The biggest reason why Australia did not dominate this series (it was a draw really) is their lack of depth in bowling.

Australia were going in with 3 full time and 3 part timers. Considering the way Hogg and Tait bowled they have to be classified in the same category as Clarke and Symonds.

Brad hogg just does not look like a test bowler. He hasnt even come close to repeating his ODI form in tests and his selection is a clear indication of the lack of spin bowling options for Australia.

Tait got the one chance and bowled with pace. Problem was it was closer to Symonds than Lee's. Was he hiding an injury ? did ponting not see how slow he was in the nets? Questions galore that were not asked loudly enough after the Perth test. Tait was the biggest reason for the WACA loss IMO.

The regular good performance by the Indian tail were clear indications of how bad things really are.

India was the better bowling side in this series even with Zaheer out injured.

Oz might have had their problems, but I would not write them off so easily. Lee is good enough for at least another couple of years, as is Stuart Clark. Johnson has definitely shown great promise with the ball and seems to be useful with the bat. Tait tends to blow hot and cold, but I don't think he is as bad as it appeared in the one Test that he played.

They do have probelms is the spin dept though. As you say, Hogg is not good enough at Test level and McGill is too old to be of serious consideration even if fit. An equal replacement for Warne is almost impossible and so they have to find a few young and competent spinners and develop them. But knowing Oz, they'll pull something out of the hat.

I do think you alre not giving the indians enough credit.

__________________
"They look like a team destined to win the world cup"......
Ian Chappel during Ind v SA in the World Cup 20-20

Seems the problems australia may have just got worse with Tait announcing he's taking a break from the game.

Not that bad in the pace department, if you were picking on form and with a view for younger bowlers the unfamiliar international names Peter Siddle (rfm Vic) and Doug Bollinger (lfm NSW) would quickly come into contention.

Ben Hilfenhaus (rfm Tasmania) is going through a form slump, but pacemen often come through that better bowlers at the other end rather than weaker bowlers.

I hope Australia sticks with the above crop rather than re-visiting short term options such as Ashley Nofke (rfm Qld) and Gerrard Denton (rfm Victoria) who are older very short term options at best.

I have a suspicion that most of Stuart Clark's fade outs are due to being overcooked prior to national selection. And I fear that his career is much closer to the finish than it is to the start at this current stage. His pace has dropped and even though his deliveries look promising too often he is coming back with "none-for's"

I think Australia is doing the right thing with Mitchell Johnson and at the right age, like Brett Lee they and Glenn McGrath previously they are ensuring that he is well and truly blooded in whilst he is in his mid-twenties.

Still no spinners coming through on the horizon, and even after his recent ankle injury it is surprising how Cameron White's bowling figures look miles better than any other current Australian spinners maybe with exception to MacGill.

My tip for the ashes in England "09" MacGill and White will both be in the tour squad. Symonds and Clarke will both be available for back-up. And pretty good back-up it is.

Both are good enough and professional enough to commit to long preperations to ensure they give their talents the best chance to be on the tour. I think Australia's other spin hopeful's Cullen Bailey and Dan Cullen have dropped off the pace and fallen by the wayside, Casson and Heal have struggled staying afloat at domestic level and I would doubt will offer much at international level. Hogg and McGain are just old dogs with old tricks that most of the world knows about, and Hauritz unfortunately spins the ball the wrong way.

Presumably spins the ball the same way that Dan Cullen spins the ball: what's the problem with that?

Fantastic for restricting runs.

Very non-productive when trying to extract wickets from those not intent on scoring runs on modern day covered improved pitches.

Well, Shane Warne never had a flash domestic record himself, so hopefully one of these guys will develop a bit. At least you can say that we have some pretty decent ODI options in the mix.

Regarding off-spinners (I don't know how to quote from multiple passages, so bear with me) Acker said something like "they're great for restricting runs, but not for taking wickets on today's pitches." Even so, I think a good offie's better than a so-so leggie, so I don't think the next choice should automatically be a legspinner. At the very least, a good off-spinner will restrict runs (which may be all that's required, given the strength in our pace bowling) whereas an out-of-form leggie will get hit for plenty and completely release the pressure on the batsmen.

Shane Warne was 21 years old.

These guys are well past that.

Bailey is 22. Cullen is 23. Heal is 24. None of them are like Bryce McGain, coming into first-class cricket remarkably late. As I say, given enough time one of them will do enough to be selected. Certainly, I don't think we can make the same mistake we made of just relying on an all-pace attack, with a couple of overs from Symonds and Clarke.