I'M NOT much of a stats man, but a couple of numbers are hard to ignore. In its first innings in Hobart, New Zealand made 150 runs in 45.5 overs. In the fourth one-day international between India and the West Indies, Virender Sehwag made 219 in 47 overs; after 45.5 overs, he was 215 not out.

Obviously there is a fair bit of apples and oranges going on here and not just formats. Geoff Lawson described the pitch in Hobart as the greenest he'd seen on day one of a Test, while even Sehwag commented on how close the boundaries were on the postage stamp India played on. His 219 was a world record; he hit 25 fours and seven sixes.

One-day cricket, particularly on the subcontinent, can feature frenetic run-rates. Sehwag takes the same uncomplicated approach onto the Test arena. He’s one of four batsmen, alongside Don Bradman, Chris Gayle and Brian Lara, to have reached 300 in a Test more than once and he’s made big hundreds all over the world.

During Steve Waugh's last series, Sehwag hit me further and more often than Brian Lara did. He showed our bowlers he didn't need a look at us before he swung. My first ball to him at the MCG went over mid-wicket for six, and he may have added another triple had Simon Katich not picked him up for 195.
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My motivation for making the comparison between New Zealand in Hobart and Sehwag's innings is that it's looking likely that Australia's Test summer will be equally dissimilar. I hate teams talking about future opponents while they're mid-series, but the sooner this series is over, and Australia's young bowlers can start preparing for India, the better.

As Sehwag walked from the field in India, his Test teammates walked off the plane in Australia. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V. V. S. Laxman have enjoyed success in Australia on past tours, and with Sehwag their arrival was a reminder of how much work lies ahead for us. As a spin bowler, the most devastating batsman I've played against was Lara. But when Tendulkar is at the crease, there is a scary calmness about him. When he led the avalanche of runs at the SCG in 2003-04 with a big double hundred, his bat looked as wide as his pads.

Bowling to Tendulkar and his mates at the SCG, MCG, Adelaide Oval and the WACA ground will be a different experience for Australia's young bowlers compared to facing New Zealand on a green-top. We have plenty of ability in the Australian team but coach Mickey Arthur has a big job ahead of him between now and Boxing Day.