KEY POINTS:
Australian coach John Buchanan said England and New Zealand were doing his team's World Cup preparations harm because they did not offer his players the chance to play under pressure.
Funny thing, sport, isn't it? The minute you tempt fate, it bites you in the proverbial. Late in the second innings of the game at Perth against the Black Caps, the pressure went on the Australian bowling attack and - surprise, surprise - they didn't respond well.
Sure, Australia won, but by rights New Zealand shouldn't have got so close. The game was won late in the Australian innings through some pressure-less, merry-making batting. Then, on Friday night in Sydney, they were unable to rein in a quality start by the English batsmen and under pressure, goodness gracious, the Australian batting flopped.
There you go, 'Buc', you've seen your team under pressure twice in two games and I bet you've got a few areas for attention on the clipboard.
OK, it's still unfair to say Buchanan has choked on his words but perhaps he's just sensed a barbecued prawn has found its way into an awkward position. Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Hussey may need to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre before things become serious.
New Zealand and England now have to attack Buchanan's lifesavers. Friday night has shown that Australia have a soft underbelly. Just like other teams around the world, they are vulnerable when key men are missing. At full strength Australia are formidable. They have so much quality, so many 'bites of the cherry'. Take a Ponting out here; a Brett Lee out there; and they lose that invincibility. They look beatable.
Players like Mitchell Johnson, Cameron White, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson are great supporting acts that complete a world-class performance but - as the main act - I'm unsure whether they would warrant standing ovations on regular occasions.
However, the rest of the world cannot rely on Australia suffering from the New Zealand and English affliction of losing key players to injury but they must take heart that, if they can find ways of competing more regularly with Ponting, Hussey and Gilchrist, they can reduce the catalyst effect these players have on the Australian effort.
Perhaps it is time for our players to reverse the adage of to 'revere but not fear.' I think our players should fear Australia's key players - but not revere them.
It's OK to know how dangerous they can be and how badly they can hurt you, but not OK to treat them with kid gloves.
Lou Vincent is right, they do strut around believing that they are the guardians of the game. Sure, not bad fellas off the field but together on the field they are a pack of bullies - that is their code.
You don't beat a bully by being his friend, that way you just jump in his back pocket. To beat a bully, you've got to get a few bruises.
