It is time we all face facts – Australian cricket is at a modern-day nadir. We can blame the selectors, we can blame Indian pitches, we can blame the alignment of the planets.
The bottom line is we are struggling in many of the key areas that are required to sustain excellence, or indeed, even competitiveness against the better sides on the international stage in Test cricket.
Not since the dark days of the mid-1980s under the beacon of Allan Border has Australia been in such a parlous state.
Just as the country rode on the sheep’s back for decades, in cricketing terms we rode on the back of a cluster of very good to great players for nearly 20 years.
They are long gone and in their place is a group that, in the main, is struggling to come to terms with the Test arena.
In the mid-1980s we used to say, ‘Where would we be without AB?’
Three decades on, the catchcry has become, ‘Where would we be without MC?’
Whilst Atlas may have carried the world on his shoulders, the current Australian skipper is singlehandedly propping up our national side.
His 91 in the ill-fated first innings at Hyderabad saw him fall just shy of what would have been a 10th Test century in 23 matches at the helm – only a chap named Bradman can boast a similar start to a Test captaincy career.
Sadly for Australian cricket at present, Clarke is our Black Caviar with the bat as it is a case of ‘daylight second’.
He has finally conceded that he will move up the order from his customary number five slot for the third Test at Mohali, admitting after the shambolic Hyderabad capitulation that, “I think I have no choice”.
Never have truer words been spoken.
Australia’s current top-four underlines the plight Australian cricket faces.
Much fuss was made about the return of Phillip Hughes for his third reincarnation as a Test batsman.
So far in this series he has failed to score a single run off the Indian spinners having been dismissed by them four times with some of his shot selection and execution extremely poor – his ill-fated sweep shot in the second innings in Hyderabad a classic case in point.
His 24 runs in four innings thus far in India has seen his batting average head rapidly south to a far from flattering 33.
Ed Cowan has scrapped and fought for his wicket yet he has become the perennial Mr Mediocre.
He has an unforgivable habit for a top-order batsman of failing to turn starts into something significant – he has scored between 29 and 56 in seven of his last 13 innings.
Doing half the job is not good enough hence a 15-month, 15-Test run that has produced just one century and an average of 32.
Shane Watson, we are repeatedly told by former Test players who now inhabit various commentary boxes and newspaper columns, he is a true talent with the bat.
That being the case, it may be well worth his while to show us what it is that those erudite individuals see in him.
He is now a veteran of 40 Tests during which time he has scored two centuries and averaged just 36.
Some say he should be opening yet his last seven Tests at the top of the order before his demotion saw just 324 runs at 25.
I feel too often Watson’s belligerent batting and success in white-ball cricket masks his lack of productivity and success in the Test arena.
Surely, after 40 outings and at the age of nearly 32, his time is now.
If not, his future in the side is questionable, especially given his self-imposed exile from the bowling crease.
David Warner has been the best performed of the current top four but again, some of his shot selections in India have been very poor.
Sweeping at a ball from an off-spinner delivered outside leg-stump from over the wicket with a front foot on off-stump as he did in the second innings at Hyderabad is hardly intelligent batting. Sure enough, he was bowled.
The major question however is just where is the external pressure on these four batsmen and others in the top six or seven?
Cast an eye over the stats for the current Sheffield Shield season and the answer is there isn’t much.
Shaun Marsh and George Bailey have been fine performers in limited-overs cricket this summer but in first-class cricket they have not fired, averaging 19 and 25 respectively.
Callum Ferguson has averaged 38; Dan Christian 21; Steve Smith 37; Adam Voges 33; Usman Khawaja 40; Peter Forrest 22.
Brad Haddin, at 35 years of age, has perhaps been the best of them all with a Shield average of 54.
Gone are the days where players of the ilk of Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Stuart Law, Darren Lehmann and co were consistently putting up 800-plus runs seasons and demanding to be looked at.
The only player to have performed remotely like those of the past in recent times is Victorian opener Chris Rogers whose Shield average of 54 this season has taken his 14-year first-class average to 50 – but rising 36 years of age he is unfortunately yesterday’s man at the next level.
