Australia 273-5 on Day 1 of 2nd test; ruthlessness still missing in this Oz side

GEOFF LEMON

ADELAIDE: In a sport centred on batsmen, it’s important to give bowlers respect. But on the first day of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide on Friday, Australia’s batsmen were responsible for their own demise.

Not to say that Australia ended in an abject position – 273 for 5 is a solid transaction, with a partnership to come between their captain and wicketkeeper, who was red-hot in the last match. But what is still missing from this Australian side is the virtue of ruthlessness.

On a pristine pitch, the rest of Michael Clarke’s top six made 72, 53, 51, 29 and 6. Far from disgraceful, but far from overwhelming. The real issue isn’t when these innings ended. It’s how they ended.

At least four of the dismissals were unforced. No one was knocked over by a ripper. Nothing was unplayable. Each was down to a batsman’s mistake. David Warner flopped a flaccid square drive into the hands of backward point. Shane Watson stretched too far for a ball that wasn’t full enough, popping it back to the bowler like I do in the Fitzroy Pub League nets.

Chris Rogers was flat-footed and pushed at one that was too wide. Steve Smith played a shot that should be charging ten cents in a 1950s freakshow, leaving commentators desperately trying to praise the bowler when Smith had jabbed a diagonal bat across the line of a left-arm spinner pitching on middle stump. Only George Bailey was less culpable, facing a featherduster of a bouncer that was there to smash, but only getting three quarters of it.

Graeme Swann’s interception was exceptional.

It’s not that you’re never allowed to get out. In fact, cricket relies on batsmen getting out; otherwise it would be quite dull for most concerned. It’s also good at finding ways to get you out. But what’s required in the face of that randomness is a bloodymindedness in your approach until chance strikes you down.

One of the stunning discoveries made by the world’s cricketing media over the last few years has been that none of Australia’s new batsmen are Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer or Ricky Ponting. Questions like “Why isn’t this guy as good as a guy that was better?” are not markedly helpful. But when we speak of ruthlessness, those players make a useful comparison.

A greater baseline of talent aside, what they had was the ability to concentrate for exceedingly long periods. They pursued the big innings whenever the chance arose. They didn’t get distracted by the elation of reaching 103.