It is easy to support your team when things are going swimmingly. The Australian cricketing public have had it great for well over a decade.
The Aussie cricket team had a record that would make most other sport supporters envious and produced a list of champions that takes longer to scour than a wikileaks dump.
During this period it was no surprise how well supported the team was. People always hop on a runaway bandwagon. Those that had ridden through the bumpy road that was Border’s early captaincy I’m sure were eager to share the wagon-space with those who started to enjoy the game more through the winning times of Taylor.
Later came Waugh’s period of almost foregone conclusion. That was a great period and the wagon was absolutely jammed packed. In fact the only mutterings from the back in those years were about the team winning too much. Be careful what you wish for.
It is harder to rally behind a team when they really need it. When it is hard to see where the next win will come from. When your favourite players have disappointed you with their recent performances.
When the team seems to lack direction, determination and even desire. I say ‘seems’ because surely their talent and professionalism haven’t just vanished. Being systematically outplayed by a very skilful team can make you look thoroughly ordinary, perhaps even inept.
Ask the Poms of the late 1990s.
Here is the irony; this is precisely when your team needs you to get behind them but no one likes to pay to watch their mob lose. Fair enough, too.
What isn’t fair enough is the bile being heaped on the players by their former fair-weather friends. Everyone is entitled to their opinions how the team should be selected, be lead and perform and believe me I’ve got a lot (most of which involve the removal of something rhyming with Schmilditch).
But whoever pulls on the baggy green going into the WACA test should know that they have everyone in the Aussie cricket fraternity behind them. Once that Test starts, they should know absolutely no-one is death-riding them.
Who does that help?
Winning against a team that has so far proved better than you across the board and has the momentum is much more impressive and rewarding than flogging inferior teams 3-0 series after series.
This could be a very exciting time for Aussie fans if they are willing to put themselves out there to suffer a few disappointments along the way.
Plenty of room on the bandwagon left if you want to hop on.
nosoupforyou
Roar Rookie
What do you mean by "support"? Watching your team underperform with an uncritical eye strikes me as foolish. I say criticise away. If the players respond in a way that would make Tugger proud, thats fantastic. I am more than happy to eat crow if they show some backbone.
mickh
Guest
Oh come on Chris, you're not still cranky that I don't like the Barmy Army. Seems you guys care about this whole Ashes thingy much more than us. Oh and you spelled my name wrong. ........Ohhhh, you were being immature, sorry!
Big Steve
Guest
Interesting article barnabus. Alot of cricket supporters, most people under 30 wont remember anything other than the Australian Cricket team dominating the world. Thrashing England in Australia every 4 years was icing on the cake. I know some of the older supporter would remember the time before the 90's when we struggled but to the younger supports this is probably coming as a shock. But as you mention at the end, the reward of a rebuilt Australian side dominating worl cricket again for those who have stayed true. Even if it takes 1 or 5 or 10 years. Gee its hard when they dont seem put in though.
ChrisT
Guest
dickh, the rest of us don't have knighthoods and it's pretty pathetic that a nation playing on the other side of the world can maintain good honest support while getting stuffed but another playing at home raises barely a whimper. Dontchathink?
Danno1
Guest
I agree that the team needs all the support they can get, but gee they're a hard bunch to love! Kat, Haddin, Siddle and Hussey always look like they're busting a gut, even when they're struggling, so it is easy to get behind them, but...but...Watson, Clarke, Mitch Johnson, & Punter one of the best batsmen, but worse captains I've ever seen, really make it tough. Then there is the sheer frustration of watching athletes trained from a very young age into professionalism, not being able to bowl one side of a wicket, or even to a plan. No wonder the laughingly referred to brains trust sets bizarre fields, there is no bowler who can deliver the ball on or outside off-stump at good pace, and wobble it about. England had Troy Cooley as bowling coach and all their bowlers were swerving new and old balls about like indoor cricket balls, he comes to Australia and only Watson can get any movement through the air. What is he doing, speaking Swahili to the Aussies?? Can our players not learn anything, or don't they have the skills to implement what they are coached? As for the teams being equal...who from the Australian team would make the English team? Hussey for Collingwood probably, Haddin maybe for Prior but a struck match in that, Punter for...um....on current form no one...maybe Bell? The rest are nowhere, and the names people have been casting up as replacements wouldn't make the England team either. Now I know why there are flouro colours and "bold" patterns in the trendy clothing shops...cricket is following fashion, we're back in the eighties....as the Police sang in Canary in a coalmine...us Aussie supporters are the "First to fall over when the atmosphere is less than perfect, Your sensibilities are shaken by the slightest defect"...
