It is ingrained in our psyche. As Australia cricket supporters we expect a hero to save the day. No matter how great the odds might be against us, we assume someone at some point, will display that uniquely Australian fighting spirit and that the good guys will prevail.
When we sat at the top of world cricket, some accused our boys in baggy green of arrogance, and bewilderingly claimed it was boring that victory was so regular.
But what made that side so dominate and so ruthless was the champions littered throughout the champion team.
Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Hayden, Langer. The list goes on. They weren’t just talented, they continually exuded those uniquely Australian qualities, and they almost always played the hero.
At times they may have looked arrogant, but never were they beaten without a fight, never did they fold without a whimper. When it mattered most, they rose to the occasion. When their country needed them, they were charging in, or standing their ground. Now tell me, where have those qualities gone?
You can’t replace men of that calibre easily, but we’re not asking for another great leg spinner, or another champion opener, just men who will show fight day-in day-out, and not crumble at the slightest hint of pressure.
The selectors have copped their fair share of criticism, and so they should. Their treatment of players has been inconsistent and they refuse to make the tough decisions.
It appears that Andrew Hilditch and co. choose the option that has the least chance of back-firing. But it is wrong to choose a team in fear of regret, worried about what might go wrong instead of what they might achieve. Choose a team of characters and see what they can do, or who they can become.
I have to admire Steve Smith for his enthusiasm, but if he is the sixth best batsman in the country then I no nothing about cricket. After the way we have played this series, we should have picked an extra batsmen anyway and let smith play as the spinner.
Dave Hussey might be the wrong side of thirty, but until someone is better, you have to pick him. Smith, Callum Ferguson, Cameron White and Shaun Marsh just don’t have the credentials yet.
And while the selectors need a rocket, the players at the top need to fight every day, not just when it suits, or when it’s coming out right. I’d happily watch Peter Siddle take none for 100, at least you know he’s charging in, at least he remembers he’s playing for his country.
Only Mike Hussey has shown the sort of fight required this summer from our top order. Jimmy Anderson and his English mates have swung the ball and bowled with discipline – something from which we could learn a thing or two. But theirs is not an attack to write history.
Ricky Ponting’s summer was tragic for a player regarded as one of the best this country has produced. While his best may be behind him, he is only guilty of caring too much, of trying too hard, and I for one won’t be calling for his resignation.
Michael Clarke, Phil Hughes, Brad Haddin – every second innings, and Shane Watson – once he gets past forty, need to remember what it meant to receive that baggy green. The incumbents, and those who will debut over the next 12 months, must take the crease with the sort of resolve that have turned ordinary players into great ones.
Just ask your batting coach boys.
Train Without A Station
Guest
A couple of colleagues and I were discussing this matter at work today. Perhaps Australian cricket would benefit from selectors who don't know as much about the game. Instead of picking on X Factor, potential and all these other factors that obviously aren't working they would be forced to simply pick on results and averages, the factors that actually win matches. It's a sad state that Phillip Hughes can get dropped average around 50 in test cricket, then be picked again, when he is averaging less than 20 in shield cricket. I totally understand that there is no quality opening batsmen playing shield cricket this season (Another hyped prospect, Ed Cowan, averages in the mid 30s), however surely moving a performing Hussey to the opening position he has previously occupied with distinction is a reasonable option. It hardly would have made a difference, he would have only been out in the middle about 4 overs later anyway in most innings. And he would have had the benefit of knowing he was going straight in. These selectors are taking gambles on the future, with players such as Hughes, Smith and Beer this series, at the detriment of today. What is bothering Australian Cricket fans is that they are GAMBLES. These player MIGHT turn into quality cricketers in a few years time, but they also MIGHT NOT. At least we know players like Cameron White, David Hussey, Brad Hodge, etc. are ready today. They might not be there in 5 years but neither might Cricket Australia if this rapid slide continues (Yes I am being a little too dramatic there). The constant talk of moving Watson back down the order is also unfathomable. He is currently the only fit, test standard opener we have in Australia. He's performances have increased significantly since his move there, moving him back would probably be to the detriment of his overall performance and the team. Let's be glad we have one opener averaging around 40-50 in that position in their time there and try to find another one in shield cricket for when Katich moves on. At the end of the day those 80s and 90s that Watson fails to convert into 100s only affect his reputation, not his real value to the team. I know to English cricket supporters that we may seem like a bunch of sore losers. But the English XI have not beaten our legitimate best XI. Yes they have played great cricket this summer, and yes they would have beaten our actual best XI, but at least we would have gone down fighting.
