Invincible Australia reaches pinnacle in 2009-10
Columnist By Kersi Meher-Homji, 11 Feb 2010 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Australian Cricket, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brett Lee, Cricket, ODIs, Peter Siddle, Ricky Ponting, Test cricket, The Ashes
Australia's Peter Siddle (centre) celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Faisal Iqbal caught by Shane Watson during day 2 of the New Year's Test at the SCG, Sydney, Monday, Jan. 4, 2010. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Since the Ashes loss in England last August, Australia has hardly put a foot wrong, winning everything in sight despite losing key fast bowlers Brett Lee, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle at various stages.
The shock 1-2 Ashes defeat was nullified by Ponting’s men trouncing England in the NatWest ODI series 6-1 in England last September. This initiated Australia’s climb back to the top.
They won the Champions’ Trophy in South Africa in September -October, defeated India in India 4-2 in ODIs, despite losing key players, in October–November.
In the Aussie summer of 2009-10, they have been invincible: beating the West Indies 2-1 (with one Test drawn) in the Frank Worrell Trophy and whitewashing Pakistan in Tests (3-0), in ODIs (5-0) and in Twenty20 (1-0).
The out of touch Windies are down 0-2 in the ODIs, and the way their shoulders are drooping, they appear likely to suffer the same fate as the Pakistanis.
If Australia wins the next three ODIs and a Twenty20 against Chris Gayle’s stroke-less, luck-less and motivation-less wonders, it could be Australia’s finest international summer since Fifty50s and Twenty20s made their appearance.
Although the opposition has been weak, Ricky Ponting deserves kudos for doing his best with his replacement bowling brigade of Clint McKay, Ryan Harris, et al.
We are all quick to criticize the selectors, but the national choosers and pickers have performed brilliantly, going by the results.
I was against the selection of Shane Watson as an opening batsman in the Ashes series. I am delighted to be proved wrong, as he went onto become the man behind the Australian victory march.
They showed faith in Doug Bollinger and picked McKay and Harris from thin air, as it were. When the uproar was “Drop Mike Hussey”, the selectors kept faith in him and he repaid their confidence with compound interest.
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- Explore:
- Australian Cricket, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brett Lee, Cricket, ODIs, Peter Siddle, Ricky Ponting, Test cricket, The Ashes
February 11th 2010 @ 7:40pm
vinay verma said | February 11th 2010 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
Whiteline,Kersi may have seen something none of us have seen. He is not known as Nostradamus for nothing.
Seriously,though analysing Test form over the last few months one thing stands out. Fast outswing bowled with precision is going to test the best of batsmen. Steyn has been bowling some absolute jaffas. Zaheer Khan seems to be playing injured and the only four bowlers who can swing it at pace are Anderson,Hilfenhaus,Roach and Harris. Tait can do it for short bursts but he is unavailable for the longer forms. Only the very best survive this bowling. Tendulkar in the second innings and Sehwag in the first. On form Kallis has to be the best batsman going around.
Where australia is good is they have scrappers like Hussey and Katich. Ponting remains a great batsman and is probably Captaining the best he has.He is confident he can go to his bowlers and they will deliver. Unfortunately Australia will not be tested in the longer form till the Ashes. Unless India shorten the planned one day series in October and play a one off Test.
All said the top three are very close. England and Sri lanka are on the same rung,just below SAF, India and Australia.
February 11th 2010 @ 7:51pm
Kersi Meher-Homji said | February 11th 2010 @ 7:51pm | Report comment
I share your concern about the real greatness of the current Australian team, Whiteline. But it is a fighting unit which keeps coming back. It is like a legendary snake. Chop off its head, still it keeps moving towards its prey. Ponting’s men have grit. The way they came back in the Sydney Test was a sign of greatness. Pakistan was woeful on day-4 but they showed their teeth on the first three days. While the Australians say “Never say die”, the Pakistanis say “Never say win.”
The Windies under Chris Gayle also attacked Australia in the last two Tests but could not defeat them.
Over three millennia Australia has been the toughest team to beat. They may not be great just yet but they are tough cookies.
Invincible? I’ll be convinced in 2012.
February 12th 2010 @ 9:46am
Whiteline said | February 12th 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Kersi and Vinay
I acknowledge your points regarding the tenacity of the Aussies and they have the potential to go back to the top. I guess it depends on a host of things. Kersi, your suggestion of 2012 may be the time to reflect is a good one – hopefully future series against England, India et al will produce great cricket and tell all.
Thanks for your response, keeps it interesting.
February 12th 2010 @ 7:32pm
Alec Swann said | February 12th 2010 @ 7:32pm | Report comment
Australia’s reaction to their Ashes defeat last year has been strikingly similar to that of 2005.
It often takes a smack in the face to spark a response and Ricky Ponting’s side have done exactly that, but, as with England, they will be judged solely on how they perform in the Ashes later in the year.
And with bowling attacks that differ very little, the batting could well be key and that is where Australia – as well as being on home turf – should have the edge.
England’s batting is decent enough with one player who could become world class.
Australia’s is probably more than decent enough with one player who is world class.