Rob Smyth assesses the legacy of Nasser Hussain.

So, four years on, Nasser Hussain left England pretty much where he found them – in Birmingham, as an upper mid-table side capable of competing with anyone except Australia. He started with a bang – a spectacular two-and-a-half-day victory over New Zealand after England had been 45 for 7 – and ended with a whimper in a dreary final session today.But that doesn’t tell half the story. Within two months of that New Zealand win England were unofficially the worst team in the world; Hussain himself was roundly booed by the crowd at The Oval. At that stage the extent of England’s ambition was a first-innings lead – they didn’t have one for two years – but bit by bit, kicking and screaming, he dragged them up the ICC Test Championship table.The zenith came early: four series wins in a row in 2000 and 2001. Zimbabwe and a declining West Indies were there for the taking, but to win twice in the subcontinent in one winter was outrageous, an achievement beyond even Australia. England hadn’t played a Test there for eight years, and hadn’t won one for 16. March 17, 2001, when a woozy Graham Thorpe guided England to an unforgettable victory in Colombo, was the undisputed pinnacle.It was in keeping with Hussain’s reign that, while his team were sweeping all before them, he couldn’t buy a run. When England won the Wisden Trophy for the first time in 31 years, on an emotional day at The Oval in 2000, Hussain’s joy was tempered by the fact that he had just bagged a pair; that his highest Test score all summer was 25. He looked exhausted.

He learned to juggle the two eventually, and in the last couple of years Hussain’s calling card was the tone-setting performance in the first innings of a series: 64 against Pakistan in 2001, 85 in India and a tremendous 106 against New Zealand the following winter, 57 and 155 against Sri Lanka and India last summer, and 51 in Australia. Each time the captain setting the agenda, infusing his side with momentum.England had momentum two summers ago alright. Four series wins in a row for the first time since the late-1970s – it would have been five but for a dodgy run and some uncalled no-balls – meant that everything was building to a crescendo ahead of the Ashes. But Hussain went into the series without two of his main conductors: Michael Vaughan – amazing to think that it didn’t seem big a loss then – and Graham Thorpe. Then Hussain’s poppadom fingers let him down in the first Test. By the time he was back at the helm, the Ashes were gone, the dream blown mercilessly apart.It was the end of an era. England’s four-in-a-row side never played together again, but Hussain ushered in a new era as seamlessly as could be expected. With the core of that side – Atherton, Thorpe, Stewart, White, Gough, Caddick – unavailable for varying lengths of time, Hussain became England’s father figure, unflinchingly protecting his own. His Dad’s Army had metamorphosed into The Young Ones.He won a moral victory in India, and his ruthless employment of leg-theory tactics to Sachin Tendulkar showed that he didn’t give a stuff what anyone thought. This was his strength and his weakness. He gained untold respect in New Zealand for the dignity with which he handled Ben Hollioake’s death, led the rout of a Sri Lankan side that came to England on the back of nine Test wins in a row, and just about kept his hand on the controls as a staggering number of injuries beset England against India.But the job was beginning to tire Hussain, and the winter from hell broke even his will. The Zimbabwe imbroglio overshadowed the World Cup, yet the real business was Hussain’s last crack at the Ashes – something that ended the moment he put Australia in after winning the toss at Brisbane. Ashes failure will be his biggest regret: Hussain was a confirmed Aussiephile; his desperation to beat them join them was etched all over his face.The desire to earn respect from the Aussies was one of the defining features of his reign. The others? Desperate pleas for raw pace (answered eventually) and mystery spin (more elusive than ever); spectacular off days – of the 15 defeats under Hussain, nine were by an innings; and interesting press conferences – a rarity among recent England captains. Brains, too: Hussain’s predilection to rant and rave sometimes obscured how good he could be at fashioning a silk purse in the field, never more so than when England, with a second-string attack, thrashed India in Indian conditions at Lord’s last summer.Hussain’s overall record – P45 W17 D13 L15 – suggests a pretty dull,run-of-the-mill reign. Not a bit of it. English cricket has a harder nose and a keener mind than it did four years ago. It has lost its best captain since Brearley.Hussain resigns as England captain

National League Division Two
Hampshire 226 for 3 beat Scotland 225 for 5 by seven wickets at the Rose Bowl
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John Crawley continued his rich vein of form to overcome a gutsy performance from Scotland, as Hampshire moved into second place in the National League Second Division. Crawley top-scored with an unbeaten 83, after Scotland had posted a competitive total of 225 for 5. John Francis remained with Crawley in an unbeaten partnership of 126, after Craig Wright had raised Scotland’s hopes of a second county scalp in two days. He picked up three early wickets, including the in-form Simon Katich, and Derek Kenway for a first-ball duck, but none of the other bowlers could make any inroads.Lancashire 199 for 2 beat Derbyshire 197 by eight wickets at Old Trafford
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Carl Hooper produced a superb allround performance as Lancashire eased past Derbyshire by eight wickets under the lights at Old Trafford. Derbyshire had been on course for a handy total until Hooper lopped off the tail with his offspin, taking three swift wickets including the pugnacious Dominic Cork. He then took command with the bat, thumping nine fours and four huge sixes, to seal the match with an unbeaten 79 from 70 balls. Hooper added 106 for the third wicket with Mal Loye, who batted through the innings for an unbeaten 62. Stuart Law chipped in with a rapid 39, as Lancashire won with nearly ten overs to spare.Yesterday’s matchesNational League Division One
Kent 254 for 9 tied with Essex 254 for 9 at Canterbury
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Andy Flower cracked a brilliant century from just 89 balls to put Essex on course for a vital victory over their relegation rivals Kent, but Martin Saggers struck back with four vital scalps to scramble a tie in the final over. Kent had earlier posted a competitive total of 254 for 9, thanks to an astonishing blitz from Mark Ealham, who made 73 from 56 balls, with seven fours and three sixes, but Essex were cruising until Flower was stumped off James Tredwell for exactly 100. The tail crumbled to Saggers, and it all came down to the final over, bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan. Essex needed 17 with two wickets in hand, and Mohammad Akram thumped a last-ball four to tie the scores.Gloucestershire 184 for 2 beat Yorkshire 183 by eight wickets at Cheltenham
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Craig Spearman continued his rich vein of form, spanking 93 not out from 88 balls to consolidate Gloucestershire’s position at the top of Division One. Yorkshire’s total of 183 never looked like being enough, and Spearman and Phil Weston very nearly overhauled it singlehandedly, adding 143 for the first wicket before Weston was caught by Yuvraj Singh for 62. Gloucestershire owed their position, however, to a fine spell of bowling from James Averis, who topped and tailed Yorkshire’s innings with figures of 4 for 50. Matthew Wood (38) and Stephen Fleming (21) made steady starts, but steady was as good as it got. Warwickshire 173 for 6 beat Leicestershire 172 by four wickets at Leicester
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Waqar Younis picked up 4 for 37 to limit Leicestershire to an underwhelming 172 at Grace Road, but it took a gritty team effort for Warwickshire to overhaul the total with four wickets and three overs to spare. Waqar’s most important victim was Paul Nixon, who top-scored with 51. Nick Knight (50) launched the chase with assurance, and Dougie Brown and Ian Bell played their part as well, but a pair of run-outs made for a tense finish.National League Division Two
Middlesex 260 for 6 beat Derbyshire 259 for 8 at Derby
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Michael Di Venuto’s superb century was in vain, as Owais Shah led an impressive run-chase to keep Middlesex’s promotion push on course. Shah top-scored with a run-a-ball 66 after Paul Weekes and Andrew Strauss had opened up with a pair of fifties, as victory was sealed in the penultimate over. It was tough luck on Di Venuto, who made 106 from 111 balls, and Dominic Cork, whose 41 from 30 balls had given Derbyshire what must have seemed an unassailable total.Somerset 189 for 6 beat Durham 187 by four wickets at Chester-le-Street
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Ian Blackwell battered Somerset to victory with an unbeaten 79 from 81 balls, after the top-order had made heavy weather of Durham’s meagre total of 188. After reducing Somerset to 8 for 6 in the County Championship this week, Shoaib Akhtar was once again in the wickets, picking up 5 for 35, but Durham were always chasing the game after their poor batting performance. Martin Love (42) and Phil Mustard (41) top-scored, but they received little support, with Gareth Andrew and Steffan Jones picking up three wickets each.Lancashire 210 for 9 beat Nottinghamshire 185 by 25 runs at Cleethorpes
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Kevin Pietersen was once again in form for Nottinghamshire, but when he was run out for 54 from 46 balls, Lancashire took the initiative – and the match. Lancashire batted first and made 210, thanks to Carl Hooper and Stuart Law, who made 71 and 47 respectively after Greg Smith had made early inroads with the wickets of both openers. Nottinghamshire floundered badly at first, slumping to 34 for 3 at the hands of Peter Martin. Pietersen launched the recovery, and Usman Afzaal held up an end for 51, but the tail fell away.Scotland 272 for 4 beat Sussex 270 for 4 by six wickets at Hove
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Jon Kent and Rahul Dravid fashioned a fantastic victory for Scotland, to keep Sussex nailed to the foot of the table, despite virtuoso performances from Murray Goodwin (106) and Chris Adams (95 not out). Sussex must have fancied their chances after posting a massive total of 270 for 4, but Kent responded with an unbeaten 115 from 113 balls, and Dravid kept him company with 69. Robin Martin-Jenkins picked up two early wickets to leave Scotland reeling at 57 for 3, but by the time he took his third, the match had already slipped away.

Hampshire host table topping Worcestershire at the Rose Bowl in the final Frizzell Championship match of the season at The Rose Bowl. Play on all 4 days start at the earlier September time of 10:30am.Simon Katich and Chaminda Vaas return for the match. Katich has recovered from his flu, Chaminda Vaas returns after being rested for the match at Taunton.Robin Smith is already ruled out for the remainder of the season, John Francis still suffering from shingles and Alan Mullally is still troubled with an ankle injury, but is expected to play in the National League match against Lancashire on Sunday (12:00 noon start).Hampshire Team: James Adams, Derek Kenway, Simon Katich, John Crawley (captain), Nic Pothas, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Shaun Udal, Chaminda Vaas, Lawrence Prittipaul, Chris Tremlett and James Tomlinson.

Who really runs the game? Simon Wilde finds out1 Tim Lamb ECB chief executive
Lamb, who retired aged 30 after playing for Oxford University, Middlesex and Northamptonshire, was elected to his present post in 1996 on a manifesto that cricket should be treated as “a business within a game rather than a game within a business”. The mantra caught the mood of the times: during his tenure cricket has globally transformed itself in the name of commerce. It is now the ECB’s financial stability (on a turnover of £67.1m last year, it made a profit of £52.5m) that underpins Lamb’s position. But Lamb, 50, has his detractors. His handling of the Zimbabwe affair polarised opinion and his part in the Theresa Harrild sex discrimination case was another low point. He has kept at arm’s length the Professional Cricketers’ Association, which has unsuccessfully called for 19th county status throughout his reign, and been blamed for over-manning his Lord’s departments. Through it all Lamb has proved an adept survivor.2 David Morgan ECB chairman
Morgan, 65, formerly Glamorgan chairman and a steel businessman, took over from Lord MacLaurin in January. As author of the Morgan Report in 1996, he formulated the creation of the ECB as a limited company with a management board along with first-class and recreational policy-making bodies. More sympathetic to the counties than MacLaurin but endured a tough baptism over the Zimbabwe affair.3 Duncan Fletcher England coach, tour manager and selector
England have given more power to their first foreign coach than to any of his predecessors apart from Ray Illingworth in his brief stint as manager and chief selector. Fletcher has a huge say in selection and dictates when or if England players appear in county matches. Could be more powerful but refuses to get involved in policy outside cricket.4 Michael Vaughan England captain
Players have short-lived careers compared with administrators and can fall prey at any time to career-ending injuries or losses of form. But as long as Vaughan, 28, is captain his power base is sizeable. With the ECB also keen to use his image to market the sport, he has the potential to foster the game to a greater extent than his predecessors.5 Rod Marsh National Academy director and England selector
Marsh, 55, an Australian Test great, heads English cricket’s big project as director of the National Academy. His brief is to build an England side capable of winning the next World Cup and his promotion in May to the Test selection panel enables him to keep that mission on track.6 Mike Soper Chairman of First-Class Forum
As chairman at Surrey, Soper helped turn the club into a sporting and commercial heavyweight. Now deputy chairman of the ECB, and chair of the First-Class Forum, he has a big say in policy. A moderniser, he is ready to make the game more accessible to the public.7 Mark Thompson Chief executive of C4
As chief executive of the only terrestrial channel producing live cricket coverage, Thompson wields increasing influence on the game. C4 – and satellite broadcaster Sky Sports – funded the ECB’s present three-year TV deal worth £147m and in return command a say when England play (10.45am starts) and how often (hence rise in Tests and ODIs).8 David Stewart Surrey chairman
Stewart’s profile is low but he is an influential voice in the ECB’s financial planning. A former senior tax partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London, he moved from treasurer at Surrey to chairman when Soper left.9 John Carr Director of cricket operations at ECB
After the Zimbabwe row Carr, 40, was given overall charge of England affairs and guides Fletcher, Vaughan and the players on ECB policies, ethos and objectives. He followed Lamb to Oxford and Middlesex as a player and could be his heir, although there will be mutterings along class lines if he is.10 David Graveney Chairman of selectors
Graveney is the Clapham Junction of English cricket; most things pass through him at some time or other. Through his selectorial work and involvement with the PCA, Graveney, 50, has assembled more contacts in the game than anyone – not always a help when it comes to picking the best 11 cricketers in the country.11 Richard Bevan Chief executive of the PCA
Bevan narrowly edges out Des Wilson, the ECB’S chief marketing adviser. Bevan rose to prominence during the Zimbabwe saga when he filled the power vacuum that existed between the England players and the ECB. Popular with many players who feel he has their interests at heart.Simon Wilde is cricket correspondent of the Sunday TimesThe October 2003 edition of The Wisden Cricketer is on sale at all good newsagents in the UK and Ireland, priced £3.25. Click here to subscribe.

