No contest: McGrath v Crawley

There may be lies, damned lies and statistics, but in cricket, a head-to-head comparison usually paints a compelling and lucid picture. Everybody knew Glenn McGrath had the wood on Mike Atherton; a head-to-head average of 13.05 confirmed it.

A look at the averages for the current squads gives a clue as to the tactics England should employ in the field in this series: bowl Ashley Giles to Matthew Hayden, Andy Caddick to Steve Waugh and Damien Martyn, and, if he ever gets fit, Darren Gough to the rest. Simple.

Nasser Hussain should certainly let Caddick nowhere near Ricky Ponting. Whereas Gough has Ponting's number - he dismissed him five times out of eight last summer - Caddick has been simply lacerated, going at almost six an over for 169 runs - and counting.

A look at England's batsmen shows some predictable results - and some tales of the unexpected. Nobody should be surprised that John Crawley excels against Shane Warne and struggles badly against McGrath and Jason Gillespie, but it's a little disturbing that Marcus Trescothick averages under 10 against Warne.

McGrath and Gillespie have had little success against Mark Butcher, who is the only proper batsman Brett Lee has dismissed of the current squad: last summer, Lee had a thing for Mark Ramprakash and Caddick. Lee was also driven, pulled and tennis-slammed for 66 off only 60 balls by Alec Stewart. Lee has 14 years on him, but Stewart has won their battle hands-down so far.

batsman	McGrath	Gillespie	Lee	Warne
Trescothick	31	31.40	60*	9.67
Butcher	49.33	75.50	42.50	24.33
Hussain	35.17	39.33	45*	26.33
Crawley	11.60	12.67	-	84
Stewart	24	35.33	66*	26.50
batsman	Gough	Caddick	Giles
Hayden	55*	51	0**
Langer	63	15*	-
Ponting	15.63	169*	4*
M Waugh	59.8	43.6	7*
S Waugh	54.2	42.67	32*
Martyn	92	37.67	29*
Gilchrist	59	81*	21*
* never dismissed ** Giles got Hayden out with the only ball he's bowled to him

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