England players celebrate after winning on the fourth day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)
In a long lifetime of watching cricket I don’t think I have ever seen something so stupid and so selfish as Shane Watson’s idiotic call for a short single that resulted in running out Philip Hughes.
Australia was facing a deficit of 415 to make England bat again. More than two days remained in the Test, at the close of play.
A win would give England a 2-1 lead in the series with one Test to play, and ensure that the Ashes were retained by the visitors. Australia had to bat for more than two days to have a chance of achieving a ‘winning’ draw.
Both batsmen were comfortably set, with Hughes, a player who can make big scores once he gets some momentum in his inning, batting splendidly.
Watson ruined any chance of a fairy tale draw by hitting a ball firmly to short cover and taking off for a run. Jonathan Trott, a right-hander, fielded the ball coming to his right hand, sent in a smart return and the wicket-keeper had the bails off with Hughes well short of his ground.
As the two batsmen came out on to the field I made a note that at least there would be no run-outs because the need to push for runs just wasn’t an issue. Watson’s stupidity in going for a tight, extra-tight I reckon, short single is just impossible to explain away.
Watson’s call was selfish cricket of the worst kind. It was self-indulgent, all about himself. In a decent team environment and culture it would involve the punishment of an instant dropping.
But this is the rub. This is not going to happen. For some time the Australian cricket team and its support staff, especially the coaching staff, has worked (unsuccessfully, unfortunately) as a closed shop with the entitlement of the senior players being a driving force.
We see this entitlement in the assumption that Ricky Ponting will be automatically succeeded by Michael Clarke. There was a time when this succession plan made sense.
But it makes no sense now.
Clarke is in miserable form. He has had two different promotions to bat in the crucial number four position. And both these attempts have failed.
If he can’t hold down a number four position, his place in the team in the future must be problematical.
We have seen Brad Haddin, Australia’s second highest scorer in the series, kept at number seven, despite the fact that when Steve Smith came into the side his technique was not up to batting at number six.
Ben Hilfenhaus has struggled to take wickets in every Test. Mark Taylor in several Tests has pointed to the fact that he delivers every ball from the same spot, extremely close to the stumps. The effect of this is to accentuate the banana-like aspect of his stock out-swinging delivery.
Bowlers of line, length and a bit of cut like Glenn McGrath, Richard Hadlee (and Peter Siddle to a lesser extent) can bowl close to the stumps because this forces the batsman to play at every delivery, with the chance of a bit of movement forcing an edge.
But a genuine out-swing bowler like Hilfenhaus needs to angle the ball into the batsman (hence bowl from wider on the crease) to force the batsman to play at the ball which is directed towards his stumps. This angle, too, reduces the big hoop on the out-swing. In turn, this increases the chances of catching rather than missing the edge.
Taylor also reported that the bowling coaches had been working with Hilfenhaus on this. I watched his bowling at the MCG and every ball was delivered from close to the stumps.
Why was Doug Bollinger dropped after one successful Test, and Hilfenhaus retained?
What was the influence of Ricky Ponting on all of this?
I ask this question because it is an unfortunate fact that when ageing, struggling captains of national sides are under the pump they tend to insist on ageing, struggling other players in the side being retained.
Throughout the series I have had the feeling that England has played as a team, while Australia had played as a group of individuals, especially the senior players (with the exception of Michael Hussey) who have put their own individual interests ahead of the team.
As proof of this, there are the collapse in the second innings at Adelaide (when the ground became water-logged 90 minutes after the fall of the last Australian wicket) and the two capitulations at the MCG when the Ashes were on the line.
Sides with a strong team culture can lose matches, and indeed Ashes series. But it was the lack of fight by Australia – and the stupid dismissals – that has been so alarming and revelatory this Ashes series.
At Adelaide, for instance, Michael Clarke, a good player of spin, was dismissed in the last over of play in the second inning, when Australia was trying to bat out a day and half of play. The bowler was Kevin Pietersen, who bowls meat pies masquerading as off-spinners. Clarke managed to lob one of these innocuous deliveries to short mid-on.
He explained afterwards he was thinking about getting a single and getting off strike. This explanation is as stupid as Watson’s call to run out Hughes. If Clarke doubts his ability to block out a couple of Pietersen deliveries he should not be in the Test side.
