Cricket / Editor / 05 December 2009 / Leave a comment

As the second Test kicks off in Adelaide, anything other than a crushing Australian win inside four days will be a boilover of Danny Green proportions, says Christopher Thomas.

But while the Australian batsman will be itching to dine out on West Indian tripe, the four frontline local bowlers will be eager to take a bag of wickets on the notoriously flat Adelaide track.

The Windies attack is simply too impotent to worry even an average Sheffield Shield batting line-up attack, let alone a top order that includes the likes of Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke et al.

Between them, Darren Sammy, Sulieman Benn, Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul have played less than two dozen Tests, and it showed in Brisbane, especially in their inability to bowl intelligently to tailenders Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle.

With the exception of Mitchell Johnson, no other member of the attack - Siddle, Bollinger and Hauritz - can confidently claim to be assured of a Test spot for the remainder of the summer, particularly with Tasmanian Ben Hifenhaus expected to return for the third Test in Perth.

Since his introduction at Test level in India in 2008, Siddle has been a captain´s delight. He´s a Merv Hughes-type that bowls with venom all day, and who seems to genuinely hate batsman - a necessary ingredient in any Australian fast bowler.

That said, he has failed to genuinely rip through a top order so far in his 14 Test career. And while his 50-odd wickets have come at a respectable average of 30, he could do with a few more important top order wickets to ensure he is wearing the baggy green for some time to come.

Bollinger is playing just his second Test, after a somewhat nervous debut against South Africa in Sydney in January.

However, his starring role in Australia´s recent one-day series win in India boosted his stocks, and his confidence.

At present, he remains the understudy of the attack, but a big haul in the second Test - and in fast bowler-friendly Perth, if he´s picked - could see him legitimately challenge Siddle for the third speedster´s spot.

As for Hauritz, the only possible alternative for a Test spinner at the moment is - dare I say it - Bryce McGain.

After all, it is not humanly possible for him to ever again bowl as badly as he did during his Test debut in April in South Africa. And he has been bowling well for the Vics so far this season.

However, Hauritz bowled impressively in Brisbane with limited opportunities, and if he can hold his own against the meek Windies, he is likely to have the job for the upcoming series against Pakistan and beyond.