Hayden is someone who doesn't stick to the rule book and a lot of his shots can be classed as slogs. He is a very good batsman but the weakness of current bowling attacks around the world is helping his, and Ponting's records no end.
Australia have a very ordinary attack without Warne and McGrath, and McGrath's last series wasn't amazing, after all he is getting on a bit at 34.
South Africa have Pollock who doesn't take as many wickets as he used to, but still takes them at low average with a low econ rate. In Ntini they have the 2003 top Test wicket-taker and the perfect foil for Pollock, a strike bowler who attacks while Pollock keeps the pressure on from the other end. A poor man's Allan Donald but he's doing a job this year, even if he is a little expensive. Nel is looking a useful backup seamer, Pretorius I think can become another useful backup seamer. Lack of quality spin is the reason Australia beat them last time, Adams is either useless or unplayable and is probably the best option at the moment, Peterson is very ineffective, and Boje, whilst useful, is injured at the moment and is picked as a bowler who bats, Australia had no problems with him last time he faced them. South Africa have probably the strongest attack, since Warne and McGrath are of an unknown quantity after so much time off and Lee, Williams and Bracken are hardly as effective.
England have one of the weakest attacks of the lot, Anderson has serious talent but is burnt out at the moment, Caddick is injured and might never get picked again, even though the attack badly needs him. Gough lost pace after his injury and is mistakenly being left out of the ODI squad when they really need an experianced leader of the attack, a space left open with Caddick's retirement. Hoggard is useful in swinging conditions, Harmison doesn't perform against good batting sides and questions are being asked about him due to injuries and his attitude. Flintoff is an economical Fast Medium change bowler but struggles to be as effective as he is in ODI cricket. Giles and Batty are triers but now even in spinning conditions they are lacking effectiveness.
India have another very weak attack. Kumble can only bowl effectively in India, Harbhajan has talent but has struggled with a finger injury although he forms a good partnership with Kumble at home on turning pitches. Nehra is very inconsistant, Agarakar is too but he does seem to be able to take wickets now. Khan is their only decent seamer but he's dogged by injury due to a high workload and is expected to cover both the strike and stock bowler roles. The Australian batsmen have made hay against this attack in all but one instance, an inspired spell of bowling by Agarkar in which quite a few Aussie batsmen threw their wickets away.
Sri Lanka have Vaas who can either be brilliant or amazingly ordinary, most of the other bowlers arn't worth of a mention. Zoysa has fallen out of favour and Buddika looked useful but seems to be out of favour too. Murali usually bowls most of the Sri Lankan overs, and picks up most of the wickets, so the support bowlers are rarely used or even given much of a chance. Due to Murali and Vaas, Sri Lanka's attack isn't the worst, but the lack of strong support bowlers means Murali is over-worked and often bowls with injuries. It also leaves the batsmen with a release of pressure when the support bowling comes on.
Zimbabwe have Streak who is a world class seamer who is coming back into form. Blignaut is an inconsistant but useful seamer. Price is an ever-improving left-arm spinner. Zimbabwe suffer from politically motivated selections such as Mahwire who is picked for Test after Test without doing anything and such selections stop the pressure building up on batsmen. They usually wait till Price and Streak tire then feast on the support bowling.
New Zealand have Tuffey who has become a very solid med-fast seamer, but their only World-Class seamer, Bond, is usually injured. Butler recently took 6-46 against Pakistan but followed it up with 1-100. He has pace but only time will tell if he can marry it to consistancy. Vettori is the world's best left-arm spinner but rarely gets the chance to bowl in friendly conditions.
Pakistan have Shoaib Ahktar who is often brilliant, and have support seamers in the talented but inconsistant Mohammed Sami and the solid looking Shabbir Ahmed. They have a talented young leg-spinner in Danish Kaneria who has only really performed against Bangladesh, and continue to leave out Saqlain Mushtaq who is, by fair, their best spinner. Pakistani Selection Politics mean that you are never sure who will play in the next game.
Bangladesh have an incredibly weak attack, which is not helped by the captain, Khaled Mahmud's willingness to over-bowl himself. Mortaza, the talented young seamer, is injured and has suffered from several bad injuries of late. Only time will tell if they affect him. Left arm spinner Mohammed Rafique has a decent Test record although he rarely turns the ball.
Some decent attacks, but also, a lot of weak ones.