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Matthew Hayden's absence at the WACA exposed unknown frailties in the top order
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The presence of Matthew Hayden has had a calming
effect on Australia over the past eight years, but
when he strides back into the side in Adelaide the
emotion felt will be relief. The team missed him badly
in Perth as he recovered from a right thigh problem
and will look to him for stability in the
series-deciding encounter.
After hundreds in the first two games, Hayden's absence
was as influential as any of the reasons given for the
72-run loss on Saturday. Without their opening rock,
Australia's top order wobbled and had no way to continue
the cover for four out-of-touch batsmen and one
debutant. Anything Chris Rogers contributed was a
bonus - he scrambled 4 and 15 - but more was expected
from Ricky Ponting and Phil Jaques, while Adam
Gilchrist and Michael Clarke managed a half-century in
one innings and struggled in the other.
The quartet has not found fluency during the first
three Tests and each man has returns that are well
below their career marks. Covering a couple of
mis-firing batsmen is not a problem for Australia, but
propping up the side when so many are battling for
meaningful contributions proved too tough against a
well-rounded Indian attack.
Brett Lee, the No. 8, did not get to bat in the
two-Test series against Sri Lanka in November, with
Australia declaring three times on the way to a
clean sweep victory. Only once, in the first innings
in Sydney, has Ponting been able to call his men in
against India, and the same game was the one occasion
when they posted more than 400 - the 463 came after
they were in the horrible position of 6 for 134.
Australia have now been dismissed five times in six
innings for the first time since 2005.
Tim Nielsen, the coach, blamed the lack of
partnerships in Perth as the reason for Australia's
defeat, which ended their winning run at 16. Nielsen,
who was pleased with the performance of his bowlers,
said during the week that teams should expect the
opposition to operate at the high standards India's
attack achieved at the WACA. More runs have been
demanded for Adelaide and when a group of players are
struggling it is important that strong combinations
are developed.
Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds posted the only century
stand of the third Test for Australia with 102,
providing some CPR after their top-order team-mates
left them at 5 for 61. "We blew it in the first
innings," Nielsen said. "We were 3 for 15 before lunch
on the second day." Working on lifting the batting
output has been the focus between Tests after scores of
212 and 340, which was boosted by a ninth-wicket
liaison of 73. That stand also exposed the team's current weakness.
Jaques, Clarke, Ponting and Michael Hussey averaged at
least 70 in the Sri Lanka series, when four century
stands were scored, while Symonds and Gilchrist
weren't dismissed. Hayden was the only one who failed
to make a half-century, but he repaid the squad in
critical circumstances in the opening two Tests
against India. Symonds, who has 380 runs in a
particularly strong series, and Michael Hussey (270
runs at 54.00) are the only batsmen who have supported
Hayden adequately since Christmas.
Clarke's second-innings 81 in Perth boosted his tally
to 198 at 33.00, a collection that is better than
those of Jaques (30.50), Gilchrist (22.66) and Ponting
(21.33). It is rare that so many Australians have been
treading water at the same time, even against the
high-quality swing offered by India.
Anil Kumble's claim after the WACA win that his
batting line-up is the best in the world has riled the
home team, which believes it has no peer. After some
dysfunctional performances in the opening three games
Australia will look to Hayden's muscle to help them
return to the top.
Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo