Symonds proves he belongs

Once maligned as a one-day basher, Andrew Symonds has now matured into a cricketer worthy of a place in any team, according to Peter Roebuck in the Sunday Age.

Dismissed as a lightweight 12 months ago, he has emerged as an amusing man capable of taking wickets and scoring runs in any company. Hardly a day goes by without a lively and intelligent contribution from Symonds. He is a genuine all-rounder. In short, he has found the confidence required to release himself on the field. He owes as much to his captain as Matthew Hayden did to Steve Waugh. Belief is the father of achievement.

In the same paper Greg Baum takes a view that a year ago might have seemed sacrilegious - that Australia's new attack boasts virtues the former line-up did not.

Jon Pierik writes in the Sunday Herald Sun that whatever the critics have said about Adam Gilchrist's wicketkeeping over the years, his Australian record of 399 Test dismissals speaks for itself.

Gilchrist is a bigger man than the lightweight Healy, tough-as-teak Marsh or one-time West Indian maestro Jeff Dujon, so he hasn't looked as graceful diving around. He would be the first to admit that. But looks don't matter in cricket - just results.

Also in the Sunday Herald Sun Keith Stackpole suggests that India need to reconsider their batting order, including letting Rahul Dravid play at No. 3.