In Friday's ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka, Nathan Bracken showed what a little bit of extra thought in evaluating conditions could do.

He read the pitch perfectly and executed the plan to perfection. With his slower balls he had every Sri Lankan who took guard trying to pick up the pace of the wicket.

Overcast conditions and the pitch under covers for some time led to a variable pace on the wicket. Where an impatient Sanath Jayasuriya failed, Adam Gilchrist did well and made 61 and Michael Clarke made a good 77. Both adjusted to the pace of the wicket and showed patience and skill (it was Gilchrist's slowest home 50).

'Bracken's strategy was to keep it slow and let the wicket do the talking'

But it was Bracken who stole the limelight. He made each ball count and worked on the batsmen, leading them to making mistakes and coming away with a career best five for 47. His strategy was to keep it slow and let the wicket do the talking.

Bracken has made his place in the side as a specialist ODI bowler in very quick time by intelligent bowling mixed with a get-the-job-done attitude. In the competitive Aussie squad it has taken him time to make his mark but now he is a regular in the side.

He is not the fastest bowler in the world and at times the keeper stands up to the wicket for him. He bowls a major chunk of his overs in the middle of the innings, a much under-estimated role usually filled up by the fifth bowler.