A recent Ashes defeat and a spate of retirements have left an apparent cloud over Australia’s ‘national sport’, as underlying tones of pessimism from the media have trickled down to cricket fans.
While melodramatic pub talk is one thing, some of the more typically level headed cricket sources have suddenly got me questioning whether Australia are on the verge of a crisis.
Scaremongers will be quick to inform you that Cameron Bancroft was only six years old when his predecessor Chris Rogers was playing for Western Australia. The media have also done the maths on how inexperienced the latest 15-man Test squad is in terms of caps, with the group averaging just under 14 Test appearances each heading into the next series.
A string of Bangladesh ODI victories against Pakistan, India and South Africa has also given credibility to reports that Australia are going to have to be on the top of their game to avoid getting embarrassed by the world’s lowest ranked Test team. Which is true.
After a cold shower and some reflection, however, you fall to the realisation that crisis is not a synonym of transition, and that every team goes through a similar change in personnel.
A team’s ability to bounce back from such situations is dependent on their strength in depth. Those looking for a seamless transition between the old dressing room and new will be disappointed, as while there is undoubted talent there is also inexperience.
Every player has to start their international career somewhere, and while on-field performances aren’t as guaranteed as they have been in the past, I see enough potential to believe that Australia have a bright future.
Short-term results aside there’s still a lot for Australian cricket fans to look forward to this summer.
A historical few months of cricket await as the Australia hosts the world’s first day-night Test match against New Zealand, as well as the Sheffield Shield heading overseas for the first time in the competition’s history.
The eyes of the cricket community will be on Adelaide Oval on November 27 as the Trans-Tasman rivalry goes on into the night in an attempt to draw spectators in after a day of work. The contentious plan to stage the revolutionary event has been a long time in the making and should make for captivating viewing.
The Shield fixture between New South Wales and Western Australia will be heading to New Zealand’s south island in early February before Australia’s return Test tour. Relocating the state fixture has been favoured to the more traditional tour match, giving those players that aren’t involved in the pre-Test ODI series the chance to play a competitive fixture in local conditions before the Tests begins.
The 2015 One-Day Cup also sees change as a seventh team is introduced to this year’s competition. The two-year trial conducted by Cricket Australia will see a CA XI made up of a combination of uncontracted state players and national youth squad members take to the field.
Taking place in Sydney, the 50-over format should provide the perfect appetiser for the flood-lit first round of the Sheffield Shield. No need to worry if you’re not Sydney-based as 15 of the 23 one-day matches are scheduled to be broadcast on free-to-air Channel Gem.
The 2005 Big Bash League and the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League carry on the world’s T20 obsession for franchised competitions. This year’s BBL will no doubt provide glitz and glamour aplenty over the Christmas and New Year’s period, offering viewers an additional fix of cricket during the West Indies’ tour Down Under.
The 2016 T20 World Cup in March is also likely to provide an extra incentive for players to perform as competition for places on the plane to India heats up.
Of course all this excitement does nothing to dispel fans’ fears about Australia’s international team, but with such a comprehensive schedule lined up for the next few months, it’s going to be exciting even if it’s not guaranteed to be pretty.
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