Rahul Dravid
On his bowling strategy: The wicket had become slow and low as the game progressed, and we needed to mix and match for maximum advantage from the pitch. Virender Sehwag’s two wickets brought the match within our reach.On a depleted Australian team: The Australian team has been winning even without some of their top players. Even during the World Cup they were missing two or three key players, but the result was there for every body to see.We cannot take them lightly. It was very important to start on a winning note, and I am very glad that we won today, but we will have to keep the momentum going in other matches.Ricky Ponting
On Australia’s performance: I think the bowlers did fairly well. They conceded about 20 extra runs in the last few overs, otherwise they did well. But I am very disappointed with the batsmen.On the problems with the sightscreen: The sightscreen is always a problem, but it did not bother us much. We are used to all this in this part of the world.Sachin Tendulkar
On his motivation against Australia: Australia is a top side, I don’t know … I just go out and play my natural game. We have left the World Cup behind us, it is a fresh series. We cannot go on cribbing about the past.On VVS Laxman: He batted very well. In fact he has been in remarkable form right from the start of the season.

You’ve said before that Australia’s dominance is not good for the game.
The gap between Australia and the rest is bad for the game. Having said that, it’s not Australia’s fault – you can’t blame them for the domination. It’s not a criticism of Australia; it’s a comment about world cricket. The success of Australian teams in recent times really started with decisions that were taken 20 years ago – to set up identification processes, elite programs and proper structured programs to develop players. They changed methods, did some research, improved systems, got sports psychologists involved, all for developing cricketers.Other countries need to do the same thing as soon as possible. It is critical for the long-term future of the game that other countries close the gap from they are now to where Australia is, because Australia are going to keep doing the things that work for them and value-adding. The systems may not always produce the talent that there is at the moment; there will always be fluctuations. But the decisions that were taken 20 years ago were to control the major fluctuations and try to even out the results.The fact that England have been weak for such a long time, and West Indies and South Africa are struggling with their own internal problems is not good for cricket. It’s not healthy for one team to be dominant for too long, with all other teams just waiting. All teams should be trying to move forward and narrow the gap.The rise of Australia has run parallel to the fall of many other sides. Surely, this isn’t a coincidence?
I don’t think it is a coincidence. A lot of people are hoping it is a coincidence. Especially in England, people talk about cycles and say this is just one of those cycles. They’ve been down for 20 years. That’s one hell of a cycle! You can’t afford to have those kinds of cycles if you want to be one of the top sides. These cycles occurred at a time when everybody was just relying on natural talent to come to the surface. Now, with more science and technology involved in the game, we’re seeing a variation in the way young people are being developed. Thinking about it a bit more, I don’t think it’s a coincidence at all. Australia has planned and looked to develop. They’ve got a business plan and a developmental plan and that’s worked. In some ways it’s understandable – a lot of the cricket-playing countries are third world countries and don’t have the resources that Australia has. That is a problem, and one the Australians have recognised. We’re exporting a lot of expertise and personnel. Some of the scientific knowledge is being shared with the cricket world.The ICC should be aware of this, and I’m sure they are, because it’s going to affect the business of cricket. Some years ago, Australia, and other teams that were on top of their game, looked to keep secrets and their successful methods to themselves. We now know that spreading the knowledge is a good thing. After all, even if another team have the knowledge and information, it’s still up to them to implement it.You’ve been part of successful teams yourself. The resources and the coaching methods at the time could not have been what they are today. What else is it that sets these teams apart?
