Cricket: Drowning Kiwis thrown a learning curve ball

By Greg Matthews

I was interested to hear Australia's battle plans had slipped under the wrong door the day before the one-day series began against New Zealand.

Given that Australia have dominated each match I can see the Black Caps are in need of some assistance.

Clearly the bowling has let New Zealand down - too short, too wide, especially early - and how they perform at Napier in the fifth match today will show how much they've learned.

Maybe the following observations about the Aussies' batting will put things in perspective for New Zealand and give a drowning Black Cap a helping hand:

* Adam Gilchrist: very strong square of the wicket. Simply a brilliant striker of the ball. Bowl full and straight, give the new ball a chance to swing and seam. Remember game one.

* Mark Waugh: plays the anchor role, soft hands, brilliant off his pads. Feet can be slow to move early - bowl full and straight.

* Matthew Hayden: very strong square of the wicket, especially the on side. Doesn't hit the ball to cover much. Bowl full, on off stump.

* Michael Bevan: worker of the ball, unorthodox, quick between the wickets. Be on your toes in the circle.

* Damien Martyn: hits inside out, rarely sweeps, hits more to midwicket and cow corner. Better against quicks than slow bowlers.

* Andrew Symonds: has good luck, can hit any ball for six. Don't be intimidated. Think about the ball you are bowling. Change of pace important.

* Shane Lee: sweet timer, has all the shots. Bit slow with the feet early, full and straight when bowling.

* Steve Waugh: first movement back and across, so lbw candidate early. Quick between the wickets, soft hands. Be alert in the circle, do not bowl short outside off stump.

* Ian Harvey: "The Freak." Hits inside out, pulls well, good hitter of fours. Doesn't turn over the strike as much as others.

* Shane Warne: good striker, hits inside out and to cow corner. Four hitter.

And their bowling ...

* Glenn McGrath: Greatness. The rare occasions he doesn't bowl well is when he verbals, so get down and get dirty. Bowls two slower balls, a leggie and a spider-ball (split fingers).

* Brett Lee: bowls 150 km/h and swings it away. Get into him in the hope he bowls short. Slow ball, a leggie.

* Damien Fleming: hits the bat, good outswinger, great slow ball (offie). Likes a chat so encourage him.

* Symonds: bowls the odd four-ball, so be patient. Takes wickets so do not relax mentally when he comes on.

* Shane Lee: good slower balls (leggie and offie), occasional four-ball - don't waste it.

* Harvey: good change of pace, good yorker and slow ball (leggie). Wicket taker.

* Martyn: ball skids on, slow ball an offie. Look to attack.

* Warne: bowls more toppies and wrong 'uns than flippers these days. Try to get to the pitch of the ball when you leave the crease. Must be positive and attack him. Verbal him in an attempt to breach his concentration.

* The Australian fielding: dynamic, no weak links. Call loud and clear.

New Zealand have to lift every aspect of their game if they are to stop the Australians from winning the series 5-0 and extend their record for consecutive matches without defeat to 15.

It's not all bad news for Kiwis - it looks as though you're going to retain the America's Cup and your boys are doing well in the Super 12.

On another topic, is there any chance of New Zealand Cricket, the police and the security people getting together to discuss player and crowd safety?

How can an individual from the crowd make his way to the wicket without being intercepted? What a great photo it made, an umpire standing at the wicket with a stump raised in his hand ready to protect himself from the intruder.

It simply has to stop before someone is seriously injured.

Crowd disturbances have happened all over the world: the subcontinent, Bay 13 at the MCG, and I'm sure the pitch invasion in Barbados took a couple of days off Steve Waugh's life.

Cans (sometimes full) and bottles being rained down on players have the potential to cause serious injury. Beer is served only in plastic cups at Australian sporting events.

It is not just a Kiwi thing, but it is on New Zealand that the cricketing world's attention is focused at the moment. No one has been hurt yet, but what if some nutter ran up to a player or umpire and did something crazy?

And what about Shane Warne? My heart goes out to the man. He might not have done the right thing concerning the two boys who took a photo showing Shane smoking.

Now he is receiving phone calls from radio stations at ungodly hours of the morning. I had the misfortune to experience this during the 1986 tour.

It's no fun, and I advise Shane, difficult as it might be, to take all the insults as a backhanded compliment.