Date:22/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/22/stories/2007112263242100.htm

Sport - Cricket

Australia shaping up well

— Photo: AP

CAPTAIN’S BACKING: Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting believes Stuart MacGill is still the country’s best spinner.

HOBART: On bare results, the 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka looks like a seamless transition for Australia into the post-Warne and McGrath era.

Australia won by an innings and 40 runs in Brisbane and by 96 runs in Hobart against Sri Lanka.

Phil Jacques, coming in for retired opener Justin Langer, scored 100, 150 and 68 in his three innings and Mike Hussey scored two centuries and an unbeaten 34 to boost his Test average to 86.18.

Brett Lee, spearheading the attack for the first time since Glenn McGrath retired in April as the most successful Test fast bowler of all time, was player of the series with 16 wickets — a symmetrical four per innings.

He got willing support from new left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson.

Australia’s main concern to emerge from the series was over Warne’s successor. Stuart MacGill, the long-time heir apparent, is out of shape and out of form following knee surgery. MacGill returned with figures of one for 102 in the second innings in Hobart, when he bowled four no-balls, some rank full tosses and was hit out of the game.

“He’s had some great days and he’s had some ordinary days and yesterday wasn’t one of his better days,” Nielsen said. “The challenge for us now is to assess that and find where we can get him physically right and aim for Melbourne to get him to play as well as he can.” Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting, however, backed the leg-spinner to come good.

“I was pretty impressed with what he did in Brisbane and even in the first innings in Hobart he bowled reasonably well. If he gets his body right and he’s fit, he will probably stay the No. 1 choice spinner.” — AP