The greatest strength of Australian cricket is our bank of natural resources. By and large we have good climate, good outdoor facilities for youngsters to play sport – whatever the sport is. From a cricket point of view, we have the best domestic competition in the world. That really is the basis of our structure. The competitive nature of our domestic cricket is a key.The game has changed a lot in the last 25 years. International cricket has pulled away from first-class cricket, which in turn has pulled away from our club structure. That has created some stress on our infrastructure which needs addressing. We didn’t have the science and the technology that is being used now, but in some ways the methods that we had were better. Not all of the innovations that have come into player development in the last 20 years are necessarily advancements in preparation techniques. A lot of things that were done in the first 100-odd years of Australian cricket – the natural techniques – worked very well and are lost now. We need to be aware of this and re-introduce some of the natural techniques.Would you say champion teams are as much about determination and the will to succeed as about skill and technique?
Again I think an advantage Australia have over most teams is that we build very good spirit and very good unity in the team. It’s a comment about our culture and our society. We’re a very egalitarian society. Our history suggests that we build very good spirit under adversity. This brings out the best in our nature. A lot of other cultures don’t develop that unity, and there’s a lot more individualism in those teams. A good unit will always beat a team of good individuals. That’s been evident throughout the history of Australian cricket. It’s particularly noticeable now, the camaraderie and the unity in this Australian team.You look at a Matthew Hayden or a Justin Langer … you wouldn’t say they’re wildly talented; yet they’re putting runs on the board with regularity.
I think there’s more method and work done in Australia towards understanding the process of success – what it really takes to be successful. Like anything else, in sport, there are basic things that need to be put in place. The foundations of success, in any walk of life, are built on a series of disciplines. Hayden, Langer, and all of the Australian players do that sort of thing very well. A lot of time is spent on inculcating that sort of understanding in Australian cricket. It’s not just about natural talent – it’s about perseverance, about putting building blocks in place, about focusing on the processes not the results.Turning that around a bit, would you say that someone like Javagal Srinath would have been more successful if he was part of an Australian team?
It’s hard to say. Obviously, every individual is different. Having said that, I have no doubt any player will develop better in a successful team than in a team that is under pressure all the time. The support that comes from playing in a successful team is very important in nurturing a person. Sharing the good times and the bad times, particularly the good, is very important.That’s where the team selection process becomes crucial. Bringing in young players, changing the personnel … in the last 10 years or so the Australian selectors have tapped Allan Border on the shoulder, and Ian Healy and David Boon, letting them know it’s time to move on. More than anything, this is because the time and environment were right at a certain stage to bring in a young player. Adam Gilchrist was demanding to play Test cricket, and the only way to get him in was for Healy to move on. Healy felt he could have played for a few more years, and he probably could have. But it would not necessarily have been in the best interests of Australian cricket. Breeding success certainly is contagious.Turning what you said around on its head, I’m sure there are Australians in this team who would not have been successful if they had played for other teams, because without the support and the success going around them, things would have been very different.What would it take to topple Australia?
It would obviously take a team with considerable talent. There are a few teams that have the talent, but it will take the same commitment to excellence that Australian cricket has had though its history, and particularly the last 10-20 years.If you look at our history, we’ve had a very strong team every 15 years or so and had a very successful period. That was occurring naturally, but we’ve now begun to understand that there is a process that allows for this to happen. If other teams put the process in place, the gap between Australia and them will narrow. Australia will have a down period. There’s no doubt that we will see Australia come off the peak in the next few years. This is when other teams must be strong and push hard to topple Australia. That is a cycle. But because of the processes in place, the cycle will be shortened. Instead of being a trough, it will just be a dip in the curve.Which do you think is the team most likely to challenge Australia?
India have the best chance of anyone. India have got a better-balanced side than anyone apart from Australia at the moment. They have good young fast bowlers, quality spinners that we all know about, a strong batting line-up, and the fielding is improving all the time. It should be the mission of Indian cricket to be the next team that dominates world cricket in the next 25 years. I’m sure the team and board are already thinking along those lines. They have the resources, the raw material to start with, and the funds to put a system in place that can cause Australia a lot of problems. Whether the Indians can replicate the spirit and the unity of the Australians, only time will tell; but they certainly have what it takes. In that sense, India has the best chance to topple Australia and become the team that sets the benchmarks in international cricket.But specifically, what does India need to do to be successful in Australia?
If they’re going to beat Australia they have got to go there with a different attitude. They normally go there expecting to be beaten up and they play accordingly. They expect aggressive behaviour and fast bowling and a lot of short balls, and they go into their shell before they reach Australia. They have to go there with an attitude that they’re going to play positive cricket. If they can do that they have as good a chance as anyone. I don’t know that they can beat Australia at home, but if anyone can, India can. They have to go there with a positive attitude and a belief in themselves that they can win. It’s no good going there and hoping to get away without losing a Test match or without getting beaten in the series. That is just not going to work.People talk of an Australian tour in very general terms. But isn’t it true that the challenges for touring teams differ from venue to venue in Australia?
