A look at the lower middle order of the Top 3 teams in the world
A strong team is one that is versatile whether that means batting deep or adaptation or simply more options for the captain is subjective. In the past we have seen the tailenders or in today’s day the lower middle order who often change the coarse of matches. Today, I will be comparing the lower middle order of the top 3 ranked teams in the world namely:

Australia, South Africa and India.
Staring off by looking at the test arena,
Australian number 6——-Marcus North
South African number 6— JP Duminy
Indian Number 6———– Yuvraj Singh

Marcus North, One of Australia’s new found heroes along with Philip Hughes is one to certainly look forward to in the future. Marcus North announced himself at the international arena after having scored a century on debut against South Africa. North had to wait for long in domestic cricket before having got a chance.

North played a wonderful hand in the ashes and along with Clarke and Katich he was one of Australia’s best summers. However, after having a pretty average home summer north’s place in the team is now under jeopardy. If picked it would be vital for north to prove his critics wrong with some runs come New Zealand.

JP Duminy- Duminy struck a phenomenal hundred at 2008′s boxing day test match after combing with the tail which eventually won South Africa the match. Duminy after 1 innings of his shot to fame and after that has underperformed a bit.

With the Melbourne century being his one and only one and having scored just 1 century in 54 ODI’s clearly one match doesn’t make a career son. Duminy will have to refine his technique and be more productive with the shorter ones.

Yuvraj Singh: Purely the best out of the above mentioned. Yuvraj had a stuttering start to his test match career. He finally made amends for his chances after the retirement of former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly and has now made the number six position his own.

Australia number 7———- Brad Haddin
South African number 7—- Mark Boucher
Indian number 7————- MS Dhoni

Brad Haddin: Australia couldn’t have asked for a better replacement for Adam gilchrist. The same attacking, flamboyant flair—however, the saint part of him seems missing. Haddin was always the man after gilchrist.

Having served as Gilchrist’s understudy for over 5 years Haddin seems to have done the transition quite well. He did play for Australia in several ODI fixtures all be it not as keeper.

His batting talent and his footwork against spin was always one to match. Haddin provides a good hitting option for Australia down the order and thus provides the innings with some much needed impetus considering they need to declare.

Mark Boucher: One of the game’s best finishers in the modern era probably second only to Michael hussey. Boucher’s stats don’t reveal his contribution for South Africa with just an average in the mid 30’s. Boucher has played over 100 tests and almost about 300 ODI’s for South Africa.

His contribution to the South African unit is priceless. A hallmark of great players—Boucher always stands up to the occasion. This was recently seen in the england’s tour of South Africa where Boucher scored a fighting 50 in the 1st innings of the 4th test on a seamng Johannesburg wicket and thus won the proteas the match.

MS Dhoni: India’s skipper made a point with his first test 100 when he tore the Pakistan bowling apart with a brilliant 148 at Faisalabad. MS Dhoni doesn’t seem to have a very correct technique but it’s his hand eye co-ordination that enables him to be such a ferocious hitter. Off late Dhoni has matured and has shown to faces to his game—the role of the nurdler and the hitter.

He’s become competent enough to tackle the seaming wickets in Australia and South Africa. Keeping aside what he bring to the team as a batsman, Dhoni has lifted his team from just the ‘there and there abouts’ to finishing the match and even lifting titles. India have a wonderful record with Dhoni as captain. He’s been captaining India since mid 2008 and India haven’t lost a single test match under him as captain.

Australia number 8– Mitchell Johnson
South African number 8—Morne Morkel
Indian number 8- Harbhajan Singh

Mitchell Johnson: What a player to have at number 8. Australia do have the best number 8 in the world which clearly means that there’s a place up the order for mitch. But, unfortunately for mitch he hasn’t been needed there because all the Australian batsmen are doing their job. Johnson has got a test century to his name and against South Africa. Johnson is a ferocious hitter but unlike other number 8’s; Johnson’s policy isn’t hit out or get out.

There is some method and some brain in his hitting. He is one of the most feared bowling all rounder’s in the world not just in the test but in the one-day and T20 game as well. As far as Australia are concerned he along with Haddin are near perfect when it comes to providing the impetus to the innings.

