How to beat the Aussies

Daniel Laidlaw

The following is a battle plan on the best way to bowl out Australia. Sourav Ganguly and the Indian team hierarchy surely have their own ideas in place, but in case they missed something, here are some observations on the best methods of bowling to the Aussie batsmen and generally disrupting their game plan...

General

According to Steve Waugh's latest book, Australia believes in the three Ps: Patience, Pressure, and Partnerships. Therefore, it only makes sense that, while still following their own strategy, the Indians do everything they possibly can to interfere with Australia's 'P' priorities.

Patience: It is important to test the patience of Australia's batsmen, particularly when the toursits may be going well. This means not releasing the pressure, another of the Aussies' keywords, by bowling a 'four' ball at the end of an accurate over. Pulling into a tight line outside off stump is the perfect way to test the batsmen's patience, especially to players like Slater who always look like they want to hit the ball.

For the fielders, high standards must be maintained throughout the whole day - not lapsing and losing concentration in the last session.

Like all the best plans this is an exceedingly simple strategy, but hopefully one that makes the batsmen become impatient and thus depart from their policy.

Pressure: From an Australian batting point of view, applying pressure to the fielding team means attacking the bowling and scoring quickly, at about 3.5 runs per over. Bowlers under pressure become erratic, give the batsmen more chances to score, and make the captain set defensive fields, enhancing the batting team's position because the game is moving quickly.

Pressure is applied to the fieldsmen by running sharply between the wickets, keeping them on their toes and rotating the strike. Pressure is also picking out the slower fielders or ones with weaker arms and turning singles into twos against these players. Generally, batting with urgency places the fielding team under pressure and throws them off their game.

So, it would benefit India to counteract this and throw the pressure back on Australia. Composed, intelligent bowling is the key - recognising what is happening and remedying it, according to the batsman. Slater playing the pull shot too much? Pitch it up more. Mark Waugh scoring too many runs to the leg side? Shift the line to outside off. Ponting sweeping too well? Adjust the field for it. Making life uncomfortable for the batsmen is always the best form of pressure.

In the field, it means remaining alert and not conceding those singles and allowing ones to turn into twos. Athletic fielding that cuts off opportunities is a good way of showing the batting team you are committed and that runs will not come easily for them.

Partnerships: The final 'P' word, Partnerships, is the foundation of batting. For Australia, it's not one individual who sets up an innings but rather a large partnership. That is the basis of their batting. Somewhere along the line, two players will usually combine to set up a total of 350 plus.

Saying breaking partnerships is important is like stating it's necessary to take wickets or score more runs than the other team. However, there are a couple of finer points to notice. What damages a batting team more than anything, and what Australia strives to avoid, is losing wickets in quick succession. It certainly hurt West Indies this season.

After a wicket is lost, establishing another partnership is the key to taking away momentum from the bowling team. Therefore, taking wickets in bunches will help deflate the Australian batting. When they're bowling, the Aussies know this. Watch how they usually intimidate a new batsman at the crease to try to turn one breakthrough into a succession of wickets. This prevents the building of partnerships, or at least stops a new pair from flourishing immediately after a wicket has fallen.

Dominating a session with a flurry of wickets is the way to demoralise the Aussies. They will fight back, though, so do not relent - keep it up, break partnerships, then capitalise on it with another wicket when it happens.

The batsmen: How to get them out

Michael Slater: Australia's most positive batsman. Usually gets out early or goes on to a big score. Fidgety early in his innings and prone to nicking the ball. Keep it on a good length outside off and wait for him to play at the wrong one for an edge to slips. Either that, or wait for him to get into the nineties and throw it away himself! Will get down the pitch with quick footwork against spin.

Matthew Hayden: Struggled towards end of West Indies series and is lacking form. Keep it that way. Has been dismissed several times in career not playing a shot to ball coming into him from around the wicket. Test his judgement outside off. Does not run well with the jumpy Slater, so look for run out opportunities. Otherwise is a solid opener who likes the pull shot.

Justin Langer: Playing aggressively of late has been his downfall. Has been out playing the cut shot so continue giving him deliveries to cut and wait for the edge behind. Struggled enormously in Sri Lanka against the ball turning away from the bat. Target him with off-spin.

Mark Waugh: Experienced and back in form. Plays spin adeptly but also gets out to it a lot. Will take on the flighted ball. Test his patience with spin and await a mistake. Doesn't play the pull shot so could be unsettled by pitching short. Srinath and Agarkar can get him caught in slips driving at deliveries that move away.

Steve Waugh: Plays back early before he gets settled. Pitch it full just outside off to get the edge behind as he plays back in defence. Similarly, could be susceptible to lbw on the back foot. Learnt the slog-sweep on last tour of India after watching Tendulkar and will use it occasionally to alleviate pressure against the spinners.

Ricky Ponting: Plays aggressively from the outset and is possibly Australia's best player of spin. Handled Muralitharan better than anyone on last tour of subcontinent by using his feet and sweeping. Against pace, tends to lunge onto front foot too much and can be caught in slips doing this. Poor temperament. Stir him up.

Adam Gilchrist: Extremely dangerous. Can change the course of a match by playing his natural game regardless of situation. His strength is also his weakness so can be dismissed playing attacking shots. Hits in the air square of the wicket and is a chance to be caught in the gully. Keeping it full or spinning the ball away is best chance of success.

Glenn McGrath: King of No. 11s. Vulnerable against fast and spin bowlers early, in the middle and late in his innings. Susceptible to all bowling and can be dismissed by aiming at the stumps. Recently unveiled the pull shot. Get the other guy out and he may not be so angry with ball in hand.

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