During this cricket summer of discontent, there has been a raft of errors made by the hierarchy of Australian cricket. Chairman Jack Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Andrew Hilditch would have been quite happy to swap their kingdoms for a victory, if not a horse, as loss followed ‘inexplicable’ loss.
Failure on the field is always possible, even by the most powerful teams and potent of individuals. That is the nature of sport and life, and despite the most intense of intents and preparation, this cannot be always avoided.
The human condition of competition to survive on the planet has made this so. Evolution, by its very definition, cannot be wrong.
On any day, the strongest can be beaten by the summation of a host of factors – from the toss of a coin, to sun in someone’s eyes, or officiating errors.
The great West Indies teams of the 1980s did not have a perfect record, yet they had an overwhelming record.
The Australian squad, for sixteen years unbeaten at home, similarly did not go unblemished. They lost rarely, more often away from home, but they were rightly ranked ‘number one’.
No team, ever, has been perfect and we (fans, media, coaches, et al ) cannot expect perfection (like they do in Pakistan). We can, however, expect proper thinking, processes, actions and accountability from the group listed above.
The plummet in five months since the India tour has been sudden, depressurizing and, to many, unbelievable.
But, of course, the decline began well before October on the sub-continent, a decline not papered over by the winning of a single one day international when the opposition did the unthinkable and gave Australia first use of the ever slowing SCG pitch.
Dan Vettori could be accused of taking the piss out Ricky Ponting when he won the toss on Sunday afternoon.
With five overs to go, the unthinkable was steaming up from the stern of the good ship Oz at a rate of knots as a wounded Brendan McCullum looked like getting his team to the most unlikeliest of victories.
Imagine the fall out if the Black Caps had gone to 3-0 chasing 300 on the SCG!
They weren’t far away.
Let us hope that the selectors have not been conned into the belief that they don’t need a specialist spinner. They lost to South Africa at the SCG (ODI, not Test) because of this schoolboy error.
David Hussey is not a spinner who will take a wicket unless batsmen are attacking him wildly. Jason Krezja is.
The fact that Krezja has been consigned, seemingly without parole, to Port Arthur must be disturbing. He can bat and field excellently, yet he has not been mentioned in dispatches since his summary sentencing after the Perth Test loss.
Bowling into a gale can be problematical at the WACA. Even the great Warne found it the least rewarding of venues.
The laudable defensive slow bowler, Nathan Hauritz, cannot find a place in the starting XI on his home ground.
Yet, through this stumbling gloom we find a step in the right direction has been made.
Those astute readers of this column will note my call for Brad Haddin to open the innings. This brings a completely new complexion to the balance of the team.
Haddin has opened many times for NSW, mostly in one-dayers, but occasionally in first class. He is no stranger to the position and it is not a risk or an experiment to do so at the top level.
Australia’s last wicketkeeper also opened the batting.
With an extra batsmen at the top, there becomes room for an all rounder or bowler to suit the local conditions. Sometimes that may mean a seam bowling all-rounder, at others a spin bowler, or even another batsmen or outright strike bowler.
These means to adapt are what generally make a difference to winning and losing limited over cricket.
The Australian selectors (and captain?) have avoided this so far.
Haddin’s batting also puts into perspective the sideshow of David Warner’s selection when he needed more experience. His time will come, but limited lessons are learned when you continue to fail in a losing team.
Even with Haddin’s elevation and hundred, they could not find a place for a spinner at the SCG.
They are ignoring history and rational cricket thought. An attacking, wicket taking bowler like Doug Bollinger or Dirk Nannes would fit the bill. Australia are playing defensive, self-doubting cricket at the moment.
Cameron White has been selected as a specialist number seven, although it was terrific to see him get three overs in Melbourne on Friday and another few on Sunday.
Rumours of his total disability in the fingers of his right hand have been grossly exaggerated. But what is his role in this XI?
Can Andrew Hilditch please explain, if he has any clear idea that is?
There are leadership issues within the team and from those in executive positions.
Sadly, the biggest bonus Australian Cricket has received looking forward to the Ashes hasn’t come from incisive leadership, or revamped batting orders.
It has come from England’s 2nd innings at Sabina Park.
New Zealand took 28 years to win a Test match, finally triumphing in 1956. There were plenty of skilled individuals before that but not a complete team.
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