Oh, absolutely. Brisbane will have more bounce and pace than anything they are used to. Adelaide is a good chance for them. There are a lot of wickets in India that are very much like Adelaide. Sydney will seam a little bit but will also turn. It’s getting back to being what it was – a good cricket wicket – and will give everyone a chance. Melbourne is hard to predict because it’s a drop-in wicket. It depends on how long the pitch has been there and how many games have been played on it. It always takes time to settle but has a bit of bounce in it. Sydney and Adelaide are distinct possibilities for India to win. Even Brisbane and Melbourne … if [Ashish] Nehra is fit and [Zaheer] Khan bowls well with the new ball, there’s no reason why they can’t get early wickets.But it’s also not just about wickets and conditions. The Australian media can be hostile, the lifestyle very different. It’s easy to get into a siege mentality. Is that a big factor?
It is a factor but the bigger factor is that teams go there expecting it and go into a defensive mode. They go into a siege mentality even before they get there. As I said before, that will never work. The teams that have had success in Australia are the ones that have believed in themselves, and backed themselves to play positive cricket. If you are going to bat, it is one thing to occupy the crease. But the bottomline is that you have got to score runs. If you’re not actively looking to score runs then things become hard. If Australia bowl a wide half-volley or a wide short ball you have to punish them. Standing there and letting things go by, just relieved that you have survived is just playing into their hands. The art of batting is about scoring runs. Survival is one part of it. There will be times when the opposition bowls well and you go for long periods without scoring runs, but you still need to be looking for runs. You have to score as many runs as you can under the circumstances, whatever they are.And the opposition captain – they save the best for him don’t they?
That’s been going on since forever. Key players and captains have always been targeted on the basis that if you get them out of the way the pressure is increased on the others. [Sourav] Ganguly is going to have his work cut out for him. Then again, he shouldn’t go to Australia thinking that he is going to survive a barrage of short-pitched balls. If he does that he won’t make runs. He has to back himself and go out there looking to handle whatever they bowl. When Ganguly came to Australia and met me we spoke about these sorts of things.You say Ganguly should go to Australia with a positive mindset, but does he have the basic technique and ability to do well there?
Ganguly has the ability to make runs in Australia, no doubt about that. Batting is as much about your attitude and your mental state as it is about your ability to play shots. If you’re in the wrong frame of mind you won’t move properly and you won’t use your physical ability. If you start trying to build a technique to field a particularly delivery, what that does is not necessarily bring you success against such deliveries. But it does reduce your options when you get other sorts of deliveries. When you start thinking you’re going to get a lot of short balls and tell yourself to play back all the time, then the wide half-volley will get you out. Batting is about having a technique that is capable of dealing with whatever the bowler bowls. The good players have all done that. India have three or four players with that capability.We see very few draws these days. The Australians have changed the pace of the game. Should teams try to beat them at their own game? Or can they be frustrated into losing?
You’ve got to beat them at their own game. You have to be positive, have gameplans that will work and stick to them. Only then can you put the pressure back on Australia. Part of the tactics of the game is that you need to assert your dominance from as early as possible. In that sense, cricket is just like a game of chess: it’s about moving your men into a position of strength and being able to dominate the opposition and dictate the moves that they’re able to make. That’s what Australia does well. They go out there with the intent of dominating the opposition. If you play the counter role, that’s not necessarily going to work. Against this Australian side, you become a bit like the duck in the shooting gallery – it’s only a matter of time before you get picked off. You really need to come hard at Australia and fight fire with fire.Some people would suggest that this Australian team is weaker than the one India played against when they toured there in 1999-2000.
It depends on who is fit and playing. And fit enough to perform at their best. If [Glenn] McGrath and [Jason] Gillespie and [Stuart] MacGill are fit and bowling well, it’s still a formidable side. Having said that, Australia are probably a more vulnerable side than they have been in a while.Is there one glaring weakness in this Australian team that India must look to exploit?
I don’t think there are any glaring weaknesses. If you break it down to the various disciplines, they have good fast bowling, good spinners, good batsmen, and they all field very well. And most of all they have a great belief in themselves. Any team that thinks they can beat Australia will have to match them in all those departments..

