About the playing positive part, I would of thought that Aussie would of done quite enough of that this year. The amount of wild slashes outside off stump this series by them when 'playing their own games' has been criminal.
I dont think so. I think that its been proding at bad balls, which is worse. For Clarke on a few occasions he's slashed at one trying to attack and been caught at point or gully. Haddin too. What there has been is a lot of slip catches especially the backstop and thats not from people slashing at balls thats from straight and slightly angled bats just dangling out there. Thats being in two minds. Not knowing what to leave and what to play at. You dont look as clueless as we have if you were just being overly attacking, you'd look ballsy and a little nuts but nut clueless. Warne made a good point about Khawaja. As much as he's looked good, he doesn't leave much, which he will need to do when people are bowling as England did. Clarke has had the same problem. What Hussey has done well is leave a lot of good balls and punish the bad ones. Hughes has had the same problem as Clarke and Khawaja mostly because he's just in bad form, its a symptom.
I would have preferred it if we had gone down in flames trying to counter-attack the English bowling rather than being so scared and seemingly confused.
I think your assessment of the captain is both wrong and right.
I think Strauss is a really good captain. I dont think Ponting is. I dont think Strauss has a particular aura about him. I think Waugh did, I think Ponting at some stages does, but I dont think thats what makes you a good captain. I think its a lot about having plans, instilling confidence in players, knowing when to make bowling changes and communicating with your bowlers so they have fields they want and bowl to those fields, but at the same time knowing when that bowler may be wrong and getting that across too. I think Strauss has a really good understanding with his bowlers and is very good at making bowling changes, in that he brings Swann on at all the right times and always bowls Anderson in the right conditions. Over time I think this 'aura' of leadership is developed by constantly making good decision and being that good captain, its just our perception of them. Hell, Border was not a good captain for the first part of his career, but became one. I think Smith has that 'aura' now with South Africa because he has become a good captain (with a bit of help by Warney). I think Clarke could be a good captain.
