Living in harmony
Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill gave the final day of the series a misty-eyed feel
The Wisden Verdict by Peter English
05-Jan-2005
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Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill gave the final day of
the series a misty-eyed feel. Two legspinners snapping
their wrists and biting into the wicket was a glorious
sight for purists and learning newbies. But there was
more to their bowling than aesthetics as they slowly
dismantled Pakistan's firmer resistance.
Every couple of overs a wanderer would wonder about
the partnership of Bill O'Reilly and Clarrie Grimmett
and the era 70 years earlier when the concept of two tweakers was a
snug fit. The 1930s combination lasted four years; the
modern incarnation has combined for only nine Tests
and there is a sense of injustice similar to
Grimmett's omission from the 1938 Ashes Tour.
Both sides have used attacks of dual leggies in this
match and Australia opened with their two
controversial figures, both showmen employing two
slips on a coarse sandpaper surface. While O'Reilly
and Grimmett were great friends, Warne and MacGill
have been built into uncomfortable rivals as they
fight for matches, wickets and attention.
Competition for prizes is intense and some discomfort
from Warne whenever MacGill marks his seven-step run
is understandable. Understudies aren't supposed to be
so capable of upstaging the Prima Donna, as MacGill
did in the first innings with 5 for 87. Like current
partners and ex-girlfriends, the selectors feel it's
best to keep them apart.
When they meet they are inevitably matched for
comparison. Their styles are as different as their
career paths. Rather than expanding his fearsome
strike-bowler reputation, Warne, the world
record-holder, has become a clever pressure builder as
he ties up an end and waits for bites. MacGill casts
for wickets every ball, whether hunting in the Pura
Cup or bouncing into a Test call-up on his home
ground, and worries more about corked wine than
boundaries.
The duet turned and shouted together for the first 59
minutes as the ball turned heavily and Ricky Ponting
set aggressive fields. While the danger was immense,
Pakistan's first five batsmen survived the early raids
today as each bowler tried to urge mishaps. Yasir
Hameed became the first to slip when Warne trapped him
lbw with the help of David Shepherd's decision.
MacGill bowled Yousuf Youhana behind his legs while
Warne was resting, but when they were reunited after
lunch the collapse arrived swiftly and Pakistan lost 5
for 32.
Asim Kamal's spray of late and bright boundaries
delayed the end and Warne's plan to match MacGill's
five-wicket haul. But as Australia sealed a series
clean sweep and their fifth Test of the summer the
legspinners, who collected a combined 13 wickets,
showed it was again possible to co-exist.
Peter English is Australasian editor of Cricinfo