There was a time when 10 days of cricket constituted just two Test matches of what would undoubtedly be a gripping series.
In Test cricket’s golden era you could be treated to the stoic greatness of Sunil Gavaskar, the ferocity of Imran Khan, or even the sheer beauty of Sir Richard Hadlee.
But that was a long time ago, when the age-old battle of bat versus ball, man versus man, and strength versus nous were at the forefront. A lot has changed.
Fast forward to 2015. Four Tests into one of the most anticipated Ashes series in recent memory and we have seen 10 days of something that scarcely does justice to an age-old rivalry and bitterness, one that is almost as old as the game itself.
The continuing influence of shorter formats of the game has nearly made Test cricket unrecognisable and the calls for four-day Test matches are growing increasingly louder.
But does the problem lie with the players more so than the conditions?
Since 2010, the Australian Test side sits only second (behind Pakistan) on the list of teams bowled out for under 100. Cape Town 2011 and all the boys in the baggy green could muster was 47, somewhat remarkably seeing as they were able to recover from 9/21 thanks to lower order ‘heroics’ from off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Granted, every now and then the so-called ‘cricketing gods’ will interfere and we will see days like that, but for the current crop of Australian Test cricketers, capitulating against a swinging and seaming ball has almost become habit.
Where does this inability to play tough cricket stem from? It is not as clear-cut as one might think. Obviously T20 and to an extent ODI cricket has to shoulder some of the blame, but these are international cricketers who should have no problem understanding the situation of games. The little dynamo David Warner, who shot to prominence through T20 cricket, is proof that one’s natural penchant for excitement can be curbed.
Warner’s maiden Test century came against the Kiwis at Hobart in 2011, his 123* off 170 balls proved even the most attacking off batsmen can play within themselves when required.
To some, Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 165 off 285 balls at the Adelaide Oval in 2009 beggars belief. To those in the know it is proof that when in whites the most talented cricketers can do extraordinary things.
In 1975, at Lord’s, Indian champion Sunil Gavaskar shocked the cricketing world, opening the batting in a run chase that required 335 runs. The original ‘Little Master’ crawled to 36* off 174 balls, batting the entire 60 overs. Naturally, India lost that game by 202 runs. Gavaskar showed the world what determination with bat in hand could achieve. First being rolled for 136 at Edgbaston and then the paltry 60 at Trent Bridge, this Australian side lacked any sort of determination, and the mind power Gavaskar embodied throughout his 10,122 Test run career was non existent. Where has this mindset gone?
At Sheffield Shield level the very best batsmen average in the low 40s, something that would have seemed laughable 15 years ago. Coaches and high performance managers are a dime a dozen but it doesn’t seem like they’re having any sort of affect.
We have been shortchanged 50 per cent of the days of cricket we should have watched so far in this Ashes series. It seems as though a five-day Test match has now become the stuff of legends. It comes down to a lack of desire from our cricketers. Our boys, who trounced the Poms 5-0 at home just 18 months ago, have seemingly lost the will to compete.
Cricket Australia’s ‘system’ was once revered, with its healthy habit of making our good cricketers great and our great cricketers world-class. If we are ever going to see performances that invoke thoughts of yesteryear, or just a five-day Test match, ever again we need to strip the rockstar attitude and get back to doing what the Australian cricket team has done so well in the past – win at all costs.
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