Top performers jostling for star position
Like Real Madrid's galaticos, Australia had a string of star performers jostling for the front of the queue as they made a comfortable clean sweep of the three-match series against Pakistan
Marks out of ten by Peter English
06-Jan-2005
Like Real Madrid's "galacticos", Australia had a string of star performers jostling for the front of the queue as they made a comfortable clean sweep of the three-match series against Pakistan. There were also disappointments, especially for Darren Lehmann, whose Test career probably ended at Melbourne:
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9
Damien Martyn
In the form of his life and Man of the Series, Damien Martyn's run of 1, 100 not out, 142 and 67 capped a gluttonous 2004 in a manner that made him Australia's most fluent batsman. Only a misjudged charge to Danish Kaneria at Sydney stopped him from joining Don Bradman with three centuries in three Tests.
Damien Martyn
In the form of his life and Man of the Series, Damien Martyn's run of 1, 100 not out, 142 and 67 capped a gluttonous 2004 in a manner that made him Australia's most fluent batsman. Only a misjudged charge to Danish Kaneria at Sydney stopped him from joining Don Bradman with three centuries in three Tests.
8.5
Glenn McGrath
Landed the second-best bowling figures by an Australian with 8 for 24 - his best Test figures - at Perth as the Pakistanis found him unplayable. Continued his fine run - he was Man of the Series against New Zealand - with two four-fors, and finished another successful series with 18 wickets at 14.44.
Glenn McGrath
Landed the second-best bowling figures by an Australian with 8 for 24 - his best Test figures - at Perth as the Pakistanis found him unplayable. Continued his fine run - he was Man of the Series against New Zealand - with two four-fors, and finished another successful series with 18 wickets at 14.44.
8
Ricky Ponting
A year without a first century as captain, Ponting made it a double with a fabulously smooth innings at Sydney, and was confusingly overlooked for the match award. Two half-centuries lifted his series average over 100 and as a leader he was ruthless, with Australia winning each Test in four days.
Ricky Ponting
A year without a first century as captain, Ponting made it a double with a fabulously smooth innings at Sydney, and was confusingly overlooked for the match award. Two half-centuries lifted his series average over 100 and as a leader he was ruthless, with Australia winning each Test in four days.
Justin Langer
Stood up to Shoaib Akhtar at his fastest and meanest as he settled Australia with 191 on his home ground in the opening Test. His first-innings battle with Shoaib at Melbourne, where he hung out his arm to signal the bowler's no-ball, was brave, and his performances dented Pakistan's opening bowlers - their only chance of victory.
Stood up to Shoaib Akhtar at his fastest and meanest as he settled Australia with 191 on his home ground in the opening Test. His first-innings battle with Shoaib at Melbourne, where he hung out his arm to signal the bowler's no-ball, was brave, and his performances dented Pakistan's opening bowlers - their only chance of victory.
7.5
Adam Gilchrist
A spectacular 113 at Sydney - he brought up his century with a straight six, hit 86 runs in boundaries and was compared to Garry Sobers by Bob Woolmer - took him past Andy Flower's 12 centuries as the game's most prolific wicketkeeper/batsman. Lifted Australia out of holes with 69 at Perth and 48 at Melbourne. His main blemish with the gloves was a second-over miss off Jason Gillespie in the final Test.
Adam Gilchrist
A spectacular 113 at Sydney - he brought up his century with a straight six, hit 86 runs in boundaries and was compared to Garry Sobers by Bob Woolmer - took him past Andy Flower's 12 centuries as the game's most prolific wicketkeeper/batsman. Lifted Australia out of holes with 69 at Perth and 48 at Melbourne. His main blemish with the gloves was a second-over miss off Jason Gillespie in the final Test.
6.5
Shane Warne
He believed he was bowling as well as ever, and was a great container while the fast bowlers pounced. Fourteen wickets was a solid return as he wheeled through 124.3 overs. Was upstaged by Stuart MacGill in the first innings at Sydney, but returned with 4 for 111, his best figures of the series, to end his international summer.
