Australia v Windies looks interesting

My Australian contingent of readers have gone quiet of late (if anyone sees Peter McG passed out under a table, give him a kick) so hopefully this will bring them out of the woodwork.

Interesting the way that headline writers look at similar situations differently. Two Tests going on at the moment and in each case the home side, having bowled themselves back into the match in the third innings, need getting on for 300 runs in the fourth, which would be a record chase at each ground, to take a lead in the series. In both cases, they have made good starts on the previous evening, making 50 or so runs for the loss of one wicket. Yet in the match where the run-chasers were heavy underdogs going into the match, the story is headlined on Cricinfo as "West Indies set up thrilling finale", while in the game where the batting side were favourites before the toss it is titled "England face tall ask".

Of course, the same headline works in both matches. They are thrilling finales and it will be a tough ask for both batting sides to achieve their aim. Obviously the Cricinfo headline writers wanted to avoid repetition but I find it interesting that West Indies appear to be given more of a chance than England. Maybe they were thinking of West Indies' successful run-chase of 308 in 1999 against the same opponents in Barbados. But Brian Lara isn't playing any more.

Whatever happens, it's going to be a smashing day today on two continents. But that Australia could be even facing defeat (they won't be contemplating it) is down to some superb fast bowling by Fidel Edwards and Darren Powell; that they have not yet been defeated is down to some typical never-say-die-ness from Andrew Symonds as Australia slipped to 18 for five.

Australia have been five down for under 20 runs on only three previous occasions and not since 1936. They lost all three of those matches, but Symonds's half century and Ponting's hundred in the first innings should ensure that they don't lose this one.

It is ironic that Symonds's rearguard Test innings should come on the same day that his IPL side, the Deccan Chargers, were confirmed as the wooden spoon-winners in the inaugural tournament. Deccan must have fancied their chances this year with a batting line-up that included Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shahid Afridi and Herschelle Gibbs. Symonds actually earned his money in India, with 161 runs in three innings, including a hundred, but Deccan lost three of the four games that Symonds played in, winning only when he didn't bat. Proof that you can buy all the batting talent in the world but you need good bowlers to make it pay? It's up to Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark and others to prove the same point today.

Comments

[Oscar the Grouch]

Well of course your antipodean scribblers have been noticeably absent - it's approaching winter here, Patrick, temperatures have plunged into the low 20's (Centigrade, a Froggy concept to you quaintly imperial - istic chaps, but one embraced by Australian Working Families for years as a quick, cheap and clean way to report conditions) and we are preparing to enter hibernation. The Mac is probably tucking the illustrious Bear away for the duration.

However you will I am sure note that the Aussies have overcome their momentary stutter, with Clark boring the Windies batsmen off the pitch in a McGrath-like effort.

For our part, we note the Poms have actually won a Test- drag out your history books and turn to 'celebrating victory' in the index. A hatful of MBE's right now would, one feels, add a memorable mark to what may yet be a glorious summer for the denizens of Blighty. I look forward to pictures of open-top buses full of ecstatic cricketers roaming the leafy glades.