So this Ashes series has turned to ashes for Australian cricket.
History suggests that the national side will arise, phoenix-like, from these ashes. It should be remembered though that the last time this dire situation occurred it took something like 10 years before the revival was consolidated.
Will the Australian public be so accommodating this time around? Will there even be a revival within a decade? Can the revival be achieved with the sort of cult of celebrity that the modern players seem to indulge in?
A great Australian cricket team in the future is not inevitable just because we have always produced, sooner or later, a great, all-conquering team.
To make the return to greatness inevitable for Australian cricket I have a simple remedy to start with: off with the heads of all those involved with the present debacle, from the management of the game, to the coaches and to a number of senior players.
The future in organising the revival, on and off the field, should be placed in the hands of Mark Taylor, Rodney Marsh, Dennis Lillee, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne …
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Smokey - seems like you are living with one like mine. At least, I must say, I get a right of reply but it's ignored. You can reply to one that is 'too far over' by replying to one higher in the replies and address it to: 'Christ knows' ..............whoever!
Smokey Robinson
Guest
Any ideas why i don't have a 'reply' option on your post responding to me stillmissit? Remind me of my good wife ....no right of reply.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'Rugby World Cup 2003. Why bring that up? Do you realize how fortunate England were that Australia got the All Blacks out of the way for them in the semi final and got beaten up in the process? Imagine (hypothetically) playing a rampaging All Blacks in the final instead of a crippled Wallabies? Count your lucky stars you have that one in the bank!' A 'crippled Wallabies' side? Lucky not to have played a 'rampaging All Blacks'?
Timnaik
Guest
Chris, England's form heading into the 03 WC was phenomenal. They had beaten every one in Test rugby. They were just in better form for a longer period and they maintained it throughout the tourney. Yes, steady/mature heads had some thing to do with it but form was what got them the cup!
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
The Rich Caucus of India, South Africa, England and Australia simply dont want to play anyone else, and particularily not in extended tours.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
That doesn't mean it makes any sense.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Great post FOTW - I think this sums up beautifully how we all feel - well at least most of us. The selectors are not on your page. Love the finale "But at the moment the players are all acting as if they didn’t really do anything bad, just that England were better." that nails it for me. I would disagree with one thing in your post. Time for an automatic shotgun rather than baseball bats.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Smokey Robinson - how are you? nice to meet Christ's singing minder! this is his statement that I objected to. "It wouldn’t matter who Australia picked now or eighteen months ago or where in the order anyone played, or which golden child was on the selection panel. The simple fact is England and other countries have a better generation of players available." This is the statement of a rank pragmatist and I agree they are usually useful to cut through the dreamy emotional stuff but at this time we need a hard man with imagination, belief and balls.
Lolly
Guest
He's out of his depth. He often says things that don't appear to be aligned with any thing recognisable about the Aus team.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Well Said Fly. The news limited press is reporting that Nielsen believes that up until a week ago the team was going well... http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/the-ashes/australian-coach-tim-nielsen-says-blame-me-too/story-fn67wv6z-1225978995951 Nielsen was asked directly if he was doing a good job. "I believe I'm doing everything in my ability to have us performing at the highest level we can," he said. "Seven or eight days ago, everything was going swimmingly. "Overall, I feel like we're seeing some young players develop, we're seeing some good performances from most of the group, we've been competitive. "But ... we haven't been able to regain the Ashes and that's the ultimate measuring stick." Australia faces a huge year, with Test series against India, South Africa and Sri Lanka. "It was only seven days ago we were on top of the world," Nielsen said. "We can't throw the baby out with the bath water." How did they renew this mans contract? He is clearly off with the fairies and living in another dimension. Doing well? Did he miss the Adelaide and Brisbane tests? What exactly is his job?
Fisher Price
Guest
Clearly doing a good job, Justin is.
Lolly
Guest
He hasn't come up through the system so it will take a while for him to make his way to the top. He'll probably have to have 4 good seasons before they let him in the door. I think Watson's judgement of a single is poor. He and Kat's running between wickets is frequently poor as well. I just don't think he always realises that there are two people who have to make the run.
Junior
Guest
how many tests did bangladesh win in 2010? well, i just did some stats work too. about 30 whole seconds worth. bangladesh played seven, lost seven. australia? played 12, won six now you've got ME comparing bangladesh to australia. nice one.