Although, if Australia truly wants to be competitive, or dare I say, win the nest Ashes series I would choose him ahead of the others currently on display.
Would he be any less effective than the likes of Cowan, Watson and Hughes?
Tasmania’s Alex Doolan has had a solid Shield season and averages 48, but after 39 appearances in the domestic first-class arena he still averages below 39.
It is awfully hard to look beyond the players currently anointed by the national selectors and feel a lot of hope for the short-term future.
Ten to 20 years ago that was never the case.
Matthew Wade continues to have his moments behind the sticks however his batting, in the main, has been solid with two centuries and three fifties in 11 Tests.
One time golden boy Tim Paine has gone rapidly backwards, injuries accepted, with a Shield season to date that has seen him score just 132 runs at 19.
Queensland veteran Chris Hartley has scored a Shield century and averaged 31 this season and is perhaps the next best candidate should Wade stumble.
His century in a Shield Final was a classic innings and he is very clean behind the stumps.
And then there is the question of Australia’s spins ranks.
Nathan Lyon has been Australia’s unchallenged number-one spin option over the past 18 months and was always going to be the first picked in India.
That situation however only lasted for one Test.
Yes, he was expensive, but he did go straight through Tendulkar and pick up three other wickets at Chennai.
He was replaced by Xavier Doherty, who for Tasmania this season averages 80 with the ball and his two previous Test innings with returned figures of 1-158 and 0-107.
The other spinner to come in was Glenn Maxwell, who given his history, was always going to bowl one boundary ball an over.
Safe to say that both Doherty and Maxwell were promoted as much for their white-ball form as anything else.
And therein lays a major problem for Australian cricket in the future if the scheduling remains the same.
The eight-week first-class hiatus in the middle of the summer is a major concern given how often Australia tours the likes of India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand before the domestic summer is completed.
At least our fast bowling stocks are sound.
Mind you, they need to be given half of them at any given time are injured!
We were lucky to witness the glory days and they will come again.
Just not in the foreseeable future.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Yes, but when they are 16 and thinking about what they do with their life - then they start to have a look around at the likely dollars on offer. And because Australians dont pay money to turn up to cricket, the ACB doesnt have them.
Grover
Guest
That's all well and good, but I doubt you could find a single 7 or 8 year old, or even 13 year old, out there playing cricket or footy having done the sums to find out how he's going to make a quid. I know my 8yo son has never asked what a professional earns, nor does he care. Kids play sport because they like to play sport.
Bearfax
Guest
Actually it was intended to mean three Magi, because it's thought now to be a borrowing from Egyptian mythology and refers to the three stars forming the belt of Orion which rose in the morning before and pointed towards Sirius, the star always referred to as the sign of the beginning of the growing season and the rebirth of life
Grover
Guest
There weren't 3 Magi. The bible simply says Magi without numbering them. They had 3 gifts.
The Bush
Roar Guru
It's a good argument. Mind you, I would argue that there are better players we could have right now too, we just don't select them for even more baffling reasons than breaking internationals laws/commitents.
Peds
Guest
See above
Peds
Guest
7000+ runs at 44.54 @ first class level with 21 centuries is not bad going for a man who is not yet 25. He also has the most runs in the SS season to date (673 @ 56) his average for this year in the Shield is better than Rogers, Doolan, Cosgrove and Ferguson who are numbers 3-6 on the list and who have all had talk of being called up (Ponting is # 2 on the list). In the home summer prior to leaving for India he played 5 innings and had 2 50's averaging 46.7. His overall test record is not great but you don't make 2 100's in a test against South Africa in South Africa against an attack that included Steyn, Morkel, Kallis and Ntini without having some ability against a ball that is moving (no it was not a flat track, SA were bowled out by Aus for 138 in the first innings). It is clear that he is the best performed batsmen in the shield this year and the question should be asked if giving anyone a game ahead of him - if they are a better batsmen why haven't they out performed him in the shield. Watson does not deserve to be there. He has had plenty of opportunities and it has been well established he is not up to the mark.
