Where did they lose it? Can declines be this rapid? How does one go from a force to reckoned with to a team in total disarray so soon? On a broad timeline it may not seem soon, but taking into view the stature Australia enjoyed two years ago, today is a completely different time zone for them. For all the talk of Australia's strong domestic structure and breeding system, the recent results and the squalor Aussies find themselves in, it doesn't match. You have a whole bunch of players donning the Baggy Green happily resting on the lack of replacements. Right from the captain. From once eagerly being watched to observe a keen test hundreds race with Sachin Tendulkar, there is now no talk of both in the same sentence. Agreed that that is more due to Sachin moving out of sight, but Ricky's runs are unflattering to say the least. And that unflattering form can be convincingly said to be reflecting in his leadership and vice versa.
The only talk of Ponting making news these days is his confrontations with the average Australian's spoilt brat Michael Clarke, vice-captain, over succession of captaincy, who's reliability is now on the same pedestal as Ricky's if not lower. And no more do people see him rolling over his 'golden arm' to offset his goof ups with the bat. His continual in the side has perplexed many Australian fans, reader mail and comments are increasing exponentially by the day. And Clarke occupies a crucial position in the batting order, No.4. India have Sachin, Sri Lanka have Mahela, England have KP there. That boldly highlights the weigh No.4 carries. And Clarke is doing anything but enforcing the innings and helping the team take charge. Any other argument needed to push him down the line-up let alone allow him to stay in the Test XI??
And what about the new golden arm boy (well not exactly, but he may try becoming one if he continues to stay) Marcus North? An old scooter that just doesn't start, but trotters along if it does. Looks like a batsmen who's solid, but never lends evidence to that. Scoring a hundred every 4 matches and scoring something like 20 in the rest is no good. And it's no good if you're the last change bowler who is brought on just to give others a breather or wait for the new ball while hoping to break a long standing partnership. Make up your mind Ricky! How do you want to use Marcus?? He is clearly too erratic at number 6, and you don't have enough faith in his bowling. What is he doing in your line up?
And Ricky would say to that, he is out of options. Well there I have to agree with him. When you axe your spearhead and new-ball bowler, Mitch and Hilfy, that tells a big story. The trial run of Bollinger and Harris hasn't been too satisfying either. After giving the duo another match, and if the same happens, where will Aus look after that? Bring back Mitch. I'd suppose they have to. And I was always quite skeptical of axing him. He has had such pointless matches in the past. The 2009 Ashes started for him the same way before he regained his focus. Of course, I've heard people say he is not a world class bowler but just manages to pick up a few wickets here and there with some rough and shoddy bowling. But he did, and he has picked up more than others, however unconvincingly it was. When all his replacements, are faith-wise on the same boat, what meaning is there in axing him?
It is an eyesore to see a revolving door at the spinner slot after Warne's adieu. Doherty has failed to impress after being called on for Nathan Hauritz. Nathan Hauritz looked like the final answer for the problem till he went to England for the tests vs Pakistan and the subsequent tour of India. Of course there's the talk of Ricky not giving him freedom, setting bizzare fields for him and expecting too much from him in those circumstances. Shane Warne has defended Hauritz with the preceding sentence. Will there now be a Doherty replacement? If so who? Hauritz a high doubt, Krezja and Casson are not even in the reckoning. Steven Smith now in the squad will mostly get another look in. But will they persist with Smith? They have to. He is agreed by many to be their best option. Has been for more than 6 months.
It is apparent that the bowling attack is toothless. But it doesn't have to be so. And it wouldn't if the combination is rightly picked. But they have to get it right soon. The longer this winless streak continues, the deeper Australia go, and the harder they'll find themselves to come out of it morally and psychologically. It is precisely a psychological problem, a confidence crisis most of their bowling attack is facing. They may not be feared at the least, but the right combo is capable of getting 20 wickets a match. It has been seen in the past, out of the same set of bowlers.
Wounded Aussies are no longer dangerous, they just keep getting weaker and more susceptible. All teams can see that right now. And they will come hard at them with their boxing gloves on. Unless Australia, Tim and Ricky (and Clarke, maybe) sort out basic inadequacies in the team and apply their minds to the team, they wont get themselves out of this hole, let alone back on track. They wont find their long lost boxing gloves. For cricket's sake they have to. Though many would love to see Aussies go the way of the then wonderful Windies (or even worse), in the long run it will only be a big loss for cricket. That can be realised by imagining how good it'd be if someone with Walsh, Ambrose and Lara's quality were still playing for Windies and pushing teams to the limit. It is in Australia's hands for them to do themselves and cricket a favour, but their present image doesn't inspire any confidence...
