The best rebuilding cricket team ever

 
Benjamin Conkey Roar Pro

By , 7 Jan 2010 Benjamin Conkey is a Roar Pro

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The Australia team celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan's Kamran Akmal Mitchell Johnson on day 4 of the second test at the SCG in Sydney on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)

The Australia team celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan's Kamran Akmal Mitchell Johnson on day 4 of the second test at the SCG in Sydney on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)

When Australia walked onto the ‘GABBA against Sri Lanka in November 2007, it was the start of a new era. No Warne and no McGrath. All the talk was how this team was going to regularly take 10 wickets. Immediately the critics were hushed as Australia won the match by an innings and 40 runs.

Brett Lee stepped up to the challenge, taking eight wickets, and Mitchell Johnson was the new boy on the block making his debut.

It’s been 26 months since that first examination of the new Australian cricket team, and their incredible win against Pakistan at the S.C.G proves that a winning mentality is hard to shake.

It’s also the determination to avoid defeat at all costs, which has been indoctrinated by skipper Ricky Ponting.

They have slipped in the World Rankings, and the winning percentage has declined. But when you look at the numbers, Australia is still an extremely difficult side to overcome.

The Aussies have played 31 Tests since Warne and McGrath called it quits, and have lost just eight times. They’ve won 7 of the 10 series played.

No bad for a side that’s rebuilding!

Some may call the most recent victory lucky. Others will claim Pakistan lost the second test rather than Australia winning it. But the fact that Australia had any chance at all needs to be applauded.

I hope all International Test teams were watching Australia’s performance, because it’s a great lesson in the value of staying in a contest.

Too often we see teams play for a draw or even appear to accept defeat after being bundled out for a cheap score in the first innings. But you never get that feeling with Australia.

Even when the Aussies lost by an innings to South Africa last year, they were positive in defeat. On that occasion, it looked like South Africa would record one of its biggest victories after leading by more than 400 on the first innings.

That was until Mitchell Johnson arrived, scoring 123 not out in 103 balls. It might not have saved the Test, but it was a sign that you can never discount Australia.

Pakistan found that out yesterday morning, when Peter Siddle dug in with Michael Hussey sharing in a record partnership.

Nathan Hauritz then proved his worth as a match-winning spin bowler, enticing Mohammad Yousuf into one too many aggressive strokes, before opening up the tail with the wicket of Misbah-Ul-Haq. Credit to Ricky Ponting for sticking with Hauritz, who was smashed by Yousuf in the over before tea.

And what about Johnson?

He just keeps taking wickets. Right-hand batsmen must have nightmares about his bowling. That unique angle across the batsman is like hypnosis. Players know they shouldn’t take the bait, but they can’t help it. The good news for Johnson is that the selectors have forgotten about his Ashes performances.

The only weak link appears to be Marcus North in the middle order.

Nathan Hauritz has more runs this summer than the struggling West Australian. He will get another chance after the win, but he better make use of any opportunity he gets, and his fielding needs to improve as well.

Australia have played supposedly weak opposition this summer, but you still have to get the results on the board. At 5 for 139 against the West Indies in Adelaide, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin batted for 20 overs to force a draw.

Then in the following Test, the Aussies refused to panic with the Windies on 3 for 196 chasing 359 for victory. Ponting brought in the field and kept Nash in the 40s for an eternity, which put the pressure on Deonarine, who finally succumbed for 82.

The rest is history.

This mental toughness continues to amaze me (which I assumed would diminish in the new era), no doubt it amazes Australia’s opposition too.

One gets the feeling that the rebuilding phase might be slowly heading towards the domination spectrum. This is no longer a team of champions, but a bunch of very good cricketers who can still beat anyone, even when it’s not their day.

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