Tait - Alright debut, best of the Aussie pacemen this game so far. Which isn`t good.
You'd be hard-pressed to convince me that Tait has actually done anything wrong in this, his first Test, coming into the side when his team in struggling. He's been the pick of the Aussie bowlers, certainly looking far more threatening overall than the others. Characterising his game as 'alright' is very harsh.
Anywa, I honestly think Australia has some serious morale problems right now. And I bet we only find out after the Ashes what they are. Certainly they don't appear cohesive and you get the feeling that the reported (and subsequently denied) tension between Warne and Ponting isn't just made up. Ponting said a few times after his 156 stuff along the lines of 'someone had to stand up' and I think that he was telegraphing to his players that he doesn't have much faith in them right now.
And the fact that a supposed 'zero-tolerance' on no-balls in the nets has resulted in MORE no-balls in the match suggests further tension. No champion team would tolerate one bowler bowling so many but with all four of Kasper, McGrath, Lee and Gillespie having troubles at various stages, one can't help but feel that the Aussie are lacking some pride in their performances. They've brought about their own downfall with some lacklustre shots against fantastic bowling, yes, but to capitulate so badly is not something any champion team would be proud of. Add a bunch of CRUCIAL missed chances and I strongly suspect all is not well in the Aussie camp. It's often said that the best sides do the little things right; well no-balls, catches and not giving your wickets away count as 'little things'.
But let's not take anything away from England. They've bowled, batted and fielded better than the Aussies, with or without McGrath in the side. They've attacked and when they're got a bit of a roll on, they've managed to keep it happening past the end of their innings and into the field. They have one particular marker of a potentially great team and that's apart from doing their job really well, they've also prevented their opposition from doing theirs. The Aussies are below their best but that's only because the English haven't allowed them opportunity to play anywhere near their best. And they've done the 'little things' really well. As a measure for how well they're bowling, I personally can't think of any one or two players who, had they been in the side from the start, would have made much of a difference. England would almost certainly had played this well against anyone. McGrath in the side for the whole series may have helped and certainly I think the chopping and changing of Kasper ("You're in! No sorry, you're out..... WAIT! You're IN AGAIN!" has affected his form but really, even with McGrath in the side, England wouldn't have been affected too much.
And those baying for the selection of Jacques; get a grip. He's not even a certain starter for NSW yet, let alone a Test prospect!
