With its convoluted ranking system and irregular schedule, international cricket cannot generate interest like other domestic sports.
Instead it is best served by its rivalries and characters, in its mission to conjure up passion among its fans. However, after years of ever-changing playing lists and a series of uninspiring captaincies, the boys in the baggy greens have lost their trademark character, and are beginning to lose support as a result.
Almost symptomatic of their on-field mediocrity, the Australian team has failed to find a suitable player to truly inspire the fans’ passions. The years of fans aspiring to be Brett Lee on the Weet-Bix box are over, and its starting to become an issue.
Other nations don’t appear to have this problem, providing Australian cricket fans with an endless supply of villains against whom they can support. Heroes to their own nations, the cricketing world has a wealth of players to play Ivan Drago to Australia’s Rocky.
From the perceived arrogance of Kevin Pietersen and the dubious morals of Stuart Broad, to the feared mastery of Sachin Tendulkar and the bad boy attitude of Virat Kohli, to the venomous 1-2 punch of Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, great cricket comes with great enemies.
Even the sickly sweetness of Brendon McCullum’s good-guy persona made for an interesting story line.
Other international men’s teams feature stars with talent Australians respect and personality they abhor. But the Australian team lacks the basic likability for even their own fans to rally behind.
The Australian men’s team hasn’t always been this hard to love. For generations the Australians were a well-liked club of colourful characters and fierce competitors.
The team of the early 2000s had enough personality to script a half decent sitcom. With the sweetheart (Adam Gilchrist), the lovable larrikin (Shane Warne), the attack dog with the good heart (Glenn McGrath), and the gunslinger (Brett Lee), the Australian team was bursting with characters.
It was a team carrying the torch handed to them by classic personalities like David Boon and Merv Hughes. There was a hero for everyone, for many generations of cricket fans.
But those days appear to be over as the Australian team features an ever-changing bottom order married to a dull and uninspiring top order.
Despite their clear talent, and recent World Cup achievement, none of the team’s regular members really provide a relatable platform onto whom fans can project our desires. A champion behind whom fans can rally.
Someone with the talent fans aspire to and the personality they can reflect. Someone that is feared internationally but adored domestically.
There have been candidates, but none have really captured our imagination. Michael Clarke’s Hollywood lifestyle was too unrelatable, David Warner was too crazy, and is now too tame. Steve Smith has the personality of a piece of toast. The flame was almost recaptured with Mitchell Johnson, but even that died away all too quickly.
The only recent player to truly unite the Australian public was Shane Watson and that was for all the wrong reasons.
The Australian team, and international Test cricket for that matter, desperately needs a champion. A player for fans to be amazed by, but to also talk about him like they know him personally.
A man that reflects the fans and who they pretend they could have been if they’d been born with more talent; a man that is equal parts fierce competitor, and mate from the clubhouse. Until that man comes, Australian cricket is going to grow increasingly unwatchable.
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