Young’s been around for a while — five years of many spurt-stints with the national team and coaching at their Adelaide academy — and in the Champions Trophy, he shed light on what the ever-inventive Aussies have been up to, heading into the big 2006-07 season. “For the last two years, we have been studying batsmen from all teams and have designed particular plans for each of them. It’s like set-plays for every player, where 8 times out of 10, we are likely to hit the stumps,’’ he says, with an air of menace, which the Indians are likely to witness today.

“We’ve been working on combinations with right and left-handed fielders, and Michael Clarke (an ambidextrous left-handed thrower) fits in well,’’ Young adds. An analysis of each batsman’s shots, and a corresponding placement of a particular fielder is all part of the plan. “We are past the skills bit, and are now looking for design-plays,’’ he says.

So while teams from the subcontinent get their blokes to enjoy the drills — the art of fielding needs to be enjoyed, it is stressed — the Aussies have progressed to scheming science, with clinical precision.

“I know fielding’s supposed to be fun, so players need to stay loose. But we are looking ahead to create movement and aggression. Importantly, we have the right personnel to put these into action. So if we hit the ball, we’ll definitely get our man,’’ he says.

Young concedes that all teams have improved over the years — there’s a special mention of Raina and Kaif in the Indian context — but insists that the Aussies are No 1. Possibly the one unit that could challenge the Australian supremacy here is the South Africans — mentored lately by the one-man, two-word definition of agility through the 1990s, Jonty Rhodes. “My coaching is just fine-tuning of what is required at the highest level to contain the pressure,’’ he repeats Young’s theme of aggressive fielding.

Both coaches, though, insist that it is all possible owing to the stock of sprightly cricketers they have at their disposal. “Players need to remain fit and practice hard. We have a young bunch and they compliment each other well, on the field,’’ Rhodes says. Young, while acknowledging the pedigree in his rival ranks, adds, “The strength of a fielding unit depends on the bunch you have. The Proteas had a great team with good foot-strength and anticipation. Fielding is an athletic skill, and I’m fortunate to have a good bunch of fit players.’’

Young, though, is working with half a dozen 30-year-olds. Oldies ain’t no problem, it seems. “They are very good at what they do, and don’t sit on their laurels. Someone like Ricky Ponting, he’s more focussed on all facets of the game now than ever,’’ he says.

Both believe though that fielding’s about good athletes, and Rhodes, whose stint in field hockey further improved his nimble feet, says, “I think it comes naturally and it has to do with the mind frame of the individuals. The point is that fielding is now recognised as a speciality like batting or bowling and today, most teams in international cricket realise that.’’