For three and a half days,the Australians were outgunned by England in the Lords Test,and,at no stage did they look like the best side in the world. On this evidence India and South Africa are their superiors. For that matter England ran them ragged for most of this contest,feels noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck. In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald,Roebuck says: until the bowling improves,Australia's slide into the middle of the pack will be inexorable. Neither umpires,toss,luck,nor the conditions can be blamed for Australia's poor position. Throughout,their fate has lain in their own hands,he adds. According to Roebuck,Andrew Strauss's team went for the throats of their opponents,troubling the batsmen with every delivery. Flintoff was twice the bowler he is when given the new ball,used in short bursts and advised to attack the stumps. He charged in from the Pavilion End,pushing every batsman back with raw pace,imperilling their stumps with searing deliveries. Flintoff will play in the rest of the series and on this evidence means to go out with a bang.
