Pacer Tait fails to live up to hype

Perth, January 18 : Shaun Tait came into the third Test here against India with the reputation of being the 150+ bowler. He promised to knock the heads off Indian batsman. His skipper Ricky Ponting said he would rattle the opposition with serious pace. But on the field, Tait disappointed. And if what he showed here is what he is capable of, then chance of him wearing the Baggy Green cap again is slim.

Tait the bowler was of little use to his team - he refused to keep the ball up when every other bowler was getting wickets in that manner. He also did not want to see that this was not really the same wicket on which, in a Twenty20 domestic match last December, he bombarded the batsmen with raw pace.

Tait bowled 21 overs in this match to go wicketless. And his ineffectiveness was underscored when, today, VVS Laxman giggled loudly and said that RP Singh, India’s number 10 bat, was more comfortable playing Tait than any other Australian bowler.

While Tait failed to live up to the hype, Irfan Pathan has successfully reinforced his status as an all-rounder and as Laxman admitted “was having a great Test match. He’s been bowling well, swinging the new ball well from the left-handers and yes, he chipped in with some very crucial runs.”

Pathan made it to this tour only because of previous experience and injury to key fast bowlers. He was the third seamer here. There was little expectation from him, given his recent form, but the 23-year Vadodara lad, who bowled at an average of 124kmph and attained a top pace of 127kmph at Canberra, reached 132 kmph today.

Tait is playing in his third Test and have yet to be part of a victorious Test team. In 2005, against England, Australia lost one and drew one with him in the ranks.

Tait, who denied Brad Hogg an opportunity to play in front of his home crowd, may face the same fate next week in Adelaide.

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