Was really impressed with Tremlett today. Everyone knew this was going to be a deck he should thrive on, but of course that brings its own pressures with it. Will have had an early boost by being given the new ball, and he avoided the trap of bowling too short and enjoying watching it fly through to Prior at head height.
He got straight down to business by digging it in against Hughes, forcing him back, highlighting his particular weaknesses, then he produced an accurate knockout blow breaching Hughes' flimsy defence and giving England the ideal start.
It must be said his removal of Clarke was as much down to sloppy batting as it was good bowling. He pounded in hitting the back of a length and Clarke wafted aimlessly away from his body. His mind was cloudied and that was due not only to his poor form of late, but to the pace and bounce Tremlett was getting out of the pitch.
The comparison between the two big men, Tremlett and Finn, is interesting. Tremlett hits the deck hard, uses the most of his ample height, and on today's evidence, gives the batsmen few freebies so they can release the pressure. Finn, of course is still developing. seems to lack real intent, and has a lot of work to do especially on his consistency in line and length.
Steve Smith was a walking wicket for Tremlett in this mood. A rather hesitant prod forward ended his first innings back in the side.
Tremlett has looked good in Test cricket so far, despite the three-year break between appearances, let's hope he can avoid injuries for a while and go on and produce more performances such as this and have a similar effect as Morne Morkel is having with SA.