Shane Warne
He believed he was bowling as well as ever, and was a great container while the fast bowlers pounced. Fourteen wickets was a solid return as he wheeled through 124.3 overs. Was upstaged by Stuart MacGill in the first innings at Sydney, but returned with 4 for 111, his best figures of the series, to end his international summer.
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6
Michael Kasprowicz
Played 13 Tests in a row in 2004, and was desperately unlucky to be dropped for Sydney after taking nine wickets at 15.77 in the first two matches. Started at the WACA with 5 for 30 to silence the push for Brett Lee, and spoiled McGrath's search for a perfect ten with two more in the second innings. Will be a starter for the New Zealand tour.
Michael Kasprowicz
Played 13 Tests in a row in 2004, and was desperately unlucky to be dropped for Sydney after taking nine wickets at 15.77 in the first two matches. Started at the WACA with 5 for 30 to silence the push for Brett Lee, and spoiled McGrath's search for a perfect ten with two more in the second innings. Will be a starter for the New Zealand tour.
5
Stuart MacGill
Called up on his home ground at Sydney, MacGill made an expensive start and then collected five wickets with a click of his fingers. Added three more in the second innings and was named Man of the Match by David Gilbert, Cricket NSW's chief executive.
Stuart MacGill
Called up on his home ground at Sydney, MacGill made an expensive start and then collected five wickets with a click of his fingers. Added three more in the second innings and was named Man of the Match by David Gilbert, Cricket NSW's chief executive.
Jason Gillespie
Improvement with the bat continued as he reached his second half-century of the summer. Bowling was typically forceful, claiming seven wickets, but missed a big bag as the fast-bowling prizes went to McGrath and Kasprowicz.
Improvement with the bat continued as he reached his second half-century of the summer. Bowling was typically forceful, claiming seven wickets, but missed a big bag as the fast-bowling prizes went to McGrath and Kasprowicz.
4
Matthew Hayden
Looked tired after a disappointing run since the Indian tour in October. Taunted Shoaib before the series, and fell to him three times in the first two Tests. Ended with 128 runs at 32 and could benefit from a rest and plenty of his own cooking.
Matthew Hayden
Looked tired after a disappointing run since the Indian tour in October. Taunted Shoaib before the series, and fell to him three times in the first two Tests. Ended with 128 runs at 32 and could benefit from a rest and plenty of his own cooking.
Michael Clarke
Was shocked by the speed of Shoaib at Perth, and in three other innings made bright starts but nothing of substance. With a top score of only 35, he experienced his first substandard series and suffered a foot problem at Sydney.
Was shocked by the speed of Shoaib at Perth, and in three other innings made bright starts but nothing of substance. With a top score of only 35, he experienced his first substandard series and suffered a foot problem at Sydney.
Shane Watson
Made his debut as an allrounder in an experimental third-Test side, batting at No. 7 and bowling as Australia's fifth choice, and did nothing to harm his prospects of a second chance. Collected a wicket, impressed with his speed and made 31 after coming in at 5 for 471.
Made his debut as an allrounder in an experimental third-Test side, batting at No. 7 and bowling as Australia's fifth choice, and did nothing to harm his prospects of a second chance. Collected a wicket, impressed with his speed and made 31 after coming in at 5 for 471.
3
Darren Lehmann
Dropped for Sydney, and might never return after Shoaib forced an embarrassing bowled at Perth and a close catch at Melbourne. Rated highly by his team-mates, Lehmann faces a nervous wait until the New Zealand tour side is named.
Darren Lehmann
Dropped for Sydney, and might never return after Shoaib forced an embarrassing bowled at Perth and a close catch at Melbourne. Rated highly by his team-mates, Lehmann faces a nervous wait until the New Zealand tour side is named.
Peter English is the Australasian editor of Cricinfo.