Ricky Ponting and his team have defeated everyone but this dogged opponent – the court of public opinion. It seems unlikely he will ever win, for every time he gets close, the goalposts are moved.
Lose the Ashes for the first time in 20 years: How could you have sent England in at Edgbaston? How could you have batted so poorly at Trent Bridge?
Win them back 5-0: Yes, but that was such an atrocious England side that, had you not won 5-0, it would have been a disgrace.
Win the last two World Cups: But how come you couldn’t win the last two Commonwealth Bank series’?
Win a Test at the SCG in the closing moments: You won but the way you went about it was disgusting.
Try to maintain the spirit of the game in the decisive fourth Test in India by bowling Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey: There was a Test and series on the line. You could worry about the complications later. Anyhow, whose fault was it in the first place that you were so far behind with the over rates?
Ponting has been an incredibly successful captain, but yet he can’t win.
Win and he is guilty of not winning the right way. Should he not win, he is guilty of the bigger sin of not winning.
So what exactly are Ponting and his troops guilty of?
Could it be that Australians are way too attached to the underdog and this combined with the tall poppy syndrome means that they want Goliath cut down to size?
Only nine teams (not counting Zimbabwe) play Test cricket, and of the nine, you could only say that India, South Africa and England are competitive. Such threadbare opposition is hardly worth beating your chest about.
The law of diminishing returns means that when a side is so successful, wins lose value. The side obviously wouldn’t think so, but the public and media would.
What becomes a sexy story, however, is when there is an upset.
It’s no coincidence that some of the most exciting Test series’ in recent times have seen Australia on the losing end.
When did the Australian public really respond?
When the team was the underdog and did something it hadn’t done in a long time, such as the 1987 World Cup, 1989 Ashes, 1995 Frank Worrell Trophy and 1999 World Cup. Other than that, it seems to be a case of “ho hum here we go again”.
The cricketing public, in particular the Australian public, seemed to love the West Indian teams of the 1980s, even though they were flogging us like the proverbial dead horse. Their swagger was cavalier. Viv Richards wasn’t pompous, he was confident. Joel Garner wasn’t menacing and cold-blooded, he was proficient.
So what can be done about it? Nothing really.
That’s just the way things are.
Ponting should go about his business and not care about what any of the pundits think – that is, if he ever cared to begin with.
And like a former Prime Minister or sacked coach, Ponting will find that people and in particular, the media, are a lot friendlier after he moves on.
He might even find that reporters call him up asking his comments and opinions on the state of the Australian side.
Davido
Guest
True... so true. Having said that, the Australian team, some players and certainly the management have committed an extraordinary number of PR blunders in recent years. But look at the new context they operate within. The media game is different and it is a new paradigm. ... the media do not hesitate to stick the boot in at the earliest opportunity these days. Why.. who knows - it probably sells papers. Ask Wiseman, he should know. He was happy to do a propaganda piece in support of Roebuck recently.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
David - well done on a necessary article in riposte to Benjamin Conkey's "It’s in the spirit of the game to remove Ponting as captain" of last week. To those who like the idea of Mike Hussey as Australian captain - has Australia ever won a match with him in charge? I can only think of losses: 3 ODIs in New Zealand prior to the 2007 World Cup, and the T20 exhibition match last Friday. Besides, people would do well to remember that Hussey is the current "choir-master" in the Australian side. Previously this position was held by Langer, then Ponting, and also people like Boon and R Marsh. It's easy to see what they all have in common. So it's hard to imagine a less abrasive Australian side under Hussey (not that I personally want that, but it seems to be what a lot of people do want). The West Indies of the 1980s were to be admired but their cricket was one-dimensional (as shown by it being overtaken by the Australian model) and I have never heard them described as humble. In fact it's well documented that they riled Sunil Gavaskar even more than the current Australian team! To the Symonds baggers - ask yourself how you would feel if you were hung out to dry like he was over the racism incidents of 2007/08.
David Wiseman
Roar Guru
Sheek - Good point. Daryl/ ohtani's jacket - Thank you :) David Sygall - Thanks for reading David - I enjoy reading your stuff as well. For mind, its about having an X-Factor. Tiger Woods has it and even though he is so dominant, you can't help but like him. Same as Michael Jordan. Shane Warne had it. Simon Katich - definitely not! Skull - You think? cosmos forever - Interesting comments. Worlds Biggest - I don't think Hussey is next in line, isn't Clarke?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I think Punter is one of our great Batsmen & I love watching him bat. BUT as a Skipper I just don't like his demeanour and persona. I find him incredibally arrogant ( along with Hayden & M Clarke ) particularly in his post game comments. He never compliments or praises the opposition when it is merited. Classic example was after the 07 World Cup Final. He never once congratulated the Sri Lankans for there efforts on making the Final or said well done etc... Steve Waugh and particularly Tubby were gracious in victory & defeat. Punter has a good record as Skipper but I would prefer Hussey any day.
cosmos forever
Guest
Ok, I try to waste as little brain space and finger energy on the Australian cricket team as I can. I've found them pretty much unpalatable ever since Mark Taylor retired. Ponting's problem is that he thinks everyone should be 'tragics' and not learned observers of the sport. The Symonds, Pontings and Haydens of the world want sycophants ready to buy the next V8 falcon and not question intricate tactics. Flat track bullies all of them, called to account by a complex and needy (but learned) fan base and unable to deal with it. That an Australian Captain should even entertain engaging with an SMH journo who is clearly selling papers shows the complete lack of maturity that the current team is led by. Why - first generation of Academy only players leading the national side. Looked after, excuses made for and carried through their entire career (they can't even count overs any more...). Tall poppy syndrome - BS. W-League, A-League, WNBL - now that's summer sport ;)
Skull
Guest
I for one did not admire the West Indies in the 80's, what with 10 over per hour over rates and 5 bouncers per over thrown in. If Ponting had a bowling attack like that and went down the same route he'd be banned for life.
David Sygall
Guest
David, you answered your own question when you described the reasons why the Australian public admired the West Indies of the 1980s but seem to bag Ponting for anything and everything. The Windies had confidence rather than pomp, proficiency instead of menace. And, if I may add, they had class rather arrogance. No one is upet at the fact the Australians are winners. It's the way some of the players go about it that is the problem. There is most certainly a tall-poppy syndrome in Australia, but that is not why Ponting is unpopular. It's far simpler than that.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Yeah, that was a great article.
Daryl
Roar Rookie
Fantastic article David, you have hit the nail on the head!
sheek
Guest
David, You're right of course. The opinions of the public are so diversified.....& so very inconsistent. Yes, I was one of those disgusted by the lack of sportsmanship by the Aussies back in January in Sydney. And I was disgusted by Ponting's muddled thinking of over rates in the recent Indian series. But I see the two issues as being entirely different. You can be a good sportsman & still be hard, tough & successful. I don't mind individuals & teams playing at the edge of propriety. In fact, I often think it's essential. But it's a fine line deciding when one has crossed that almost invisible line. Unfortunately, Punter's actions in India was probably affected by what happened in Sydney. The truth is, you're never going to please everyone, so the important thing is to be comfortable within yourself as to what you do. Now, is that as clear as mud? Good, carry on!