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December 3 2000

STEVE WAUGH'S UNSTOPPABLES

On October 14, 1999, Australia set out on their inaugural Test against Zimbabwe in Harare. That they won with relative ease by 10 wickets was nothing significant. Yet it was the first trickle that became a tidal wave in Brisbane today, as Steve Waugh led his band of determined players to a world-record breaking twelfth successive Test victory.

Since Harare, Pakistan, India, New Zealand and the lowly West Indies have stood in the path of the juggernaut. Most of the victories were convincing: four by an innings, two by 10 wickets, and two more by at least 180 runs.

They have the strongest collection of players who cannot get into the side, particularly in the batting department. Imagine a top six of: Greg Blewett, Matthew Elliott, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Darren Lehmann and Jamie Cox. All are talented runscorers, five of them have shown English county sides their worth.

They possess a pace attack to rival any in the world, even moreso now that curtly has retired and Courtney is considering his exit. Glenn McGrath seems unstoppable at present, gritty consistent and persistent line and length have seen him to his 300th wicket in this game, who knows where he will finish up. Alongside him is the new young express-train Brett Lee, brimming with enthusiasm and ability, backed up by the tall and canny Jason Gillespie.

The spin department is well served, as Shane Warne has been plagued with injury and may never return to his best form, Stuart MacGill has taken possession of his spot and is improving with time. Experienced off-spinner Colin Miller has also done a decent job, and they can all bat a bit.

Filling Ian Healy's gloves would never be an easy task, but the hype that surrounded Adam Gilchrist has been proved well founded as a cool head on young shoulders, and an attacking batsman, particularly in the one-day game sees him take over the captaincy for the third Test against the West Indies, as Steve Waugh sits out with a muscle injury.

All this in Gilchrist's 12th Test proves the faith and trust the selectors have in him. Steve Waugh is the figurehead, calm and determined at the crease and in the field. Not one for bravado, he let's the team performances do his talking. That they have demolished the West Indies twice by an innings indicates that the record could well stretch into the teens.

England may well look forward to a more competitive Ashes series next summer, with their recently improved form and team spirit, but Australia at their peak represent the biggest challenge to England under the Hussain/Fletcher regime.
Richard Kendall