After
the Argus review went public, Australia’s graph has started to rise. At the
forefront of this rise has been the new captain, a new settled opener and a new
middle order find
Michael Clarke took over the reins of the captaincy at
what seemed to be a turbulent time for Australian cricket- Ashes loss, World
Cup loss, and the general distrust in people over the team. Though he started
out in Bangladesh as the captain, it was in Sri Lanka that his skills as a
captain, would be analysed. It was here that he impressed the pundits. He grew
strength by strength, as he won both the ODI’s and the Test series, in what was
called as a stern examination
His able handling of the spinners was refreshing and so
was his marshalling of the youngsters in the squad. It wasn’t surprising then,
to find the dwindling players make a foothold in the team. Recently Watson said
that he saw a shift back to the middle order, in view of his increasing burden
with the ball. Clarke was as fleet footed in his response, as he is to the
spinners. He stated that Watson would open in all formats of the game. His
decision making was also evident during the Test series as he ensconced Marsh
at one down even after Ponting’s return in the third Test. It must have been
quite an effort as Ponting went public with his intention to bat at number
three
After the question marks on his captaincy started to
subside, Clarke perhaps, settled down as he answered his critics with a ‘Man of
the Series’ performance in ODI’s and a masterful century in trying
circumstances in the final Test. Century in the final Test must be particularly
satisfying as it came after a gap of 18 months. In what provides us a glimpse
into the state of the mind of the captain, he did not get a single run through
an edge in that innings
His batting style complimented that of his partner in
that innings- Phil Hughes. Hughes
was under immense pressure coming into the series as the Katich saga unfolded
before his eyes and he was expected to fill the big boots of his predecessor.
The pressure seemed to get to him as he failed to convert on the starts that he
got in the first two Tests. When he got a blob in the first innings at SSC, it
seemed as if his place was consigned to be on fringes. He answered all of that
with a superb century. Till Clarke came and established his mastery, it was
Hughes who was making all the runs. He played to his strengths as he was quick
to get back and cut the ball and lunge forward in slog sweeping the ball. In
the process he crossed fifty for the first time in ten innings and a century
after his twin hundreds at Durban
Hughes can lay claim to be worst managed player in the
Australian team, apart from the spinners. He was dumped quickly in the 2009
Ashes after Flintoff claimed him twice in three innings. His suspected weakness
against the short ball led to a number of opinions cropping up. Hughes even
tried to change the method that earned him a lot of runs. A poor season with
New South Wales did not deter him. Sessions with Langer ensued and he now seems
a touch settled in encountering the weakness as he tends to get the bat down
quickly to the knee level and weave away. What remains though, is a weakness
against the ball leaving him. He has the tendency to open the face of the bat
and edge it in the arc between the keeper and the gully fieldsman
Shaun Marsh was handed an unexpected debut in the wake
of the birth of Ponting’s second child. How well he utilised it , is reflected
in the fact that Ponting has started to bat at four, upon his return to the
team. He cut his teeth in the then demanding Sheffield Shield. When he scored
his maiden first-class century,
Steve Waugh was excited enough to call him a future Test player. With such
potential, it seemed as if Marsh was throwing away all his opportunities until IPL
came calling. Along with Shane Watson , he grabbed the opportunity and burst
into national reckoning. He was awarded with a spot in the ODI squad which he
repaid well with good performances against West Indies, South Africa and India.
Then followed injuries to his back and he was back to playing the musical chair
along with other contenders. Tests were a different matter altogether as he
seemed to have thrown away the chance to get into the team with a feeble
performance in the tour game
at Colombo. At Pallekele, he showed his determination as he grinded out a
hundred with his dad in the audience
With tough series against South Africa and India lined
up, the mettle of each of these players will be tested in the coming six months
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