Going by the papers, the Australian team scores too quickly, plays too aggressively, and is ageing fast. A few days ago, this was known as controlling the pace of a game, dominating the opponent, and good ol’ experience.Robert Craddock of believes Australia’s aura is fading. “Teams used to be beaten before they landed in Australia. But those days appear to be coming to an end. Even Zimbabwe put up a fight in October. Teams are starting to play the ball and not the man.” Craddock hints that with Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne around, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman might have been contained. But even when they return, Ricky Ponting will be hard-pressed to replicate Steve Waugh’s success.So who gets to lord it over the world, then?We do, declares Sourav Ganguly. “I said before that we are the second-best side in the world, but if we can win this series then we definitely can [be No. 1).” Ayaz Memon adds fuel to that thought in the , writing that Australia’s premier status in cricket is now under threat, and adds, for good measure, that the victory could be the dawn of a never-say-die attitude in Indian sportsmen.However, Waugh puts things in perspective in . “You are allowed to lose a Test match,” he says. “We have had a pretty good run.”Looking beyond the immediate clutter of defeat, the Australian Gideon Haigh, writing in the London , wonders if Australia have a Plan B. Exciting scoring rates apart, “it was as though the Australians, having grown accustomed to life in fast-forward, had forgotten how simply to play and, if need be, pause.” Peter Roebuck in the agrees that the aggressive intent is admirable, but it needs a whiff of caution too, advising that teams know what approach to expect from Australia. He takes nothing away from Dravid, who “did not seem to be playing in the same match as everyone else”.Ganguly went one further: “He batted like a God,” he said, repaying the renowned compliment. Rohit Brijnath writes in the about Dravid’s mindset, the team’s growing awareness of their own ability, and a new maturity.“Good guys don’t always finish last,” says Allan Border, as Dravid rises in his estimation. Complimenting Dravid’s shot-selection and approach to batting, Border also cautions against comparing him and Sachin Tendulkar, for Indian cricket has turned to both on many occasions.Closer to home, Ganguly, in the , takes a renewed dig at the Indian media for not supporting the team. Don’t go too far, though, for kind words come from “Crash” Craddock again, in the , where he loses all sense of perspective and writes that “India have now won three of their last four Tests against Australia … maybe they are simply a better side.”

Leicestershire have announced that Garnett Kruger will join Brad Hodge as their second overseas player for the 2004 season.Kruger, a 26-year-old fast bowler who plays for Gauteng, is on the verge of the South African side. He was in the squad for the first Test against West Indies at Johannesburg last week, but didn’t make the starting XI.Kruger moved from Eastern Province during the close season, and has taken 141 first-class wickets at an average of 29.90.But it wasn’t all good news for Leicestershire, as it was also revealed that Luke Wright, an England Under-19 allrounder, had decided to leave the county.

It is appropriate that Bangladesh should be hosting the Under-19 World Cup in an Olympic year, because when the dust has settled and the 16 competing nations have gone their separate ways, the benefits to the country’s sporting infrastructure should be every bit as lasting as the memories of the tournament.The fifth U19 World Cup is officially launched tomorrow evening in an opening ceremony at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National Stadium, before the show gets fully underway on February 15. For Bangladesh, who open their campaign against New Zealand in Dhaka, it is the second part of a hugely important month in their development, with a senior tour of Zimbabwe taking place concurrently.There had never been much doubt that public interest in the World Cup would be huge, but already ticket sales have exceeded demand. All the original 28,000 tickets for the group matches in Bogra sold out well in advance, including 10,000 for the opening fixture between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe on February 15. Even the less fashionable match-ups have attracted strong support, with 9000 tickets for Zimbabwe’s games against Australia and Canada having been snapped up.”I have been very impressed with the enthusiasm that cricket fans in Bogra have shown for these matches,” said Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC. “I hope that the feats of these international players will inspire local youngsters to try and follow in their footsteps.” Their chances of following those footsteps will have been significantly enhanced by the creation of Bogra’s District Stadium, one of several Government-funded projects to promote the infrastructure of Bangladeshi cricket.”It is always exciting to return to a country where cricket is the No. 1 sport,” said Ehsan Mani, the president of the ICC, who was in Dhaka last November for the media launch of the event. “I know that there is a lot of interest in the U19 World Cup throughout the country and I look forward to witnessing this with my own eyes.”Mani and Speed will attend the opening ceremony, where the chief guest will be Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. All 16 competing nations will attend the show, before flying off to compete in four group stages in different parts of the country. Mani was enthusiastic about what lay in store, saying: “I am sure the opening ceremony will provide a spectacular start to what promises to be an intriguing event.”For England, the tournament provides a chance to emulate the class of 1998, who won the cup in South Africa by beating New Zealand by seven wickets in the final. In the two subsequent tournaments, however, they have managed a solitary victory over Test-playing opposition, but this time round have had the best possible preparation, with access to the new Academy in Loughborough, and a full fortnight in Malaysia to acclimatise to the heat and humidity. They are drawn alongside South Africa, Uganda and Nepal in the Chittagong-based group, and must be a safe bet to progress to the second round.This year’s defending champions, as befits their era of effortless dominance, are Australia, for whom the wicketkeeper Adam Crossthwaite is the only player to have taken part in the 2002 event in New Zealand. On that occasion, he kept wicket in all eight matches, claiming 11 catches – including two in the final – and four stumpings. He also scored 102 runs at an impressive strike-rate of 129.62.Future international cricketers will abound at the event, but there will also be a smattering of current stars. The West Indian fast bowler, Ravi Rampaul, is flying out directly from the senior tour to South Africa, while three of the Bangladeshi squad – Nafis Iqbal, Talha Jubair and Enamul Haque – have also played international cricket.With 54 matches crammed into three weeks, it promises to be a bustling tournament, and one which goes some way towards putting Bangladesh firmly on the international map.

