The definition of madness is to keep repeating the same action and hope for a different result.
The Australian selectors extended this for the first Test by looking at a dusty, grassless, red-hued, spinning stretch of Tamil Nadu dirt and naming four seam bowlers and one spinner.
“Play to our strengths,” was the cry from Michael Clarke and Mickey Arthur, captain and coach respectively and both selectors. This mantra is 100% applicable to all teams, companies, groups anywhere.
The forcefulness of the iteration by the Australian management reminded me instantly of the great West Indian sides that dominated through the 1980s and into the 90s.
Clive Lloyd’s teams couldn’t give a rat’s backside over criticism for glacial over rates. Four fast bowlers strolling through 70 overs a day were occasionally augmented by a few Viv Richards overs of arm balls.
When queried about why he was not playing a spinner in crumbling conditions (poor old Roger Harper may have been the best fieldsmen in the world but he didn’t have any hope of getting in the starting XI), Clive would trot out the standard, “We pick our best four bowlers and the fast bowlers are all more effective than any spinner.”
No one argued or got on the front foot. He was right with the ingredients and the decades of dominance proof of the eating.
This Australian team is not the West Indies of that era, not even close. The folly of playing a lone specialist slow man in Chennai was not an observation of hindsight.
The idea seemed magnificently ill-informed before the match, totally disbelieving at the toss and downright ridiculous at the losing press conference.
The loss (and let’s remember Australia won the toss and had first use of a surface that was at its best during the opening over and went downhill from there) was significant – eight wickets is a wide margin.
Yes, MS Dhoni was magnificent, but he was challenged by the same bowling over after over.
Nathan Lyon bowls a good looping off break but he keeps landing it in the same spot – ad nauseam, nil effectivum. Prima facie, you might think it a good modus operandi, but Test cricket, especially for slow bowlers, demands creative thinking as much as adequate technical ability.
Michael Clarke’s dismissal was by a huge turning snail decapitating off break straight out of the Gobi desert. Phil Hughes was gloved on the obverse side of the pitch by a likewise spitting Cobra that pounced from a snake hole just inside the return crease. Unless you land the ball in the footmarks, you never know what might happen.
Sometimes bowlers need to give runs way in search of dismissals, a point that Nathan hasn’t absorbed. Shane Warne once accused Monty Panesar of “playing the same Test match 32 times” (Monty had just completed his 32nd Test with diminishing returns), suggesting that the turbaned one has learnt nothing, improved zero since his Test debut.
Just one wide but potent delivery may have ended Dhoni’s assault and, given the impact of that innings, Australia may have even crafted a victory with a 200 run fourth innings chase.
Clarke’s part timers were used little, Warner barely, and overs delivered by Clarke and Warner were a part of the greater scheme of justifying one spinner. The plan was ill conceived and poorly delivered.
Sometimes it is difficult to read a pitch, tea leaves can be as accurate as stimpmeters, but Chennai’s secrets were laid bare in history and presence. The excuse for getting the team wrong is ignorance and arrogance – poor bedfellows for success in any vocation.
Hyderabad will pose more of the same dangers. Spin will be an important ingredient in the mixture so Australia will have a second opportunity to get it right.
Resting James Pattinson will not be getting it right but, given Stephen O’Keefe is not in this touring party, Xavier Doherty must play.
Jagger
Guest
Khawaja can't field or run between the wickets. I don't know why any sensible cricket lover would want him in the side. Remember in the one dayer he got run out? Well you may remember this was either in that game or the other one he was in but if not watch it again when a top edge flew to him at third man, Khawaja made one big step towards the ball and then jibbed it. It was skin crawlingly weak as water. It was a catch and he didn't want it. Sack him. That effort he put up against New Zealand summer before last was the worst debut I have seen since can't bowl can't field muller or mueller or whatever his name is. We are all looking for the panacea, but calls to pick blokes who struggle to get into this side are way off the mark. If Khawaja is a fringe player to this side, then he is a pea-heart at international level for life. Past performances prove it. Note to selectors: Make Sheffield Shield games for 5 days. That will help the leggies gain valuable experience. Don't listen to the socialist multiculturalists with personal agendas. You will be heavily criticised universally if you do. If Khawaja was good enough and was 100% Australian cricket committed I would be happy for him to represent our country. However, a poor performer simply for ethnic diversity to appease a loud-mouthed minority will put the majority noses out of joint and do untold damage. You will lose your support base. The term pale and stale is a disgusting, unaustralian accusation and tells the majority of people in this country they may never be picked in their team because the surplus quota of pale skin colour will rule you out. This is not South Africa. Pale and stale is an extraordinarily evil statement with a consequential snowball effect and is a direct attack on an unsuspecting, generous, fair natured anglo-saxon Australia. Pick a 19 year old potential Chappell or Border, put him in at 6, and watch him grow. This current generation is not a write off if we get back to what made us the greatest sporting nation on the planet and ignore the noisey peripheral nonsense.