jamesb
Guest
talent identification is a great point you picked up on train without a station. Player that keeps getting talked about is Ferguson. If you think Hughes has technical worries, Fergusons not far behind him in that category. 2 players who should've played for Australia from test 1 in this series was Khawaja for clarke and white for north. Clarke had injury worries before the first test. Benefit of hindsight now should suggest that clarke should have taken the whole ashes series off to shrug off his injury. In the first test he was as stiff as a board. One of the most impressive innings I've seen this summer is Cam Whites innings in the Australia A game. He looked in control. Personally I didn't think it had it in him, but he did pleasently surprised me.
Train Without A Station
Guest
The talent identification is lacking also. They pick based on potential rather than results. Three the the most talked up future players, Dan Christian, Callum Ferguson and Shaun Marsh all have first class averages in the mid 30s. If they aren't performing too well in shield cricket I don't imagine test cricket will be any easier. Years of ignoring proven performers for players that are marketable, have that x factor (whatever the hell that is) and fit in with the boys has got us to this point. Players like Andrew Symonds and Marcus North were given too many chances without the results expected because of these reasons. It should be noted that North's returns with the batter were better than Symonds.
jamesb
Guest
Forget about "aussie spirit" The real problem is Cricket Australia. Their the ones that look after development, coaching, under age teams, shield teams etc. Their finished product is the Australian Cricket Team. Are Cricket Australia doing a good job right now?
Train Without A Station
Guest
Before you dismiss Cameron White, he has a first class average of 42 despite average 20 for his first 2-3 seasons when he was played as a spinner and batted at 8.
Nambucco Deliria
Guest
The intruder clearly lives in a world where shadowy foreign interests (almost always 'cashed-up' as the press would have it) act in consort against the true-blue, dinky-di battlers who make up this country's sporting population. Do you think The Intruder might be John Howard, or one of his accolytes?
jeremy
Guest
Totally concur. Favourite quote from Terry Pratchett: "Fortune favours the brave, sir,' said Carrot cheerfully. Vimes looked at him. "Good. Good. Pleased to hear it, captain. What is her position vis a vis heavily armed, well prepared and excessively manned armies?' "Oh, no–one's ever heard of Fortune favouring them, sir," replied Carrot. "Well, according to General Tacticus, it's because they favour themselves,' said Vimes
Jason
Roar Guru
'uniquely Australian qualities' Good grief. Do people still buy in to this nonsense?
Roarchild
Roar Guru
I remember a similar conversation on here in lead up to the Socceroos vs germany. I thought it was comical (and that was before the result)then that giving 100% was seen as an advantage over Germany and a reason we could get a result. It's only an advantage if for some reason you think the other team doesn't try.... so I dare say "Aussie Spirit" TM may get us over the line against Pakistan in cricket but Germany in football!!!!!!
tommy_doleman
Roar Pro
Bit harsh to put Watson in the Hughes and Clarke bracket. If the team was performing well, his contribution of 40-60 runs wouldn't even be looked at as an issue. As for Haddin: He just can't resist a flashy shot outside off-stump if the ball is pitched up.
Scott Adams
Guest
Let's hope you know more about cricket than you 'no' about spelling. Or indeed writing anything vaguely original or based in reality - this English attack has already written history - first ashes win in Australia in a quarter of a century qualifies as such, I think.
Martin
Guest
Yeah boring in the extreme. I said it somewhere else that all people possess (at varying times) "uniquely Australian" qualities.
dudfarmer
Guest
(except Queensland, where it will probably be 2017)............what's that all about Roger?
jeremy
Guest
ChrisT and Roger Rational have summed it up perfectly... Apparently Fighting Spirit™ is unique to Australian cricket, along with Little Battlers © and Official Underdog ® status.
Roger Rational
Guest
I wonder how many more beatings it will take for the "oi oi oi" brigade to realise that there is nothing "uniquely Australian" about fighting spirit. I predict that the penny will finally drop in 2013 (except Queensland, where it will probably be 2017).
ChrisT
Guest
Got as far as "uniquely Australian" and gave up. Obviously don't have the unique fighting qualities to get through crap like this.