While the temperature here in Melbourne is struggling harder than an English opening batsman to make it to double digits, and failing just as often, Australian cricketers have somewhat slipped from the limelight. Cricket is playing a distance second fiddle to the soccer (I know, I know…Football) World Cup in Germany and the Aussies are in the middle of a seven month layoff. So what have they been upto?

Shane Warne made a superstar appearance on a combined codes Footy Show (that’s AFL and Rugby league), live from Munich over the weekend. This before returning to Australia for what is now, reportedly “shoulder surgery”. Cricinfo is reporting this as a check up, but news reports here in Australia this morning say, it’s surgery.

Reports are that Glenn McGrath’s wife, Jane is recovering well from her treatment for cancer, which is of course fantastic news and with it, McGrath is now on the comeback trail again, already resuming training. Surely these two points illustrate just how exposed Australia is over the next 12 months. Without Warne and McGrath in pretty much top form, England have to be favourites to retain the Ashes. If they are available and fit, I’d say (for what that is worth) Australia go in favourites. Now this is déjà vu isn’t it - are we still relying on these two to get us over the line against England? If so, surely this is the last time we can to so.

Aussies in England made a slow start to proceeding this year with only non-contract players like Darren Lehmann and Jimmy Maher making a splash early. Shane Warne took wickets as usual, but he now suffers at the hands of his own extreme success and such high expectations - he has to take 8 or 9 wickets, just to get noticed.

In recent weeks though, some Aussie players with slightly for “future Test career potential” have started to have an impact. Phil Jacques scored a big double century for Worcestershire, Cameron White has now got 3 centuries for Somerset and is averaging 75 which is a surprise, but augers well for his Australian summer.

Earlier, Brad Hodge got 130 odd for Lancashire but success has been spasmodic. Over the weekend Matthew Nicholson snared 6 for 23 for Northamptonshire, against Glamorgan - routing them, for 56. Travis Birt, Tasmania’s and now Derbyshire’s left hand batsman has continued on from his Australian success (averaging 50) by notching up his 3rd century of the English summer. He, at 24, is more the type we really want to see having some success. Bowlers remain a big issue though, don’t they? There are of course, 4 Aussies in the top 6 bowling averages in Division One - something maybe to do with a lack of overs for at least 2 of those though ;-)

Cross posted on STUmpcam.