Then why did Hayden score a ton in every test he played against an Indian attack this summer that was swinging it around and troubled all other Australian batsmen?
Hmm, I'll have to think about that one. I remember Jaques having a bit of trouble, and not really anyone else. The calibre of Indian swing-bowling last summer was highly praised, but it was far from top-notch. It was simply better than the mundane rubbish that's mostly been served-up in recent times, so naturally it seemed quite special. I don't remember Hayden keeping-out any particularly remarkable deliveries, less still ones that swung in. The few occasions the swinging was decent, it was away from the left-hander.
It's such a sweeping statement, and it's often made based upn Hayden's failure in 05, ignoring of course he'd been diabolical for 12 months before even going to England.
It's made based upon nothing of the sort, it's made based upon failures throughout his entire career. Both 1993/94-2001, and 2004/05-2005. Yes, Hayden had indeed been poor the previous SH summer too - that was because he was worked-out there as he was worked-out in England. Of all people, Kyle Mills has always had the measure of him, and of course so did Shoaib. Then it was Hoggard (and Flintoff, and Jones). Hayden was not out of nick in that time but simply came-up against something he had never had the power to resist. From 2005/06 onwards, he came-up against more of the sort of stuff he'd faced 2001/02-2004, and went back to prolific ways.
I mean, if we're all happy to ignore certain parts of one bloke's career coz he was either in a trot or injured but played through it, why don't you apply the sam rationale to Hayden?
I never say something should be ignored simply because someone wasn't playing very well, especially if not playing very well is something that player makes a habit of. If they shouldn't have been playing, yes, but I've not heard so much as a thing that was "wrong" with Hayden in 2004/05 and 2005.
Symonds has been lucky to be sure, but every player rides their luck mae, it's part of the game.
Most players aren't anywhere near as lucky as Symonds has been the last 12-16 months though. Hopefully some of that will come back to haunt him - a Martyn-2005-esque run next year would be very, very well-deserved.
Hussey's having his down time right about now. I suspect and hope that will be over by next year.
Hussey was utterly insalely prolific for far more than just a handful of Tests, so there's no automatic reason to suspect he won't now have downtime for that long. Of course, we'll only be able to wait and see, but as I say - I'm taking nothing as read either way.
The fact he played a lot of his career as an opener will, I think, be a big advantage to Australia if England swing the ball around consistently.
Well, given the ball's hardly swung a great deal in Australia or England in recent times that's more presumption than anything. Nonetheless, I don't really think he's someone who'll struggle against swing as-a-rule, though obviously the best swingers will out even the best batsmen.
Ponting is still class. He'd walk into most any side still, even if he's not as prodigious as he was say 18 months - 2 years ago ATM.
Of course he'd still walk into most, probably every, Test sides. But if you get some really good bowling, he's no longer completely dependable I doubt. His form against relatively moderate bowling over the past 8 months attests to this for mine.
. I shall mark these words for next summer.