The only talk of Ponting making news these days is his confrontations with the average Australian's spoilt brat Michael Clarke, vice-captain, over succession of captaincy, who's reliability is now on the same pedestal as Ricky's if not lower. And no more do people see him rolling over his 'golden arm' to offset his goof ups with the bat. His continual in the side has perplexed many Australian fans, reader mail and comments are increasing exponentially by the day. And Clarke occupies a crucial position in the batting order, No.4. India have Sachin, Sri Lanka have Mahela, England have KP there. That boldly highlights the weigh No.4 carries. And Clarke is doing anything but enforcing the innings and helping the team take charge. Any other argument needed to push him down the line-up let alone allow him to stay in the Test XI??
And what about the new golden arm boy (well not exactly, but he may try becoming one if he continues to stay) Marcus North? An old scooter that just doesn't start, but trotters along if it does. Looks like a batsmen who's solid, but never lends evidence to that. Scoring a hundred every 4 matches and scoring something like 20 in the rest is no good. And it's no good if you're the last change bowler who is brought on just to give others a breather or wait for the new ball while hoping to break a long standing partnership. Make up your mind Ricky! How do you want to use Marcus?? He is clearly too erratic at number 6, and you don't have enough faith in his bowling. What is he doing in your line up?
And Ricky would say to that, he is out of options. Well there I have to agree with him. When you axe your spearhead and new-ball bowler, Mitch and Hilfy, that tells a big story. The trial run of Bollinger and Harris hasn't been too satisfying either. After giving the duo another match, and if the same happens, where will Aus look after that? Bring back Mitch. I'd suppose they have to. And I was always quite skeptical of axing him. He has had such pointless matches in the past. The 2009 Ashes started for him the same way before he regained his focus. Of course, I've heard people say he is not a world class bowler but just manages to pick up a few wickets here and there with some rough and shoddy bowling. But he did, and he has picked up more than others, however unconvincingly it was. When all his replacements, are faith-wise on the same boat, what meaning is there in axing him?
It is an eyesore to see a revolving door at the spinner slot after Warne's adieu. Doherty has failed to impress after being called on for Nathan Hauritz. Nathan Hauritz looked like the final answer for the problem till he went to England for the tests vs Pakistan and the subsequent tour of India. Of course there's the talk of Ricky not giving him freedom, setting bizzare fields for him and expecting too much from him in those circumstances. Shane Warne has defended Hauritz with the preceding sentence. Will there now be a Doherty replacement? If so who? Hauritz a high doubt, Krezja and Casson are not even in the reckoning. Steven Smith now in the squad will mostly get another look in. But will they persist with Smith? They have to. He is agreed by many to be their best option. Has been for more than 6 months.
It is apparent that the bowling attack is toothless. But it doesn't have to be so. And it wouldn't if the combination is rightly picked. But they have to get it right soon. The longer this winless streak continues, the deeper Australia go, and the harder they'll find themselves to come out of it morally and psychologically. It is precisely a psychological problem, a confidence crisis most of their bowling attack is facing. They may not be feared at the least, but the right combo is capable of getting 20 wickets a match. It has been seen in the past, out of the same set of bowlers.
Wounded Aussies are no longer dangerous, they just keep getting weaker and more susceptible. All teams can see that right now. And they will come hard at them with their boxing gloves on. Unless Australia, Tim and Ricky (and Clarke, maybe) sort out basic inadequacies in the team and apply their minds to the team, they wont get themselves out of this hole, let alone back on track. They wont find their long lost boxing gloves. For cricket's sake they have to. Though many would love to see Aussies go the way of the then wonderful Windies (or even worse), in the long run it will only be a big loss for cricket. That can be realised by imagining how good it'd be if someone with Walsh, Ambrose and Lara's quality were still playing for Windies and pushing teams to the limit. It is in Australia's hands for them to do themselves and cricket a favour, but their present image doesn't inspire any confidence...
and how about the update on the blog now? :-)
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