age_master said:
1 off series, its picked up again with the ODI's anyway so i wouldn't really say Australia has fallen back
I would.
Its been on the decline ever since the series against Pakistan in Sharjah late in 2002 , coincidentally Mark Waugh's last series.
The absense of Waugh & Warne , Australia's long time 1st & 2nd slip combo has been a factor.
Hayden has filled in admirably at first slip , but that takes away the sides best gully feildsman.
Second slip has been the problem , with Ponting , Martyn , Langer , Katich & even Stuart MacGill juggled around there at various times , for only limited success.
Martyn has been woeful , but one must ask what on Earth is he doing in the cordon , he's been a cover point feildsman the greater part of his life & he's very good there , but he's woeful in the slips.
Ponting is the best option at second slip , but even he let a few crucial ones slip against India , and like Hayden he is valued in other positions.
The ground feilding (with the exception of Stuart MacGill
![Wink1 ;) ;)](/forum/images/smilies/standard/wink1.gif)
) has been up to scrath , but you just cant afford to drop as many chances as the aussies have over the last 16 months.
For Sri Lanka Im hoping the cordon is -
1st slip : Warne
2nd slip : Lehmann
3rd slip: Langer / Clarke if he somehow gets in the side
floating slip/gully : Ponting (he's been very good there in the past)
gully : Hayden