McGrath tonic revives Aussie health

Till that pitiful gesture, Australia looked to have stormed back with Glenn McGrath back in form. Today, it is McGrath’s form, not that of the two Waughs or of Warne, that determines Australia’s health. He is a very intelligent cricketer and a couple of years ago, after having similarly struggled in the first Test of the Ashes where his length was too short, he went back to the basics, realised his faults and took 8wickets in the next Test at Lord’s. Australia went on to win the Ashes from there and I thought a similar return to form for their best bowler would produce a similar show of confidence from Australia.

Instead, like the pigeons at Marine Drive, they squabbled around for two points. They lost those and a lot of pride. That is why their `pick-me-up’ obstacle will be a little more difficult to overcome. They have serious problems with their bowling and it is clear that Adam Dale must play because with Tom Moody and Brendan Julian, there is a comfort factor in the batting but it leaves the bowling too thin. And ever since Mark Waugh slipped into becoming the supportive rather than the lead opener, their batting has struggled to assert itself.

Their original `pick-me-up’ man Bob Simpson, now in the rival camp, has been extremely critical of their approach. “For the last two years they have only won 50% of their matches and that is not good enough for a top side,” he said.

Given this state of mind, andgiven the unbelievable success he has enjoyed against them, it will be very interesting to see if India open with Sachin Tendulkar. The defensive approach, which we lesser mortals adopt is that an unplayable ball in the first few overs might knock him over. The aggressiveapproach, which I suspect is in Tendulkar’s mind — though he is saying nothing — is that if he negates the threat of McGrath early on, it will leave the door open to a huge total.

There are two factors there. Clearly Australia carry a complex about Sachin Tendulkar for never have they come out so openly in admiration of an adversary. But their strongest bowler was not part of the attack that was so consistently decimated on the sub-continent.

India have been very positive in the last ten days. Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid have taken a lot of pressure off Tendulkar. This might be the time for him to go back up front.