It is now official for the nth time. When the going gets tough Australian batsmen get going. Am I stating the obvious? Very few would have thought so when stumps were drawn on 2nd day of Fatullah Test.

Cricinfo's S Rajesh analyses 2nd innings batting displays of teams and observes in his Friday column:

"In absolute terms, Australia are the side which score the most number of runs in their second innings, which is hardly surprising considering the fact four of the eight most prolific second-innings batsmen in this period (since 1990) are Australians (qualification 1500 runs)."

Leaving aside the phenomenal bowling performances of Australians during the period, the figures cited in that feature underline the fundamental difference between Australia and also-rans. Since their (unsuccessful) 1998 tour of India two instances come to mind when Australian batsmen have failed to pull in their collective weight to turn a looming series defeat in their favour. Just two, in all of eight years!

Terrific as they have been over the years, the Australian bowlers are lent a definitive cutting edge by their ever dependable batsmen. Led by the Bradmanesque Ricky Ponting they seem to be endlessly capable of taking care of another bowling bungle. And another.

The bowling is already down a notch or two and some think the batting magic is also on the wane. The hopefuls eyeing the numero uno spot can still only dream of emulating the performances of awesome Australia in the 9 months since the Ashes drew to a close.

Pathetic indeed.

Losing 7 wickets to chase 307? They lost the Ashes fair and square, Ponting's bat is illegal and long may he continue to win the Toss and put the other side in to bat; or perhaps he'll never do that again. Lackey is the term that comes to mind when I read articles like this. I have repect for Martyn, Warne, Lee but collectively they don't scare me as much as they used too-remember what Slater's average was when they dropped him? They also had TWO Waughs, one McGrath and a Warne who could still bowl a Googly. Oh, yeah, they didn't drop many sitters back then either..lucky Hussey came along and Martyn came back eh? Ponting Bradmanesque? Thank Heavens Bradman didn't have to save his side against Bangladesh..his average might have gone down a bit. (SMILEY)

Precisely the point, Feroz. They are going down the hill and yet look to be on another hill than the rest. Maybe the 'return Ashes' can do something about this.

Angshuman

Very good article. Something which no one seems to think about is how many times Australia have been bailed out by Gilchrist alone. How many times have Pakistan, for example, cut a swathe through our top order, leaving us 100 for 5, only for Gilchrist to come to the rescue? Now that role has been taken up by Ponting, but no one can sustain his current form indefinately. Ever since the Waughs retired, it seems that our batting has been looking more and more shaky.