If Johnson continues in the array that he has been going there’s certainly a lot more centuries from Johnson to come. The only bowling all rounder you’d say is better than Johnson is probably Vettori. But, when it comes to clean strikers Johnson is second to none.

Morne Morkel: Morne Morkel doesn’t seem to have much talent with the bat. He has no definite role either as a hitter or as a nerdler; morkel hasn’t yet proved himself at the international level as far as the batting is concerned. South Africa are more dependent on their top order to perform as they seem to be lacking the same fire power that other teams have low down the order.

Harbhajan Singh: ‘Bhajji’ as he is known can handle the willow fairly well and has shown it in recent times. He has done so and done so in crunch situations when the team needed it the most. Earlier Bhajji was just a slogger but with age and experience there seems to have come a method to all this and he has become a very useful lower order option for India. Bhajji has just one way of playing; but that way has been effective and does hurt and demoralize the bowlers.

Unlike Johnson harbhajan doesn’t have the same clean swing of the bat or the technique to go to it. But, the Indians say “Who cares! As long as he scores” and that’s what happens. Harbhajan seems to bring out the best in him against Australia. Some of his notable performances has been the one at Sydney against Australia in 2008 and the recent 50 which he managed against Australia at vadodara when the Aussies toured India.

Australian number 9—Nathan Hauritz
South African number 9—Paul Harris
Indian number 9—Zaheer Khan

Nathan Hauritz: Nathan Hauritz is slowly showing his batting talent. He is definitely capable of being an all rounder. The recent tour of Pakistan to Australia showed his batting talent. He scored a test match high score of 75 against them and also a quick fire 39 ball 53. With Hauritz at 9 Australia’s batting line up seems never ending.

This is the reason why Australia do have the best batting line up. This might be a controversial statement but if the Aussie top order doesn’t do the job there’s always a chance that the lower order may bail them out. This is the strength that the Aussies secretly possess.

Paul Harris: similar to Morkel he doesn’t seem to be a batman of any sorts. His inability to ever come on the front foot gives him absolutely no chance of coming on the front foot and playing attacking shots. All he can do is wait wait and wait and tire the bowlers.

This is that part of their game that South Africa have to seriously work on if they want to be the number one ranked team for long. Top order batting may fail and if/when that happens if you have a long lower order it always helps. In South Africa’s case the tail seems never ending.

Zaheer Khan: India’s only pace man who is sure of a spot in the starting 11. He has a high score of 75 but his batting skills wouldn’t raise an eyebrow or too. He can play both roles of either hanging around or throwing caution to the winds and going hell for leather.

He has a paltry average of 13 which tells you that either he doesn’t have the skills or the Indian top order is extremely consistent which has been the case to an extent.

Teams with a good lower order do have a certain edge over the opponent which most opposition teams seem to underestimate. In the modern era most teams are pushing for bowlers who can handle the willow. Another team that I didn’t mention but has this talent is England.

With broad, Rashid and Graeme Swann England have a very potent and capable lower order which holds them in very good stead for the future. For West Indies they have Jerome Taylor and a bit of Suliemann Benn. Barring that no one is to be seen.

As far as New Zealand are concerned; they seem to have only a lower order with Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori comprising 2 of their lower order spots. The Lankans don’t seem to have anyone after veteran Chaminda Vaas was left out. Angelo Matthews looks a very bright prospect at 6.

Pinch hitters in the lower order have been of immense help. Harbhajan Singh and Mitchell Johnson’s contribution to India and Australia respectively have been priceless as far as the two nations are concerned. For Australia it’s a huge bonus as the guy can hit 150+ kmph, he is a brilliant fielder and a wonderful number 8 to have.

Recently Johnson showed his interest in opening the batting as well. However, there’s time for that and Australia surely wouldn’t want to risk that considering he might lose it all like fellow Indian all rounder irfan pathan.

