Sizing up the Opposition

Usually in the lead up to any test series, much care is taken to study the opposition as far as possible, though players will rarely admit to it. "We'll just have to go out there and play well, regardless of who they put out on the park", is the standard comment you get. Or, as Dwayne Johnson is likely to say, "It DOESN'T MATTER who the opponents are!"

Stephen Fleming's side on the 2001 Australia tour is a great example of how the gap in class and talent can be narrowed by the lesser side, if the "doing your homework on the opponents" approach is used well. I certainly hope Ross Taylor and co. are doing the same; while the Aussies will not be fielding anywhere near their best side, matching them at home will still be a tough ask.

This is the squad they've put together:
Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (vice-capt, wk), Peter Siddle, Ben Cutting, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson.

BATTING: The choice of Hughes and Warner as the opening pair is a bit surprising, as each is the sort of aggressive player who gives the opposition a lot of chances. I'd previously thought of Warner as a poor man's Brendon McCullum (and that's saying something), but he's been putting up some fantastic numbers in Shield Cricket so we might see a different side to him.

I don't have much to say on Usman Khawaja just yet. It looks like he will be a regular member of the test side for a long time, but so far he hasn't played a long enough innings at this level for me to say anything definite.

The middle order - Ponting, Clarke and Hussey - is where Australia really have the edge over NZ. All three have been in patchy form of late (against some exceptional South African bowling), but there's no substitute for this sort of class and experience. Expect one of them to come up with a masterclass if the Gabba pitch is bowler-friendly. Taylor and the rest of the kiwis need to pay close attention to how the South African bowlers bowled to Ponting, and the lengths they hit.

Brad Haddin has Matthew Wade and Tim Paine (when fit) breathing down his neck at the moment, but has always done well against NZ. Much sledging is in store when he comes out to bat, the feud dating back to this.

BOWLING: The quick bowling lineup NZ must have least wanted to see at the Gabba would be: Harris, Copeland, Cummins and - most crucially - Watson. Twatto's capability as a fifth bowler would've given the Aussies a huge advantage. Copeland is the sort of line and length merchant who could have preyed on the impatience NZ's batsmen are prone to. Instead we have Siddle, Lyon as the spinner, and the three quicks who came up against NZ in the tour game. Siddle doesn't appear to be a popular choice, but he is in a sense the ideal bowler for Brisbane and Hobart; his performance in the opening Ashes test last year comes to mind. Lyon is probably up there with Hauritz as the best among Australia's spin cycle, I doubt Jesse Ryder will be able to savage him as badly as he did Steve Smith and Beer in the tour game.

Among the potential debutants, Pattinson from what I've seen looks like a real prospect. I haven't watched Starc much but I imagine he will play. Ben cutting indulged in a bit of trash-talk before the tour game and was cut down to size by McCullum, so he could be the one to miss out. The inclusion of the rookies bring us to..

THE PITCH: After a tough tour game, the Aussie quicks might just get their revenge. A lively Gabba pitch is promised for the first test, with supposedly more life in it than the previous Ashes test. This is something NZ need to factor in to their preparations as well; hopefully Southee, Martin and co will have something to say, and there could be a case for playing the extra batsman.