To Ortiz, the best way to beat the shift is to work on hitting the ball hard up the middle, with some line drives to left field.

WSJ: Mark Teixeira Considers Using the Bunt

However, England allege that Harper did not have the speaker volume on the stump microphone turned up high enough and so was unable to hear the ball hitting Smith's bat.

BBC: ICC to investigate referral complaint made by ECB

The reason: All four of the top American hopes possess serves and groundstrokes which are strong enough to be weapons on any surface, and the slow, high bounce on clay brings the ball into their hitting zone with sufficient time for them to set up their shots.

WSJ: Americans Produce Feats on Clay