Aussie spin not what it was
apwebster May 21, 2009
Tags ashes, australia, england, nathan hauritz, shane warne
Australia's Ashes squad has but a single specialist spinner in Nathan Hauritz, who many in England may not even have heard of. Whilst Michael Clarke's part-time spin may cause problems for some teams, and Simon Katich is a potential secret weapon, it's a far cry from the glory days of Shane Warne terrorising England in 2005 (even though that series worked out better for the Poms than the Aussies) or indeed in 1993, 1997 and 2001.
The first post-Warne tour of England may prove a (lack of) turning point, particularly if the Cardiff pitch proves as conducive to spin as has been suggested, but Australia still look strong enough to win 4-0 or 5-0 with a following wind (or a Flintoff ankle strain).
Hauritz may play a cameo role, or he may emerge as a future star of Australian cricket, but it seems unlikely at the moment that spin, the supposed chink in the Aussie armour, will change the course of the series.
The first post-Warne tour of England may prove a (lack of) turning point, particularly if the Cardiff pitch proves as conducive to spin as has been suggested, but Australia still look strong enough to win 4-0 or 5-0 with a following wind (or a Flintoff ankle strain).
Hauritz may play a cameo role, or he may emerge as a future star of Australian cricket, but it seems unlikely at the moment that spin, the supposed chink in the Aussie armour, will change the course of the series.
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