Nambucco Deliria
Guest
This is the best analysis I've read of the situation - especially the bit about baseball bats. Maybe you could give one to David Warner? Well done FotW. But if every man and his dog can see what is going on, why will nothing be done?
Rhys
Guest
James, Langer is the only one I can think of from the list of recent-ish retirees (Moody would be another). You'd have to wonder if his tenure as Australian batting coach needs reviewing given recent debacles. Steve Waugh's the one they should be looking at to play a future coaching role - he'd instill a bit of grit into the team for a start.
Rhys
Guest
James, I noticed on the latest ICC Test rankings (for what they're worth) that 'the big 4' - South Africa, England, Australia & India - have all played roughly a dozen more Tests during the ratings period (if that's what it's called) than the rest of the top tier nations. It's no coincidence that we see the West Indies tour Australia a lot less regularly than they did during the 80s and 90s - they just don't attract the media and sponsorship dollars that an Indian tour can generate. I can recall when we played 5 Test series against the Windies as well, though that's a less common thing across the board these days.
jamesb
Guest
I agree with everything you said fly on the wall. Also when warne was playing he had Terry Jenner as his mentor. If thats the case, who is the mentor of Steve Smith? And the same goes for young QLD leg spinner Cameron Boyce. I think Smith, Boyce and many other young Australian players will do just fine as long as they get the right coaching behind them. Smith definitely needs a full time mentor for his leg spin bowling. His batting is more at 7 or 8.
Tragic
Guest
Am i supposed to assume you don't understand it as an analogy for the problems of the Australian cricket team?
Fly on the Wall
Guest
Time to get real: This is a very good England side; well-balanced, well-prepared, well-led, well-coached and devoid of ego (KP was very subdued throughout). I admired their professionalism, which prevailed on all fronts and showed the best way to counter a bully is to embarrass them. If they play like this they can beat anyone anywhere. End of story. This is not a poor Australian side but a goodish one that played so far beneath its abilities as to open up a whole line of questioning far removed from just 'who should we pick?' The fact that the Australians could only get motivated at Perth by reverting to acting like d*ckheads speaks volumes for the bigheaded attitudes of some of the influential players. Cricket Australia is so beholden to its PR w*nkers that it has forgotten about actually playing cricket. (remember the announcement of 17 players for the first Test ?) If CA does not have a clue, can we blame the players? Why was the coach's contract renewed FOR THREE YEARS immediately BEFORE the Ashes? Ponting has little clue about setting fields, Clarke does not have the guts to 'tell' Ponting what the placements should be. And Clarke is the worst 20-20 batsman around - can't even hit a 6. Shane Watson is the biggest ego I have seen in some time - never thinks he's out, challenges the decision and is still out, then stands around like the whole thing is unfair. On yer bike pretty boy, or down to No.6. As soon as the ball moves around, Australia are stuffed. This was evident under Taylor and Waugh but inevitably Australia's bowlers were even better and won back many of those iffy Tests. Who is teaching batting technique (I'm talking to you Mr Katich, Hughes, Smith) and who is teaching bowling technique ? And why was Tim Paine - an excellent candidate to be Australian Test wicketkeeper/captain/opening batsman playing a stupid backyard 20-20 game on the eve of the Ashes? Result: broken hand I saw Malcolm Knox at Warringah Mall today and during our 5-minute chat we were both bewildered at the sheer knuckleheadedness of Australia's approach. Tactics? Basics? Most Australians accept that England were by far the better side - any smarta*se comments to the contrary are just tongue in cheek and a muddleheaded way of dealing with the 'grief'. What is making Australians incredibly mad is that the whole ship seems rudderless and all the shipmates are off their heads and in denial about what they have served up. Perhaps if they watched their own performances and had to justify their actions to a selection panel there might be some contrition and admission. But at the moment the players are all acting as if they didn't really do anything bad, just that England were better. That's why we are lining up with baseball bats.
Flash
Guest
finally someone has mentioned Copeland! looking at the averages over the last couple of seasons and his age this guy should be in the team and given at least a year to come on. I'm not sure why the press haven't mentioned him but he definitely needs to be thrown into the mix