mickh
Guest
There was good support from the Barmy Army in the 5-0 loss but that's about it.The rest of England were asking for their Knighthoods to be revoked.
clipper
Guest
Don't forget genuine supporters of English football clubs - they'll follow them for life - no matter how far down they go.
Brett McKay
Guest
Barnabus, firstly, a great read, really enjoyed it. Secondly, I completely agree with you!! Now IS the time to dig in behind the team and support them, because The Ashes are quite literally on the line. I was pleased as for Mike Hussey when he reached three figures in Brisbane, and would have happily lead the cheer squad if not the muted surrounds of the media room. After you start wondering whether someone can get back to their best - especially someone you've always admired - it's always great to see them do it. Similarly, i have high hopes for the captain too. His second innings 51* in Brisbane was full of all the shots we know he can play so well, and he batted as well that last afternoon as he has in the last 12-18 months. He got a corker from Anderson in the first dig in Adelaide, and got beaten by Swann in the second. But I'm sure there's big runs in him this summer. So yeah, get behind the team. It's all one-way at the moment, but there's not that much between the two teams...
drop kick
Guest
Oh come on where is the fun in that! There is nothing Oz fans like more than being able to call for the Captain /Coach/Spinner/batsmen to be sacked. Usually it comes along with claims that the player lacks fortitude/intelligence/skill/application.These insights are so obvious to all of us who never played at a high level and have never met the players we condemn to instant banishment - it is truly a wonder that those myopic/ancient/blind/soft selectors and coaches can't see what we can, their experience must cloud their judgment. If we were winning everything we'd only have the poms to laugh at - far better to be able to attack our own. And when the summer of cricket is over we can turn our attention to the Wallabies - who will need to sack the coach, get a new captain, pick players with guts/skills/mongrel etc etc
BarnabusXI
Roar Rookie
Yes I think that comment is pretty much spot on. A touch more humility in recent winning times wouldn't have gone astray either.
preciouspress
Guest
I am afraid that the Australian way as regards their national teams is only to support success. During the periods of victory after victory the tendency is to gloat and disparage the opposition. When the pendulum swings and losses persist the gloaters become doomsayers who quickly withdraw their allegiance. Contrast this with the barmy army attitude, supporters more used to defeat, follow their side regardless, sing and chant both at England's high points and low points throughout the game. Andrew Strauss made a point of praising the barmy army's support and four years ago Andrew Flintoff had the same support when going down 5-0. The ozzie/ozzies must not only become better losers but better winners too. Enjoy the wonderful game of cricket for its own sake not as a vehicle for jingoistic pride.
BarnabusXI
Roar Rookie
I've always admired the supporters of mainly Victorian AFL clubs who seem to have the realistic expectation of a cyclical nature of success. As well as the patience to see their team rebuilt in lean years. I fully understand wanting your team to do well week in- week out, but the cricket public and media has just seemed to have abandoned supporting the team for take swipes at any given chance. The story a few years ago of when Collingwood won the wooden spoon also being the year they sold the most jerseys is a terrific, inspiring one (not just for marketers).
Smally
Guest
Yeah, I must say I have been more into the cricket this year that when Hayden made a 300+ against Bangladesh. But I am really a bit furious with some of Punter's field placements and North's inability to rebuild an innings. I am looking forward to the purge/rebuild, though. It’ll be an exiting time for a cricket supporter.