Harbhajan and Mitchell Johnson are certainly men at number 8 to look forward to in the future

Paul Collingwood’s magnificent 74 gave England a hard hard fought draw. 20/2 going into the final day, England needed to bat out the day. With one session to go, England only had three wickets left, and when Collingwood fell with 11.3 overs remaining, it was left to James Anderson and Monty Panesar to save the game. Australia – gutted with the draw in a game that they dominated from start to finish.

England started the day needing to attack. Captain Andrew Strauss dropping a quick single into the covers showing their intent.

Kevin Pietersen was nearly caught out by Ben Hilfenhaus delivery, choosing to leave alone a fairly straight delivery that nipped back in. Fortunately enough for England the ball wasn’t going on to hit the stumps.

He wasn’t out of the action for long, Hilfenhaus again, driving a ball in the air through the covers. But the following delivery knocked Pietersen’s off stump out of the ground, it was merely a straight ball – Pietersen squared up, falling for 8.

Spinner Nathan Hauritz found sizeable turn on the 5th day pitch. A short wide ball got the treatment from Andrew Strauss, but the following ball – a ball that bounced a fraction higher than the previous delivery – Strauss getting a thin snick to keeper Brad Haddin – Australia were rapturous – England in ever-deepening trouble at 46/4.

Hauritz was causing England all sorts of problems. Paul Collingwood had an inside edge onto his pad, the ball popped up – but fell just short of Simon Katich in at short leg. The following delivery Collingwood edged one down, after clipping his pads the ball rolled towards the stumps, the batsman got his foot on top of the ball just before it hit.

Prior and Collingwood stood together for a while, but the stand was unlikely to last – and it didn’t. Prior miss cutting Hauritz – the ball looping up – Michael Clarke taking the catch in the slips. England starring defeat in the face at 70/5.

Ricky Ponting chose to open up after lunch with two seamers. Ben Hilfenhaus was getting the ball two swing just a fraction, Flintoff was flashing, and a edge flew past 2nd slip for 4. Flintoff and Collingwood’s 50 partnership came up off 111 balls, still a long way to go.

And a long way to go it was, Flintoff edging Mitchell Johnson to Ricky Ponting, who took the ball into his hands just before it hit the ground.

Johnson had Broad in trouble straight away, a full-ish ball hit Broad in front of leg stump – the umpire gave it not out – Hawkeye suggested the ball would have hit the outside half of leg stump.

Australia reverted to spin, Hauritz and Marcus North as England battened down the hatches. Broad’s obduracy didn’t last for long, Hauritz angling the ball back in, Broad went back – the ball skidded on and struck him on the knee roll in front of middle stump England were 159/7. Broad showing the mistake of going back to a spinner on this surface.

Collingwood bought up his half century in 167 balls. Peter Siddle got into the new batsman striking him three times on the fingers and arms in a fantastic exhibition of short pitch bowling.

The short stuff from Siddle to Swann continued after the tea interval, the Australian hitting the England spinner on the helmet – the ball running away for two leg byes.

England ground the Australians down, Swann and Collingwood passing their 50 partnership. With 20 overs left in the match – England were 24 runs behind.

With 19 overs to go, Swann went to put a ball that didn’t bounce as much as he was anticipating, pinned in front by Hilfenhaus, for a well fought 31 from 63.

Hauritz then had a shout for LBW/Caught. Ricky Ponting to a superb catch in a short leg, but agonisingly for Australia – the LBW was outside the line – and the ball didn’t hit the bat.

In the following over, Anderson got one that reared on him, there was hesitation, Collingwood got a third of the way down the pitch, Anderson – rightly – sent him back, Collingwood would have been gone with a direct hit.

Siddle finally removed Collingwood – cut the ball at Michael Hussey in the gully, juggling the ball – Hussey took it at the second attempt – 74 runs from 245 deliveries – England 6 runs behind, 1 wicket left with 11.3 overs remaining.

It was left to Anderson and Monty Panesar. And in a nail-biting finish for everyone, the two ball-by-ball batted out the time. Got ahead of the Australia score, and when the time was up Ricky Ponting shook hands with Jimmy Anderson and the game was drawn. The fans rejoiced, England had save the game.

