Turner, perhaps, could make something of these mist-hidden scenes but then it takes a talented eye to see deeply interred beauty.
Not that this problem is the one presenting itself to the average (English)man on the Clapham omnibus. In Alistair Cook and James Anderson their nation has delivered two talents worthy of whatever accolades are to be thrown at them.
Skilful, masterly, controlled, imperious even.
No, this London day was put on by the Bureau of Meteorology, presumably, for the sake of us ex-pats for it perfectly suits the wants of the wandering introspectives who stand now on the withering front line of the antipodean working holiday crusades.
As though to rub in our hurt at losing the series, the British Isles themselves are now looking over an indifferent shoulder at our sufferings.
Losing is as easy to take as to do when the manner of it gives some midnight solace to the troubles of restless, guilty sleep. But we haven’t even that.
We were flat. Without even the energy to push out a fart should the intestinal muse so bless us with such a distraction from the hiding we took.
When old men hold no fear a land is no longer a frontier.
Say it as a couplet if you like, it sounds like something vaguely dramatic. Australian cricket somehow went from being the foremost, the outermost, the horizon that slowly faded from the margins of even the most aggressively pursuing of its challengers, to the cricketing world’s suburbs.
Safe, unchallenging, living on credit in good times, rejoicing in its town planning banality.
But what Australian reader needs cause for further depression?
Boom and bust follow boom and bust and the ease with which one can drift off into unrealistic criticism of Australian cricket as it exists beyond boardrooms and central contracts tempts our dyspepsia.
For now, the only thing for Australians in London to do is acknowledge a victory well planned, executed and deserved. It’s what Keith Miller would do.
The hope is that for Australians living in Australia and, more specifically, those working within its cricketing administration, such acknowledgements are taken to heart.
For much of the series we should have been embarrassed to cool ourselves in the long shadow England’s cricketers cast over our own.
How does a nation with pretentions of being one of the world’s great sporting dams now respond?
Our national sport, our maidenhead surrendered without having fought on beaches, on landing grounds or fields and streets.
We surrendered.
Now what?
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Garth, It is possible to describe a cover drive or a feint pass as a sensation. Forget the high elbow or the low centre of gravity. Sometimes it is the ommission that is more eloquent. The following is a poem from my new collection and it may resonate with you..Write with your heart and edit with your mind. New Migrant It was not escape and it was not freedom the pouch of stemcells unnoticed at customs my currency of negotiation. I was oppressed and an oppressor tetrapack crumpled emotions dustbinned and years later recycled I no longer bartered my expertise for reward; my morality was not tax deductible and my love had no caveats undirected and scattered on soil that was not mapped unexpecting and receiving more than I deserved I finally learnt to measure in sensations. best wishes vinay
Tangles
Guest
Very nice article Garth From one Australian to another “now what” does not fill me with confidence looking at the abject performance of the PM XI’s against England and a second string England at that Its a bleak mid Winter for us Aussie’s over here......... Perhaps, like the copper for Green Action in today's press, we should go Native! Tangles
Garth Hamilton
Roar Guru
Vinay, thank you for your very kind comments. Perhaps you will understand this but in the foreword to Brideshead Revisited Evelyn Waugh wrote something about not ever having tried to understand and describe too deeply the philosophy of the world and human interaction but merely enjoying the beautiful use of the english language. That is not a quote but it went something like that and the idea, if not the exact words, stuck with me. Waugh figured that using the perfect words to describe a certain feeling could be more revealing than digging into technical analysis and the lies hidden in statistics. I want to write more like this, using sport as an excuse to melt some words together, and are therefore very glad to see that someone else is enjoying it. The Roar is probably the only forum that would publish it.
Rob
Guest
I am a Pom and did feel a certain affinity to the London weather description. Though going off at a tangent the weather in Australia is causing such devastation and misery to so many people and looks like it has not stopped. What I would like to know what money, if any, that is being generated by England's tour will make its way into a relief fund to help those devastated by the floods? Maybe this is happening but I have seen nothing to that effect and if it is not then it should be.
jamesb
Guest
So we surrendered in the Ashes. Now what? Sack Sutherland.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
sorry, Garth, I was carried away by the second reading and there are a few misplaced alphabets in my response.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Garth, i will say it again. A thing of beauty is a joy forewver, i jusat hope 400 people have read this haunting and layerede masterpiece. the four comments before mine may be an instance of the reader being overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of the writing. The imagery of "being surrounded by neither heaven or earth" and the futility of "town planning banality" strikes a chord that is both depressing and revealing. You have lectured without harangueing and moralised without being moralistic. It is a tour de force and i am in awe of the writing.
Lazza
Guest
The British Isles don't care about Cricket as the Celtic nations have never embraced the game. England does but it's minor compared to their national sport Soccer. They love having a dig at the 'convicts' more than they actually love the game of Cricket. If history is any guide Australians will soon tire of Cricket just as they got bored with the Americas Cup, Tennis, Rugby and Soccer. Once we stop winning in a sport the public lose interest. That's why AFL and NRL will always be top sports here - no real international competition so no chance of failing.
Hooplah
Guest
We need a spill of positions in Aussie cricket. New coach, new selectors, new captain, new bowlers and new batsmen. I would keep the wicket keeper and all rounder. Watson is good, have him bat at number 7 however. He is too warn out from bowling to be opening. We need hard, solid openers that do not fan madly at anything that moves(Phil Hughes). Hughes should be batting at 6 if at all. He is only an average slogger at best, not a test player. We have 22,000,000 people living here, 1 million cricketers out there. We do have 11 hard nut players who can do it. We just need to pick them. Stop picking players because of marketing reasons. Like how Brett Lee, Michael Clarke keep being selected when they do not perform and only because they are in women's mags and sell facial creams. The test players need to play half the Shield games in a season to see if the up and comers are legit too.
Redb
Roar Guru
Nothing less than a full review of Cricket Australia from top to bottom is required. Perhaps even a Royal Commission. :) CA hitched its wagon to Twenty20 but the cracks were already there, Sacking delusional selectors a good start. Then look at the coach and support staff, recruiting stucture,etc. .
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Garth,evocative and masterful writing. What now? Not blood-letting but certainly a liver cleansing potion. Preferably mixed with bat-droppings that "seam" more vile than they actually are.