Aussies have lost their aura

BRISBANE - If England cricket captain Andrew Strauss is to be believed, the Australian team is on its last legs.

Strauss and most of his team-mates are convinced that the Australians are no longer the force thy use to be on the cricket field, and have in fact, lost their invincible aura.

According to news.com.au, a draw in the Brisbane Test will be like a win for Andrew Strauss’s admirable England on Monday for they would achieve something no England side has managed here in 24 years … turn Australia against Australia.

The draw will trigger a fierce media and public debate as to who should be sacked and promoted into a team needing more snap and crackle.

And won’t England love that. The tourists, by contrast, would finish with their house relatively neatly in order.

Till now, the blowtorch has always been in England’s face.

The Australian selectors will probably adopt a conservative approach for the second Test, but insecurity will now be rampant in the bowling line-up and barring Peter Siddle, the entire attack is on notice.

No one needs to tell them that. You could see it in their faces as they walked off the Gabba on Sunday night.

This is a series between two teams without killer punches. (ANI)