Kasprowicz happy with role

Australia pace bowler Michael Kasprowicz is relishing his position in the team as first change © Getty Images

Michael Kasprowicz is revelling in his role as first change to two of the most feared pace bowlers in modern cricket - and he is hoping to reap more rewards against England in Tuesday’s NatWest Challenge decider at The Oval.

The Queensland and former Glamorgan seamer began Australia’s Ashes tour apparently off the pace and suffered notable caning as his team lost to Somerset and then Bangladesh at his ‘home’ ground in Cardiff in the space of three days.

But his improvement continued on Sunday when he nipped out both England openers for figures of 2-40, before Brett Lee upped the ante with a five-wicket haul as Australia prevailed by seven wickets at Lord’s to level the three-match series.

Skipper Ricky Ponting has absolute faith in Kasprowicz's ability © Getty Images

Kasprowicz is now satisfied with his bowling form - and happier still to be getting hold of the ball immediately after Lee and his new-ball partner Glenn McGrath have put the opposition on the back foot.

“It is always nice to get a wicket first ball,” he said of his performance at HQ. “But coming on first change with the Australia team is a pretty good spot.

“There is a lot of pressure created by Brett and Glenn. You still have to bowl well, but you find that quite often batters look to go a bit harder at you. Being in that role for the last 12 or 18 months has suited me.

“When you have the pressure of Brett and Glenn bowling well and taking wickets you find bowling first change that, because the batsmen have been stifled at the start, they are already under the hammer when you come on.”

Australia are seeking the psychological edge over England © Getty Images

More of the same on Tuesday will make things tough for England as they seek to retain a psychological advantage over Australia, who made a discouragingly slow start to their summer but have begun to build momentum as the five-Test Ashes series nears.

For Kasprowicz personally as well as Australia, the tour appears to be on an upward curve - and he credits the togetherness and industry of Ricky Ponting’s team for that.

“Pressure is only what you put on yourself, your expectations of yourself,” he said. “There is competition, but it is a healthy competition. Guys work harder, and those not in the side have to improve and work twice as hard - and the team benefits.”

One or two members of an Australia team once thought near invincible in all forms of cricket are still to re-discover their best form - fast bowler Jason Gillespie and opening batsman Matthew Hayden among them, with captain Ponting’s 18th one-day international hundred having come not a moment too soon on Sunday.

The form of Jason Gillespie is still a concern for the Aussies © Getty Images

Hayden sat out the match at Lord’s, nursing a sore shoulder, while Gillespie had the option to rest and possibly regretted his insistence on playing after going wicketless for six-an-over.

Kasprowicz is nonetheless confident Australia will pull together and make sure everyone has the chance of peaking at the right time.

“It is not as if the daggers are out or anything like that. We help each other in the nets if we spot anything or anyone needs any help,” he said.

If it is decided the best help for Gillespie is to miss Tuesday’s final one-day assignment of the summer, left-arm wrist-spinner Brad Hogg is an alternative option for Australia - although they may be tempted to retain a winning team, with Simon Katich opening in place of Hayden.