Australia’s Marcus North, left and Michael Clarke celebrate at the end of play against New Zealand. AAP Image/NZPA, Ross Setford
From its glory days back in the early part of the century, Australian cricket seems to have hit a crossroad. The Australian side is now the fifth ranked Test team in the world and faces a summer which could make things worse.
On the one-day front, things are still quite good, and despite not giving a yelp at the 2011 ICC World Cup, Australia is still ranked number one in the 50-over format.
Australia is currently touring Sri Lanka. Having lost the first two T20 matches in Kandy, a solid bowling effort saw the Aussies win the first of five one-day internationals.
Australia kicks off its true Test season with three matches against Sri Lanka, followed by a series in South Africa where the Baggy Green will play two Tests at Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The final Test in South Africa concludes on the 21st of November, just 12 days before the start of the Australian summer program. New Zealand play two matches in Australia, at The Gabba (1-5 December) and Bellerive Oval, Hobart (9-13 December) before the Christmas period.
With a multitude of changes being made to the side over the last two years and a lack of stability in the current squad, it is hard to see where victories are going to come from for the Australians.
Sri Lanka have proven their worth on the Test stage, controlling India last year in a three Test match series. South Africa has also demonstrated Test success over the past year with series wins, both at home and away.
After the Christmas break, Australia then takes on the Test might of India in a four-match series that is by far the most crucial.
They must prove that the wheels haven’t fallen off and that as a cricketing nation, we are close to the best in the world once again.
The Australian cricket fans are used to success, if that is not provided for the second summer in a row, attendances and TV ratings will suffer.
No summer has been so important for Australian cricket, a tough Test draw followed by a ODI series against India and Sri Lanka.
The new and improved formats for the domestic season hopes to draw crowds and the chance to rebuild Australian cricket.
Cricket Australia must handle this summer without a hitch, there must be success, although that’s out of the hands of administrators and cricket must be pushed into the media in any way, shape or form.
Fox Sports now holds rights to domestic cricket in all three forms in Australia, this needs to change. If possible, cricket needs to be on free-to-air television.
The general public aren’t being exposed to any more than 25 players over the summer, yes, these players are the best 25 but up and coming youngsters need to get a lift, to be pushed into the spotlight of the national selectors.
Cricket Australia is doing everything right at the moment; launching the Big Bash League, kicking off its summer campaign nicely.
As has happened in recent years, we see a lack of publicity until the games are around the corner, advertising is targeted towards members of the public who are likely to attend year after year, cricket fans.
Advertising needs to be pushed towards those who don’t often, or never have attended a game of cricket, push the excitement of the shorter forms of the game towards a new breed of cricket fans.
Will
Guest
Im quite looking forward to the summer of cricket, and surprisingly, the BBL.
Brit in Kuwait
Guest
Perspective needed. England throughout the 90s were rubbish. We were poor until 2004. Form is cyclical. What is more,your team is not as bad as we were. What I suggest is that as fans you get behind your players and support/ shout/ chant whatever the result. In short, you need a barmy army of your own. We took perverse pride in cheering a side that was regularly thumped.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Per the MCG, the January 16, 2011 One-day International (Australia v England) 34,854 Feb 10, 2008 One-day International (Australia v India) 49,362 http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances/~/media/Files/Cricket%20Attendances.ashx The BBL is a pump-and-dump that can't get investors - there is no significant Indian talent playing, so there is no Indian gambling and pay TV money. The crowds will be in the range of 10 to 12 000 - kinda vaguely OK for rugby league, shitful for Australian rules, not enough to fund cricket in Australia. As for the 6-8 players, name their names, comtrade, name their names - and six of them being slow bowlers doesnt count, as Australia's best slow bowler at the moment is worse than Bangladesh's third string, Enamul Haque Jr. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/55882.html?class=1;template=results;type=bowling;view=match
Dyson Baker
Guest
1. Attendences were reasonably high over the last two seasons of International cricket in major capitals- Sydney and Melbourne, hopefully India can spark the same interest. 2. ABC have stated they basically wouldnt touch cricket with a 10 foot pole- 9 and 7 have considered atleast the Big Bash League but are basically waiting for success in the market place before they put their money where their mouth is. 3. I think there is another 6-8 players in domestic cricket that could easily slip into the one day or T20 side and maybe the same amount into the Test Side. How do you think Australian players get their start. 4. its reasonably hard to judge a competition before a ball has been bowled and to put them to the sword for their choice of colour scheme's.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Hope is not a plan. "The Australian cricket fans are used to success, if that is not provided for the second summer in a row, attendances and TV ratings will suffer." You missed the word "further". "Fox Sports now holds rights to domestic cricket in all three forms in Australia, this needs to change. If possible, cricket needs to be on free-to-air television". OK, this is doable - the ABC would probably broadcast cricket. It wont, however, pay anything near what Fox Sports will. "The general public aren’t being exposed to any more than 25 players over the summer, yes, these players are the best 25 but up and coming youngsters need to get a lift, to be pushed into the spotlight of the national selectors." Thats because while the talent in the Australian first squad is bad, whats backing them up is worse. Name me a bowler or batsman who has dominated at State level and isnt in that top 25. "Cricket Australia is doing everything right at the moment; launching the Big Bash League, kicking off its summer campaign nicely." This would be the Big Bash League that can't get investors and put Queensland in blue, right ?
jamesb
Guest
its funny how when Australia dominated world cricket, some Australian fans wanted a contest. now that the shoe is on the other foot, when Australia plays I want a contest with fear that it would be one sided contest with Australia losing this time.
FACT OF THE MATTER
Guest
i think 5 odis and 3 tests are a maximum for a series...at international level t20 does not apppeal and looks fantastic at domestic level for some reason...so they should only play t20 world cup and thats it...
Johnno
Guest
Some one wrote an article about the rugby world cup killing rugby union, and others have brought up the ashes is killing test cricket and cricket in general. Maybe they are write and also so are best of 7 and best of 5 ODI's killing cricket. Make ODI series best of 3. And T20 stick to 2 like there doing.