Australian soft spots
By Robert Craddock - Fox Sports
THE build-up to Steve Waugh's farewell Test has taken a dramatic twist with the leaking of an Indian dossier detailing the strengths and weaknesses of Australia's top players.
The dossier, obtained by The Daily Telegraph last night, was compiled by Indian coaching staff and senior players before the famous 2001 series between the two nations which India won 2-1 and was a catalyst for that victory.
Many of the gameplans are still being used on India's current tour of Australia, some successfully.
The most obvious ploy of this tour was triggered by the dossier's observation that Justin Langer has "a very short stride on the front foot" and is "a big lbw candidate to the ball coming into him".
Pint-sized paceman Ajit Agarkar has used his late-curling inswinger to remove Langer three times on tour, most recently at the MCG on Tuesday and Langer may well address the issue before tomorrow's series deciding fourth Test at the SCG.
The Indian bowlers were given a blanket plan to bowl at an imaginary fourth stump to all off Australia's batsmen which is just wide of off-stump and give them nothing to cut or pull.
They were told "if you bowl a bouncer it has to be good".
Australian captain Steve Waugh was described as "more of a mind player" and a slow starter who was "very susceptible to inswingers".
The plan rightly advises the Indian bowlers to "give him nothing on his legs" for Waugh has always been dynamic off his pads.
Even when he has been out of form, leg side flicks have been a treasured meal ticket.
Since the dossier was complied India have upgraded some of their game plans with the use of computer and video analysis though are yet to find a way to combat their long-time nemesis Matthew Hayden.
The dossier's observation that Hayden is a potent sweeper against slow bowlers has proved correct but the Indians identified only one weakness - that he was unsure against the ball leaving him.
This is a claim made against most left-handed batsmen but it is an area Hayden has improved on throughout his golden run of the past few years in which he has become a fine judge of when to leave a dangerous ball.
It is clear the Indians have tried to starve Adam Gilchrist off his cross-batted shots - the cut and pull - by bowling a full, tight off-stump line.
His battle against the Indian bowlers has been a fascinating one with two fine centuries, a form slump which produced four runs in four innings, and some in-between innings leaving honours about even though India have fared better against him than most other nations.
Some Australian batsmen have overcome weaknesses spotlighted by the game plan.
Ricky Ponting went through a stage where he would chase the "good outswingers" recommended in the plan by repeatedly going hard at the ball.
But he is now more relaxed and selective about what balls he chases and his Test average for the year of 100 confirms his technique has been in pristine order.
The dossier contains some interesting notes about some players not playing in the Test series.
It notes that Glenn McGrath "sings a song when he runs in to bowl" and that he is "not as tough as he likes to portray".
But it also cautions the players about sledging McGrath.
"If you want to have a go at him verbally you have to be tough," it said.
"If it is not your style, shut up and get on with it. Give him nothing."
