Hayden's absence costs Australia
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
AFP
The Sydney Morning Herald points out that Australia are perhaps lagging behind in Perth due to the unavailability of Matthew Hayden, who's out due to a hamstring injury.
Matthew Hayden's absence from "the leather lounge" - as he describes his customary spot in the Australian slips cordon - has been almost as costly for Australia as his temporary vacation from the top of the order in the third Test against India.
Steve Waugh feels Australia should not lose faith in Shaun Tait, who went wicketless in his 21 overs. He says in the Daily Telegraph,
One of the problems in choosing a four-man pace attack is that the No. 4 bowler, especially if he is the man out of form, can tend to get the thin edge of the wedge.
I always found it very difficult managing an attack overstocked with fast or slow men. It's very hard to give everyone enough bowling, the end they like to bowl from or the ball when it is nice and hard.
Irfan Pathan, who yorked Waugh with a reverse-swinging delivery Waugh in his second Test, came in for praise.
When I first saw him four years ago I marvelled at the way he could swing the ball both ways and it has been surprising to see him dropped because of poor form and only appear for the third Test of the series.
Mathew Varghese is sub-editor (stats) at Cricinfo