Lambs to the slaughter

There were several reasons for India's second successive batting failure against an inspired Australian attack, writes Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald. Asking a jet-lagged Manoj Tiwary to face a rampant pace attack on a juicy pitch was madness, as was the Indian board's reluctance to add a practice game or two for India's 'Twenty20 stars' ahead of the 50-over CB Series.

If India is wise it will keep 20-over cricket in its place. If young batsmen think only about 20-over cricket they will never learn to build an innings or to play off both feet or to counter the moving ball on fresh antipodean decks.

In the Daily Telegraph, Robert Craddock says Brad Hogg's omission at the Gabba is a worrying sign for Australia's spin-bowling future.

Wrist-spin bowling in Australia is officially starting to fade from view again to the point where Australia's next spin bowling debutant could currently be as far back as the under-17s - or even lower.

Peter Lalor in the Australian looks at the decline in Australia's fielding.