England XI 274 (Hussain 86) beat University of West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI 119 (Harmison 4-17) and 70 (Hoggard 3-10, Giles 3-23, Jones 3-3) by an innings and 85 runs
Scorecard

England needed just two days to race to a comfortable and thoroughly convincing victory in their warm-up match in Kingston. After a fit-again Graham Thorpe had helped England to a respectable 274, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones tore into the batting as the University of West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI was blown away for a meagre 70 in their second innings.It was another productive day all round for England. Thorpe reassured themanagement that he had fully recovered from yesterday’s back spasm with a stylish 55, and the bowlers made light work of some tame batting.But, considering the inexperience of the opposition batsmen, Thorpe’sperformance will be the most pleasing aspect for England. After NasserHussain was squared up by a Jermaine Lawson pearler for 86, and PaulCollingwood, the other overnight batsman, was caught at midwicket off Jason Bennett, Thorpe took centre-stage. He made a cagey start, but soon got back into his groove, signalled with a confident pull for four off Ryan Nurse, followed by some of his trademark square-cuts. And that was just as well for England, as wickets tumbled at regular intervals at the other end.Andrew Flintoff was on the wrong end of a dodgy decision. After the ball hit Flintoff on his back pad, Bennett, the bowler, mouthed a mutedappeal. The umpire then surprisingly whipped up his finger, even though the ball was clearly slanting down leg side. Flintoff wasn’t a happy bunny, and he let the umpire know, standing his ground and giving him theeye. The sound of “Another One Bites the Dust” from the ground speakers didn’t help matters either.Chris Read flashed Dwayne Bravo to Dave Bernard at gully for a duck,then Giles was plumb lbw to Lawson for 2. But Thorpe proved what a vital cog he will be for England in the Tests. He conjured up the shot of the day, an elegant cover-drive off Lawson, and continued to build his side’s advantage with some dashing strokes all round the wicket. He finally fell midway through the afternoon, when he slapped a short one from Tonito Willett straight to Jason Haynes at midwicket.The new batsman Jones was positive from the outset. He smacked Ryan Cunningham back over the main stand and into the refreshment tents, and cut him for four next ball. But Jones was later bowled going for another big shot, and Steve Harmison lasted only a couple of balls as England’s innings petered out for 274, a lead of 155.The Vice-Chancellor’s XI made a sleepy start to their second innings, butEngland’s bowlers woke up after tea. Kennedy Otieno scoopedHoggard to Collingwood at mid-off, then Giles ripped one like a legbreakwhich gated the left-handed Haynes. Bravo was then torpedoed by a Hoggard grubber, and Bernard edged Giles to Flintoff at first slip.And they kept on coming … and going. Hoggard cleaned up Darren Sammy, Willett was lbw to Giles, and Jones provided the final flourish with three wickets as the innings lurched to 70 all out. Steve Tikolo, the Kenyan captain, was unable to bat as he was suffering from a dose of flu.More good news for England was that Mark Butcher came through a net session in the morning with little trouble. Duncan Fletcher, England’s coach, rated his chances of making the first Test as 40-60. Fletcher reckons the top seven batting positions for the Test are sorted, assuming that Butcher makes it – but he admitted that he still needs to finalise the bowling combination, with Jones now back in the frame. “I’m pleased to have Jones back with us,” he said. “He was under a lot of pressure in the first innings, but he bowled well with good lines.”Freddie Auld is assistant editor of Wisden Cricinfo in London. He will be covering the first two Tests of England’s series in the Caribbean.