The Surfer
It’s first-Test week and The Australian carries a page of reports including an interview with Matthew Hayden and an analysis of Brett Lee’s career
Bob Woolmer has revitalised Pakistan - but how they will do in the forthcoming series is still impossible to predict, writes Osman Samiuddin
All is going swimmingly in England
It is feared that although the new structure will lead to better allround coaches, the courses' intensity will lead to fewer people wishing to take them. A bigger problem than a short-term lack of new coaches might be a long-term lack of cash from the Government.
Peter Roebuck writes that Ricky Ponting, after a bright start as leader, has endured a period of decline.
... hesitancy has been detected in Ponting's captaincy. He has been making strange noises about collaboration and keeping his players and board happy. A cockatoo might as well have started squarking like a kookaburra.
The official ECB line is that Andrew Flintoff did not fly to Pakistan with the rest of the England squad as he was grabbing a few days rest after the exertions of the Super Series
Alex Loudon, the England offspinner, travels to Pakistan with a secret weapon - the doosra which he learnt from the son of a famous Indian pop star
As Sourav Ganguly prepares for time in the sidelines, Kunal Pradhan asks if it's the end of the road for the most fascinating sportsman of this era?
Mike Selvey looks forward to his visit to Multan , and in particular to the chance to watch Inzamam-ul-Haq, his favourite cricketer.
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It is not only his batting, which at its languid best can make Marcus Trescothick's footwork seem like a qualification for a starring role in Riverdance, but the whole way he approaches being in the game's top echelon. He is the absolute antithesis to the gym culture into which everyone must now buy: burp rather than beep test.
The Age’s impressive coverage throws up two more interesting stories today, the first about Brad Hodge and his omission from the Test squad , and the second detailing allegations of ball tampering in a state Second XI match .
