Twenty years ago Craig McDermott was the quiet man of the Australian fast bowling department. His silence was enforced because at the other end his usual partner was moustachioed Merv Hughes, a cricketer of many words, most of which never appear in print.
McDermott is rarely given credit for his 291 Test wickets although he had to work hard for success. When his fitness dropped off he even took up the strenuous sport as an Iron Man — cycling, running and swimming all play a part — and in England he is remembered only because Ian Botham hit him first ball for six as England won back the Ashes in 1985.
Perhaps McDermott was that rare beast — a thinking man's fast bowler because since he was appointed bowling coach to the current Australian side he has not only brought about massive changes but altered the way their quick bowlers work out their strategy.
Gone are the old days of repeated bouncers — mainly from Hughes — and aggressive menace — from Glenn McGrath. Those tactics have been replaced by classical line and length and, at Perth on day one of the third Test, by full length designed to get the best of a pitch that is reputed to be faster than at any time for the last ten years.
I will swear the Aussie fast men cut down their pace to take advantage of the notorious bounce and you rarely saw Hughes and McGrath try that. Believe it or not as they sent down 14 overs an hour the Aussie fast men were actually smiling. Now that is another change from the days of Hughes and McGrath.
Speed up proceedings
What is more McDermott as also persuaded the Australians that the new quick way to get Indian batsmen back to the dressing room is to hurry through their overs. Ben Hilfenhaus has been using this rushing tactic throughout the series but yesterday it was clear that the whole side wanted to get on with the game.
Peter Siddle, enjoying a run of success that has brought him 28 wickets in his last seven matches since he was dropped, could be seen marching like a light Infantryman despite a temperature of 33C.
Of course — and cricketers from all parts of the world will tell you that as one very famous old fast bowler remembers “God never sleeps when you tour Australia” — luck played its part.
Australia chose four fast bowlers and when he won the toss Michael Clarke sent India in to bat. They were out a few minutes after tea for 161 in the 61st over and only VVS Laxman — Very Very Slowly Laxman with 31 in two hours if you will excuse the pun — and the new boy Virat Kohli with a top score of 44 could claim to have batted with any degree of conviction.
Sad reflection
It was a sad reflection on the side who ruled the world nine months ago — but there is a worse sadness in cricket at the moment.
This week a young English fast bowler has pleaded guilty to accepting money to bowl badly — he did not do that properly, conceding only ten runs in the over that was supposed to go for 12 — a reminder, if any were needed that, despite the prison sentences passed on three Pakistani Test players last year, there are still evil forces at work.
The authorities have asked for the co-operation of the players to bring it to a halt and there is a threat, backed by most players, that a life ban is one of the answers to this insidious crime. It must be stopped but it will not be quick nor easy.
