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Craig HillMcGrath fielding gaffs cloud World Cup dream
January 29th 2007 02:07
The constant reiterations by Ricky Ponting that his side can do better despite their perfect record this summer are a timely reminder that with success comes expectation and that anything less than a third consecutive World Cup will be considered a failure.
So far the top order and the bowlers have come in some criticism from Ponting and Buchannan, not to mention their hapless opponents England and to a lesser degree New Zealand.
One notable omission among the scramble for news copy is the fielding standards set by the side and the fact that one, possibly two team members, are not up to scratch. Close examination of the Australians in the field reveals some scintillating form plus some passengers, notably McGrath and to a lesser degree White and Bracken.
If the much beleaguered Duncan Fletcher’s school of thought is to be followed then we can safely put McGrath and Panesar in the same bracket. Both are terrific bowlers but neither can bat effectively and both are currently a burden to their captains in the field. McGrath is a yard too slow in the outfield and plays in a team where the only major weakness is their inability to defend large totals.
In games like last night’s contest where seven an over is about average across the bowling group leaking a second run to old stagers in the outfield makes life very difficult for the captain. At one stage Ponting had McGrath at backward point and still the ball followed him and still the team conceded runs as a result.
Each match McGrath plays from now until the World Cup should invite much scrutiny. Shane Watson will return to the squad and Johnson, Bracken, Lee and Clark make for a very effective bowling line up. McGrath may find that it is his fielding not his bowling that has the ultimate say in whether or not he plays a leading role in what will surely be Australia'’ third consecutive World Cup victory.
So far the top order and the bowlers have come in some criticism from Ponting and Buchannan, not to mention their hapless opponents England and to a lesser degree New Zealand.
One notable omission among the scramble for news copy is the fielding standards set by the side and the fact that one, possibly two team members, are not up to scratch. Close examination of the Australians in the field reveals some scintillating form plus some passengers, notably McGrath and to a lesser degree White and Bracken.
If the much beleaguered Duncan Fletcher’s school of thought is to be followed then we can safely put McGrath and Panesar in the same bracket. Both are terrific bowlers but neither can bat effectively and both are currently a burden to their captains in the field. McGrath is a yard too slow in the outfield and plays in a team where the only major weakness is their inability to defend large totals.
In games like last night’s contest where seven an over is about average across the bowling group leaking a second run to old stagers in the outfield makes life very difficult for the captain. At one stage Ponting had McGrath at backward point and still the ball followed him and still the team conceded runs as a result.
Each match McGrath plays from now until the World Cup should invite much scrutiny. Shane Watson will return to the squad and Johnson, Bracken, Lee and Clark make for a very effective bowling line up. McGrath may find that it is his fielding not his bowling that has the ultimate say in whether or not he plays a leading role in what will surely be Australia'’ third consecutive World Cup victory.
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