the task and the men who we hope will bother England in twelve months, should have played every game. Instead, rotation has unsettled the bowling attack as a group and as individuals.

This is the end of Lee's Australian days. Even 25 Wheatbix a morning won't be enough to bring him back again. For Watson, its another worrying injury to his legs. He went through a more robust time until recently ... until the powers that be wanted more bowling from him in order solve the need to choose a spinner. Suddenly, Watson the crock is back. Perhaps it might allow Wade to bat where he should in one day cricket  and the message get through to Mickey, Clarkey and Invers.

Meanwhile, England haven't missed KP at all. Ian Bell has gone to the top of the order and has been a star and everyone in the batting line up has made runs. Those who will join the Test team at the Oval (Trott, Bell and Cook) are in fine fettle and England have used their Test bowlers in the series and kept them fresh and in form for South Africa.

Boucher down and out

With powerful displays against all comers this northern summer, England are more than ready to defend their number one spot on the ICC Test Table against a South African side which has faltered in the last twelve months when placed under pressure - choked even. The captain lacks adventure and it spread to the rest of the team. To be champions, you have to create and then take opportunities. Smith often has slippery hands when it comes to grasping the prize because he is so affraid of dropping it. The tourists play Somerset and Kent as their lead up to The Oval, both sides performing well in their divisions of the County Championship and both with the armoury to push the tourists. The South African's have already had a disastrous first day of the tour, being pummelled by James Hildredth and all rounder Peter Trego, who both made centuries and in the process, losing veteran wicket keeper Mark Boucher to an eye injury which looks likely to end his tour.

Clever blokes these Poms.