To many, the key clash in the Pakistan-Australia series is between the leggies: in the lime-green corner, Danish Kaneria; in the baggy-green corner, Shane Warne. Separating them are 12 years, 422 Test wickets and 93 Test caps - not to mention a few pounds, even allowing for Warne's new slender frame.

With 38 wickets in his first eight Tests - Warne managed only 14 - Kaneria looks a serious threat to Australia. But, as the tagline for the film American Beauty implores, `look closer'. This is the biggest mismatch since Basil Fawlty made an honest woman of Sybil.

Kaneria's healthy record (an average of 21.39; a strike rate of a wicket every 46 balls) owes everything to some zealous Bangla-bashing. In three Tests against Bangladesh, he has helped himself to 25 wickets at 11.12 each, and one every 23 balls. In five Tests against the rest - England, New Zealand and West Indies - his record is decidedly modest: 13 wickets at 41.15; each wicket taking 91 balls.

His record against the bigger boys does include a five-for against New Zealand, at Lahore in May, but even that came in the fairest of weather: Kaneria's 5 for 110 came after the Kiwis had followed on the small matter of 570 runs behind.

One thing is for sure: with Matthew Hayden and Co. having about as much regard for spin bowling as they do for warm beer, we'll soon find out what Kaneria is made of.

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