Applause for an attack that finishes the job
Previously, Australia could grind down opponents, crush them with five hours of intensity
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Previously, Australia could grind down opponents, crush them with five hours of intensity. With a wide range of skills, unshakeable self-belief and unwavering desire, they made fifth days dance to their tune. Now this fresh but more limited quartet is trying with every power at its disposal to form its own tradition, to start its own winning habit, writes Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Tireless contributions from the front-line pacemen meant that the pressure on the batsmen was unrelenting. Although the ball did not move much and the pitch had slowed down, the leather flingers made it difficult for opponents to protecting their wickets. More by obligation than design, the batsmen crawled along, scoring 30 runs an hour, concentrating on resisting a committed attack.
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo