Cricket was ‘boring’ when Aussies were winning. Really?

Roar Guru

By dasilva, 10 Feb 2009 dasilva is a Roar Guru

Tagged:: Australian Cricket, Cricket, Kevin Pietersen, Steve Waugh, VS Laxman, West Indies

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How many times did we hear during the periods of Australian dominance that the cricket matches we played in were too easy: the other team didn’t give us a fight, Australia keeps on winning, and it’s becoming boring.

The strange thing is that if you ask Australian fans what was the best Test series during that period is, they inevitably pull out the likes of epic series between Australia and India at 2001, where Australia was defied by VVS Laxman and Harbharjan Singh.

Also, the West indies Vs Australia series of 1999, where Brian Lara was singled-handily responsible for upsetting Australia and getting a draw from the series.

There was also the memorable 2-2 draw with India at home, where India spoiled Steve Waugh’s farewell series.

But the series that tops them all was probably the Ashes of 2005, where Freddie Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen inspired England to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Australia.

However, all those series resulted in Australia either losing or unexpectedly drawing the series. It’s a strange thing about Australian psyche that we celebrate these series despite not being successful.

The successes, and there were many, including two undefeated World Cups in 2003 and 2007, were basically greeted with a yawn and people complaining about the state of world cricket and how low the standards has dropped.

The 5-0 drubbing of England in the last Ashes was greeted with disappointment that England didn’t put up a fight. Many English fans were put off by Australian supporters instead of insulting their cricket team.

My guess is that the Australian public was never comfortable with being the dominant team in world cricket. We traditionally see ourselves as the underdogs that punches above their own weight. We want to take on the dominant team in world sports and give them a good fight and unexpectedly beat them with hard work and fighting spirit.

Being the dominant team bashing sides to submission seemed so un-Australian.

Of course, all of this complaining during the period of dominance seems so spoiled. All the other teams wished they had the same problems Australian fans had.

Suddenly all the one-sided whitewashes and the undefeated World Cups look a lot more palatable now, don’t they?

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The Crowd Says (4) | Page 1 of Comments

Benjamin Conkey said | February 10th 2009 @ 9:45am | Report comment

I agree Dasilva that, during Australia’s period of dominance the best series were the close ones. I found it funny though that after the 2005 Ashes series it was difficult to find the DVD in stores..the big retail stores anyway. Whereas ‘Amazing Adelaide’ was in stores almost immediately…and let’s remember it wasn’t THAT amazing. I

t was only one day. The final day. The rest of the Test match was amazingly boring. I think this says something about what marketers think about Australians. They believe we only want to see a successful side, and I guess they have a point.

The ratings indicate people have been switching off this summer in the wake of Australia’s terrible batting efforts. But the other night when Australia was in the box seat, the bandwagon supporters returned and the night session averaged 1.6 million people.

So in conclusion I’ll say the true cricket lovers just want to see a good contest, no matter who wins..whereas one-eyed Australians will take no less than Australian dominance.

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dasilva said | February 10th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment

I think they may have underestimate the market with the ashes 2005.

I think the difference nowadays is that when we lose during our peak it was the other team rising up to Australia’s level. Now it’s Australia dropping down to their level and it seems like australia is losing by playing poor cricket rather then the other team playing exceptionally well and we are losing by comprehensive margins not just close defeats.

I think now that we are starting to lose lot more frequently and convincingly that the past era of dominance will look at far more fondly and not so boring (which I always thought was a bit arrogant).

The last time there was a great series where Australian won was the 1999 World Cup. Australia showed the underdog mentality when they were back of the ropes and down and out and fight back to win the world cup against the odds. They come home in hero’s worship compared to the general apathy of the last two world cup.

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formeropenside said | February 10th 2009 @ 7:39pm | Report comment

Nope, its about the winning, the way that Australia won. Never say die, explosive batting, sharp fielding and aggressive bowling. No other team played like that, even in the recent losses we had.

I would not be happy to see Australia win playing the way SA play – essentially boring.

Hopefully we can get to that spirit, although it will be hard with no Queenslanders in the side save Johnson.

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Forgetmenot said | February 10th 2009 @ 8:32pm | Report comment

I think Australians actually prefer close matches, and that is why they support the underdog.

I have grown up pretty much only knowing that Australia is the best in the world (memnory started recording as Border stepped up the team). I have enjoyed seeing Australia win, but i would much rather see close matches involving Australia.

The Ashes are going to be huge anyway.

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