Australia’s middle order batting worries
It was always a great concern for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 has dumped them to number 5 in the ICC rankings.
Australia’s batting has been a worry for them and is one of the factors that have contributed to their demise in the World of cricket.
The recent form of the Australian batsman hasn’t been up-to the mark as they have shown signs of vulnerability against the turning and swinging ball. It has been evident in their last two Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in England and in India.
In the series against Pakistan, under overcast conditions, the Australian batting line-up crumbled against quality swing bowlers. In the first innings of the first Test at Lords, the Kangaroos managed a modest score of 251 runs, supported by several dropped
catches in field. Although, they got out of jail because they were up against a weak batting line-up of Pakistan as they managed to win the Test by 150 runs.
Moreover, at Leeds, the team from Down Under recorded their 7th lowest total of 88 runs in the 2nd game, where even Pakistan’s fragile batting-line up gathered 258 runs. Despite their great fight, they registered a 3 wicket defeat,
considering Pakistan was playing some rookies in their team.
In the recently concluded Test series in India, Australia really found it tough against the turning and reversing ball. Australia achieved the third whitewash in their Test history as they lost the Border-Gavaskar trophy by a margin of 2-0.
To everyone’s surprise, the Aussies after scoring more than 400 runs in the first innings of both the affairs, ended up as the losing side. As everyone knows, the first innings in the Subcontinent is a much easier time to play as the wicket has even bounce
and pace on the first day, but as the ball gets softer and loses its shine then South Asia is a tough place to bat, especially on the last two days.
The red cherry gets more roughed up on the scratchy wickets of India as it contributes to reverse swing and the bounce becomes uneven. Aussies had to bat in these trying conditions, and the reversing and turning ball has been an Achilles heel for them.
In the 2nd innings of the Mohali Test, Australia was sailing along nicely as they were 4/154 in the 47th over. As soon as it started to reverse for the faster men and grip more off the surface to help the spinners, the tourist’s batsmen
started falling as they only managed to add 38 more runs. So it meant that the home team has to chase a modest total of 216 runs, which they did in the end by losing their 9 wickets.
Furthermore, the same thing happened in the 2nd battle at Bangalore. Similarly, scoring 478 runs in the first innings, Australia again faltered in the 2nd innings. The touring team, once were well settled at 5/181, lost their wickets
in space of just 42 runs.
Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 was the biggest disappointment on the tour. Clarke is generally perceived to be a quality player of spin bowling and his track record against the spinner will vindicate that fact. But he struggled against the turning ball. In addition, he
had problems against spinners and he was left dumbfounded on Indian tracks. In his four innings he only gathered a disappointing 35 runs at an average of 8.
Michael Hussey didn’t gather a single half century on the recent tour of India. Hussey only added 99 runs in his four outings at an average of 24 with a best of 34.
Marcus North scored a defiant century at Bangalore to resurrect his career. Apart from that, he only scored a tally of 13 runs in 3 innings.
Australia’s middle order batting will be very crucial in the upcoming series against England. They have to sort out their batting woes when they take on their arch rivals England in the Ashes that start at Brisbane on November 25.
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