Australian continued their dominance on day 4 of the first Ashes test in Cardiff. Building on their 44 run lead, Marcus North and Brad Haddin both hit centuries.

England were sloppy, poor fielding was opitimised when Alastair Cook threw a ball in from the boundary, there was a very good chance of running out Haddin at the bowlers end, despite plenty of time, Anderson was not stationed by the stumps, and the opportunity was missed.

After lunch Haddin broke loose, the Australians looking for quick runs in time for a declaration. Also in mind was the weather, which was in danger of curtailing the fourth days play.

Haddin eventually cracked on to Ravi Bopara at deep mid wicket, and with that he departed for 121, Ricky Ponting declared on 674 – a lead of 239, with Marcus North not out for 125.

England returned to a grim scene – not only their position in the game, the clouds were looming, and the floodlights were on. They were tentative to start, after hooking him for four, Alastair Cook played across the line of a straight ball, and Mitchell Johnson had his man – England were 13/1.

The lights were on, but unfortunately for England – there was no-one at home. Ravi Bopara was unfortunate to be given out LBW, off the ground, the ball struck him well above the knee roll. Billy Doctrove didn’t agree, Ben Hilfenhaus had his wicket and England were starring down the barrell at 17/2. With a hint of rain, and the floodlights doing their bit to keep the players out there on a grim afternoon, England headed in for tea at 20/2.

And that ultimately – was that. The day was called off for the day. The weather seems much better for tomorrow, and England have their work cut-out. They still trial by 219 runs, and with nothing to play for – other than the draw – they must be moderately attacking and avoid the awful performance in Adelaide where they scored 60 runs in two sessions when trying to bat out for the draw.

Australia’s lead over England continued during the third day of the first Ashes test. A 143 run partnership between Michael Clarke And Marcus North pushed Australia well ahead of England’s total, before Michael Clarke fell in a short spell before the close of play under floodlights.

Stuart Broad opened the bowling on day 3, the fourth ball in particular bursting through the surface, Katich may have left it well alone, but the signs were there that the pitch had some spice to offer. England turned to spin in the overs before the new ball, but with little success so England captain Andrew Strauss took the new ball with no hesitation.

England were hyped, James Anderson had Ricky Ponting edge one short, and another one wide, of Kevin Pietersen in the gully. But it was Katich who was first to fall, Anderson swinging a full ball that Katich simply missed, Billy Doctrove did the rest, and England had ended the 239 run partnership, Katich falling for 122.

Ponting kept the score crusing along, but it wasn’t long before Anderson had his second wicket, Michael Hussey flaying at a ball that didn’t swing – edging the Lancashire seamer through to wicket keeper Matt Prior. Strauss then turned to spin, in the form of Monty Panesar – with immediate reward. Ponting – who’d just reached the 150 mark in his previous over – went back to a ball that turned, and chopped onto his stumps.

The teams entered lunch 348/4, England much the happier side in the first session, still with 87 runs in hand, and more importantly, a ball that was doing things.

The lean spell stopped after lunch, Australia’s Michael Clarke and Marcus North settled in. For the second afternoon session in a row England’s spinners struggled with their length with Michael Clarke’s excellent footwork dominating proceedings.

Strauss’ options grew thin, turning to medium pacer Paul Collingwood as Clarke and North turned the screw on England. Australia reached the England 1st innings total with just 4 wickets down. Both players made half centuries as Australia made 458/4 at tea.

A short burst after tea, then the rain came. The players were off for two hours before returning at 6:15pm – under floodlights.

England finally got their much needed wicket as Michael Clarke could only flick a short ball from Stuart Broad to Matt Prior, falling for 83 – Clarke still doesn’t have a 100 in England. A much needed wicket for both England and Broad. Play stopped at 10 minutes to 7 – the umpires offer the batsman bad light – Australia ending the day 479/5, well ahead of England with two days to go.

With the prospect of rain on tomorrow, its seems that there are only two results possible, an Australia win and a draw. The forecasts suggest that the rain will come in early on in the afternoon, Australia will look too try and force home the advantage quickly in the morning session, before getting England in and taking what they can from the rest of day 4 and day 5.