At the moment the Australian cricket team is undergoing somewhat of a crisis. They have failed- for the first time in 24 years- to finish an Ashes series in Australia with the urn in hand.
Now don’t get me wrong. As an Australian fan, I know that the Aussie team is the greatest test team of all time (the stats back this up) and that they will come back much stronger. I also realize that at the time of me writing this, the series has not yet been decided (it is 2-1 to England, so Australia can still tie the series).
While Australia may win the next match (squaring the series) it remains the case that there are serious systemic problems that must be fixed in order for Australia to get back to its winning ways as soon as possible. Fixing these problems should not be regarded as panic. Not regaining the Ashes was a symptom of the sickness and not the sickness itself.
Here are my 7 steps to Baggy Green redemption. If Cricket Australia do these things, Australia will return to its winning ways.
They are:
1. Give Ricky Ponting the tap on the shoulder.
Ricky Ponting must be asked to retire. If he does not, the selectors must make the decision for him. Ricky Ponting has been a great servant of Australian cricket. He is the top Australian test run scorer and was named cricinfo’s player of the decade for the noughties. When at his peak he was the greatest batsman of his generation.
Unfortunately, his time has come to an end. I never rated Ponting as a good captain. In fact there were a few times where Australia lost or drew a test match where I thought better captaincy would have won us the game. Regardless, his batting ensured that it was worth keeping him in the team. Before 2008, Ricky Ponting averaged around 60. From 2008-present he has averaged under 40. Unfortunately this is not a temporary form slump, this is a batsman who has lost his edge.
Keeping him beyond this Ashes series would be a huge mistake. It would delay the development of a younger player (by keeping them out of the team). If Australia end up playing a series against Bangladesh (a possibility in the next 6 months) then we may find Ponting make runs against an inferior team (further delaying the introduction of new blood into the team).
2. Bring Stuart Clark back.
Stuart Clark was an invaluable member of the Australian team. It seemed that while Australia had not found a replacement for Shane Warne, they had found a replacement for Glenn McGrath. Clark was the dropped.
Clark is 35. At the most we will get 1 or 2 years out of him. However his ability to play the holding role (an ability lacking in the current Aussie line up) would be invaluable for the next 2 years while we search for new bowling talent or wait until the current team has found its feet.
Clark would add to the captaincy stocks as well, having ably captained New South Wales this season in the Sheffield Shield.
3. Bring back the tough mental attitude of the 90′s.
The great team of the early 90′s (lead by the great Allan Border) did not posses a team much superior to the current crop of Australian players (talking about all Australian players, not just those selected in the Australian side). What they possessed was the willingness to fight through any situation, no matter how dire it may have become.
This current Australian side does not have the determination to do that. When they go out to bat, it seems like they do not want to be there. This was highlighted in the first inning in the Melbourne test where Australian wicket was out caught behind the stumps. Most of the shots played did not have to be played, rather it was a sign of a batsman who did not want to be out in the middle to tough it out. They were scared of the ball.
The Aussie Players need to toughen up, stop taking their spots in the Aussie team for granted and realize that it is a sacred honor to represent Australia.
4. Simon Katich to Captain.
Simon Katich only has one or 2 more years as a player. However the Australian selectors must utilize him as captain for those 2 years. His ability to captain trumps that of any other player currently in Australia. He also has the luxury of being one of the few players whose spot in the Baggy Green line up is not under question.
Katich is mentally tough and has a good captaincy brain. He played through the 2nd innings of the Adelaide test with an injured Achilles (he refused to have a runner while batting). He also fielded with the injury. This is the sort of toughness we need in a team that is currently full of softies.
5. Select the team that will win you the game.
Sounds obvious right? What I really mean though, is select the combination of 11 players that is most likely to win, rather than the 11 best individual players. Why do I say this? I say this because there are some players whose stats may not look so pretty, but their presence helps win the team a game. This may be a bowler who keeps it tight at one end (even though he does not take any wickets). His low economy rate may build up pressure which results in the bowler at the other end taking the wickets.
It may also be the batsman who toughs it out during a period where batting isn’t easy. He may only get 30 odd runs but he will have seen off the new ball or the overcast conditions, leaving the good conditions to another batsman who can come in and cash in with a century.
This current team are the opposite to those sort of players. They are the players who will have a number of rubbish bowling innings, but then take 5 wickets (in inconsequential circumstances) in order to keep the heat off them in terms of selection speculation (think Siddle’s 6/75, he did not deal any damage. It was only after England had amassed a huge lead that he cashed in the wickets column). On the batting side it is the player who will have a string of poor innings but score a 50 or 60 in order to keep the heat off them when the media talks selection.
The prime example of this is Shane Watson. In both Adelaide and Melbourne he ran his opening partner out (not being a team player) which caused a collapse in both innings. In both those innings he scored 51 and 54 respectively. In both matches he was responsible for collapses which ultimately resulted in Australia losing the match.
Australia need to select the team players. They need to select the 11 players that as a team are the best, not the 11 best individual players.
6. Introduce fairness into the selection process.
This should be simple. Select a player if his ability and form requires that he be selected over others. Unfortunately this isn’t what goes on. Selections are made based on whether the selector or the captain likes the player. Even if it means getting rid of the current crop of selectors (highly recommended) you must pick players that deserve to be there.
It seems there are some players who can play horrendously for a number of games but keep their spot with one good performance. On the flip side, there are players who will come into the team, play a number of consecutive games well but will be dropped after one poor performance. This is not on.
The first people who should be dropped if the team is playing poorly are the selectors.
and finally…
7. ‘Doug the rug’
Our best bowler of the past 12 months and the best bowler in Australia must be brought back into the team. He was most unfairly dropped for Peter Siddle a game in which Siddle took 6 wickets. While apparently dropped because of fitness concerns, he was brought back for Adelaide (a batsman’s paradise) and was duly carted.
He was then dropped on form.
This is exactly what I mean when I speak about fairness in the selection process. Dough could have gone to Brisbane and taken those 6 wickets (in fact he was much more likely to than Siddle). He then goes to Adelaide where he out bowls Siddle. Siddle is kept in the side and Doug- our best bowler- is dropped.
Australia must bring him in as soon as possible if they are to get back to their winning ways.
Conclusion.
That is my opinion about the current state of the Australian team and the way forward for them. While things are not looking good at the moment, Australia should do much better in the Sydney test, leveling the series 2-2.
Would love to read your comments on the issue.
Regards.
-Simon