In 1937, faced with a sticky wicket, Australian captain Don Bradman decided to reverse the batting order and sent in the weaker batsmen first to give the pitch a chance to dry out and for conditions to improve. In 2013, I wonder if the Aussies have done it again, but on a more permanent basis. The weaker batsmen (or the tail) are sent in early to take the shine off the ball and encourage the opposition, leaving the stronger batsmen to bat lower in the order and clean up the mess. Ashton Agar's fine knock yesterday was just the latest example. The last five Test innings for Australia (most recent first) have had as their top scorers:
Agar 98
Siddle 50
Siddle 51
Hughes 69 (occasionally a tailender will top score, and as he showed by sticking around with Agar, he is handy especially when he has a decent batsman at the other end)
Starc 99.
Now if we can just get Rogers to swing the ball, and Cowan to work on a flipper...
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