This is the first of a three part Summer Review for the Australian Cricket Team.
It's been a summer of thrills and spills. There have been the highs; great catches, brilliant innings and superb bowling spells. But there has also been the lows; Australia's first series defeat in 16 years, a 3rd straight home summer ODI loss and many off field dramas.
Coming off a 2-0 loss to India, Australia were under pressure from the media, with more and more critics suggesting that Australia's title as number 1 was under a heap of pressure from India and South Africa. It all started back in Novemeber with the two test series against New Zealand. Australia won the two tests easily; winning by 149 runs at the Gabba, and by an innings in Adelaide.
The summer started off well for Michael Clarke, scoring 98 and 110 in the 2 matches. While opener Simon Katich further assured his spot in the Australian side with a brilliant 131. But it was the persistance of Brad Haddin that was the story of the series. Haddin struggled in the West Indies and India, with both bat and the gloves. He only had a high score of 45 going into that New Zealand test and his keeping was coming under question. The pressure was so good, that many were only giving him until the end of the summer to prove his spot. And that he did, scoring a brilliant 169 against the Kiwis to send all the doubters packing.
Matthew Hayden struggled once again, putting more and more pressure on his position in the team. In the first test, he made 8 in the first innings before throwing his wicket away and then got an absolute pearler in the 2nd to recieve a first ball duck. The 2nd test was Hayden's 100th and he looked in superb touch before he ran himself out for 24. This to many was Hayden's chance to make a ton and get back in form, but poor judgment cost him.
On the bowling side of things, all 3 frontline pacemen bowled well. Clark bowled well taking 7 wickets, while Mitchell Johnson was the bowler of the series, taking 14 wickets. Brett Lee was under pressure during the series after a poor Indian tour, and bowled well without much luck. He took his 300th test wicket at the Gabba and bowled himself into some form with a 5 wicket haul in Adelaide.
Jason Krejza was controversially dropped for the first test after taking 13 wickets in his debut test in India, before rolling his ankle before the 2nd test. This gave Nathan Hauritz a chance, who did well taking 4 wickets.
One of those wickets produced a catch by Ricky Ponting which will go down in the history books as one of the best slips catches ever taken. Ponting jumped parallel from the ground to take the ball where a regulation 3rd slip would be.
For the Kiwis, there wasn't much to take from the series. Tim Southee bowled well in the first test, but struggled in the 2nd. Chris Martin and Daniel Vettori were also solid performers. Taylor was the pick of the batsman for New Zealand, making starts in all bar one innings with a high score of 75. Keeper Brendon McCullum struggled with the bat in the first test before making a decent 84 in Adelaide. He did well with the gloves taking 9 catches.
Australian Votes
Matthew Hayden 3/10 - Struggled all series. Looked good in Adelaide before throwing his wicket away. Also dropped a simple catch in the first test.
Simon Katich 7/10 - Made a brilliant 131 in Australia's low 2nd innings total at the Gabba. Looked very good and fielded well.
Ricky Ponting 6/10 - Got starts in all innings but couldn't go on to make a big score. Highlight was his catch at slip off Brett Lee.
Michael Hussey 6/10 - Same as Ponting. Made starts but couldn't make a century. High score of 70 in Adelaide.
Michael Clarke 8/10 - Named player of the series, he was brilliant scoring 98 in Brisbane before making 110 in Adelaide.
Andrew Symonds 4/10 - Was controversially brought back in the team but couldn't make his mark. Struggled with the bat and ball. Just took the 1 wicket for the series.
Brad Haddin 7/10 - Proved doubters wrong with a brilliant 169. Keeping was good, but not his best.
Brett Lee 6/10 - Bowled well without much luck. Took his 300th wicket and took a 5 wicket hall in Adelaide.
Mitchell Johnson 7/10 - Was the pick of the bowlers taking 14 wickets. Took 9 wickets in the first test including a 5 wicket hall.
Nathan Hauritz 5/10 - Bowled well in his only test. Was economical taking 4 wickets.
Stuart Clark 6/10 - Took 7 wickets for the series. Bowled very well in the first test before being without luck in the 2nd.
Shane Watson 2/10 - Had a very good tour of India but couldn't back it up at the Gabba. Got dropped after failing with bat. Took 2 wickets.
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