Davo
Guest
Well said Henry. The Australian management including the selectors need some extra hot curry shoved/ poked.... These guys are professionals? At what! They can't even pick up those who have tecnical flaws before they get to test level, and yet persist with them.Stupid selections,stupid selectors. We've seen their antics all summer now it's time for removal. Pick the best and give some of the best a go.Give Usman Khawaja and Steve Okeefe a go. Johnson while capable sometimes does not take wickets consistantly to be a test player and he ain't the only one in the side.
Bearfax
Guest
Jagger you said you will not reply to anything I say. So be it. That doesnt disqualify me from making comments or having an opinion You dont own the forms. And by the way I have some small knowledge of psychology, which you are now utilising. Studied it and worked in a related area in the criminal justice system for over 3 decades so I know the characteristics of psychopathy very well indeed. Belief in your own unequivocal rightness is one element for example.
Jagger
Guest
Yeah, this is old news but good to talk about. In fact Bracken brought this AFTER the rotation policy was introduced. But I agree with the fact that lawyers are parasites who prey on other people's misfortune. Worse than used car salesmen! Good work Matthew!
Jagger
Guest
I told you to stay away. We will never agree on anything. All that you have said is taken my points and corrupted them to suit your own biased opinion. You know Bearfax, you are bordering on psychopathic. Your pointed character assassination is so far off the mark to the point of harrassment. I have asked you politely, now I'm telling you to stay away from my comments. I have let you have your say and criticise everything I have said without defending myself once yet you continue playing your populist game, trying to drum up support for your cause. I don't see people flocking to your aid. You are a sad, sad individual. Again, my country entitles me to have an opinion and express it. I will, and everything I say about that male dominated religion is true. So please stay away from me, you are a left wing looney with an axe to grind and I don't like you at all.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
EXTRA !!EXTRA!! EXTRA !!!!!-I have it on good reliable authourity that the REAL REASON FOR CA's seemingly Schizoid policy on selection changes is that Nathan Bracken ; the former australian fast bowler IS SUING CA for forcing him to play despite carrying injuries and in so doing cutting short his career(which we all know ended prematurely) and denying him prospective future earnings in the process -you heard it here first Gentlemen ; make of it what you will and let the chips fall where they may :-)
Jagger
Guest
"Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara says Australian decision to drop spinner Nathan Lyon was the right one" - quoted from the Herald Sun. Coming from a batsman that just made a Double-ton against a Lyon-less Australia, this comment is about as damning a comment on Australian cricket I have heard in the past 20 years.
Bearfax
Guest
You know Jagger for someone who takes offence at unintended fun comments made against you and elicits an apology because you felt demeaned, you seem to have an extraordinary tendency at double standards by seeking to demean others. I dont expect a response mate but what is good for the goose is good for the gander as the saying goes.
Jagger
Guest
Another amchair genius who got through school agreeing with his little red book-hugging teachers! Pounds to peanuts he hasn't even read what I wrote. Jay, please read my post and then man-up and apologise. PS. Take a trip to Malaysia and watch what the religious police do to their own citizens. Then consider trying to cover for your workmate every day while he goes and has a break to pray while you are working your backside off trying to do your job and his – and you both get paid the same at the end of the week. You are spot on pal, we are not happy about it at all. Head held proudly high.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Had to chuckle when Michael Clarke said just after the 1st test that he would "check out the pitch in Hyderabad before deciding who will be in the side". Well haven't captains and selectors being doing that for the past 120 years at least. Even if your unsure of how the pitch will play go with local knowledge and in India play your top spinner with a good back up.
moaman
Roar Guru
I seem to recall one M.D.Crowe played Warne pretty well too......
Jay
Guest
How does Khawajas religion have anything to do with his cricket? I guess it was an excuse to have an anti-muslim rant. Well done. Pull your head in.
Bearfax
Guest
Oh and by the way I was agreeing with you on elements of that comment, if you looked and werent so belligerent. I'm not your enemy Jaggar.
Bearfax
Guest
Your point Ads?
Bearfax
Guest
That was an earlier post Jaggar.
Jagger
Guest
I have told you before I will not comment on your posts ever again. You and I will never agree. Please extend the same courtesy to me. Thank you.
Ads
Guest
Troll
Jagger
Guest
You don't understand Australian cricket, mate. The Ashes is what this game is all about. The rest is just practice.
Bearfax
Guest
Ps 'Soiling the sheets' is a very common term used exclusively for making a mistake, indirectly relating to wetting the bed. It has and never has had any relationship to racial matters and your interpretation is the first time I have ever heard it seen in that light. Just to clarify further that my comments had absolutely nothing to do with that issue.
Bearfax
Guest
I meant the comment in good humour Jaggar. No ill meaning was intended and if you've been offended, then I honestly apologise for the comments. It just seemed with some of your comments that you were geeing up some of us. If my interpretation was in error I regret demeaning you. I thought we were having a bit of fun, I didnt realise that you were taking this so seriously. And I assure you my comment had absolutely no implication regarding racial issues. That's your interpretation. It didnt even enter my mind until I read you response. I told you in another section that race in my mind has nothing to do with it and at that point I thought nothing more of it. If you choose to ignore me that's OK. But I stand by my comments regarding the cricketers as is my right and I accept your right to stand by your comment. Best wishes.