Aussies Still Have Worries

Australia has had a comfortable victory over New Zealand in the first Test of the cricket season at home this summer.  Although many questions are still hanging over the Aussies, the Kiwis must be wondering how bad they really are.  For the first two days they looked competitive against an Australian team that only a few weeks ago had many daggers pointed at their back and were a disgrace to the baggy cap.

Even though Australia won easily there should still be changes made before the next test.  With Watson and Marsh due back in the next couple of tests and Bailey being picked in the squad for Hobart it must be time for Hughes to be sent back to NSW to find out how to play a short ball or a ball outside off stump.  His ability to pick out the slip cordon and gully on a regular basis before getting his eye in shows great talent.  If only he was able to put that talent to letting those balls go and he might be classed as a decent cricketer.  If Hughes is picked in the next test then it will show that the selectors still have not improved. It might be looking like Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey, could be facing an axious few weeks if he fails again in Hobart.  With Australia looking to rebuild, surely he is the next to be scrutinized with Ponting, 

Then we get to the bowlers.  Pattinson was better than I ever expected and deserves a run for the rest of the summer.  Australia was still lacking one other good strike bowler though and for me Starc is not quite there yet and will most likely make way for a returning fit Harris or Cummings.  As a bonus though after all the chopping and changing of spin bowlers it looks like Lyons has stepped up and taken his chance.  As long as the selectors stick with him and don't react on one bad game he is sure to stay a regular.  He as the good ability to not only get wickets but to also keep an end tidy whilst being a threat.

At the end it was still only a win over New Zealand, so good performances should be considered but a poor performance deserves more criticism.  Australia have a short time to prepare for India, and India will not be an easy target.