Junior Coach
Guest
I dont really agree with this comment. Kids will play the sport that they enjoy before they consider the financial rewards. Usually the sport that they enjoy is the one that they are best at! In the Sydney area the junior ranks are slowly but surely being dominated by Indian and Sri Lankan kids- they are not interested in AFL or NRL- what may be a greater danger later on down the track is that they decide to play for their country of origin rather than Australia. If you look at Warnes story in detail he would of rather played AFL than cricket- he just happened to be better at cricket.
Olddantucker
Guest
Not true - it happened in Doctor Who once.
Red Kev
Guest
That's because the Indians have been getting the bat in the way of the ball, unlike the Australians who keep missing it.
jus de couchon
Guest
I think the Australians are rubbish at cricket right now, This is a good thing for cricket. They were too good for too long . Now theyre not very good really. Hard to feel sorry for the"mothers" when theyve dorked us so often in the past. Perspective!!
Harish
Guest
There is a way for both India and Australia to help each other out. Every year 10 players under 21/22 from one nation is to be allowed to play in the other countrie's first class matches, i.e. Shield and Ranji trophy. That will lead to a new generation for both countries, competetive against most test playing nations irrespective of the pitch and bowling(pace and spin). That would lead to a good contest to watch, from spectator view point. Indian domestic batsmen have insane averages in Ranji trophy. Would you believe R Jadeja have scored 2 triple centuries this season alone and C Pujara got 4 triple centuries in his short 1st class career. It would be wonderful to watch what their likes could do(or not do/learn) in Australian domestic cricket.
nickyc
Guest
Glenn, Don't disagree with you at all re the comparison between England's and Australia's performances in India. Although, historically England have tended to do better on Indian wickets than Oz with three series victories since 1976/77. However, I think that one slight advantage England had this summer was the experience they gained in the UAE against Pakistan in 2011/12. The wickets there are even tougher than those in India as the ball not only turns off the pitch but also skids making it even more difficult to play. In addition Ajmal is vastly superior to India's spinners. By contrast conditions in Sri Lanka where England drew and India where they won were considerably easier. The big mystery to me is how Ashwin, who looked toothless against England (14 wkts in 4 tests @ 52.64), has suddenly become a match winner. Australia's historic weakness against off spin?
Barge Arse
Guest
I am still waiting for Australia to be given an LBW decision... just one. The Indians have had 12.
Bayman
Guest
Apparently!!!!!!!
Johnno
Guest
The best players should all be available for the 3 major grand finals of all 3 forms of the sport. Sheild grand final: Have all test players available Same with Ryobi cup, and BBL T20 Big bash, all the best international players available.
Bee Bee
Guest
1. Everyone took Shield Cricket seriously back then. Now at best its just a way of getting into the Test team. There is no loyalty. You play for the State which gives you the best chance to impress. 2. The pitches were less homogenous back then but certainly looking at those averages they were not dodgey decks. 3. The rise of the NRL/AFL/A-League/Rugby and a myriad of other sports. In the 1980s you played cricket in summer and your personal football preference in winter. There really was no other serious summer past time besides Swimming. 4. There has been a definate cultural/ generational shift. Cricket lovers want a great Test side. A great test player needs patience (extensive concentration, commitment, dedication and spades of persistence. They need to work to a plan and keep at it no matter how tempting it is to just give in and go jump on the nearest get famous fast band wagon.) Gen Y have many endearing and amusing qualities but the ones needed to be a Test player existed in Gen X and previous generations. But Hussey and Ponting were the last of the GenXers. Maybe we need an I-Pod App to teach Gen Y how to stick at something even if it seems tough and tedious.
kombiutedriver
Guest
We need to restructure Cricket in Australia and re-emphasise the importance of the Sheffield Shield over the pyjama cricket that has shaped our current debacle. Coaching of poor technique and batting on perfect batting strips have lulled the current crop of Australian Cricketers into mediocrity. God help us.
Bee Bee
Guest
DO you really think the Indian wonder kids would cope so well at the WACA. It would be the exact reverse of this latest result.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
One of the several problems Australian cricket has is the money for 18 year olds. Lets take a club slow bowler, who plays Australian Rules as an under-18. If he nominates for the AFL draft and gets on a list, he's earning $80k a year. There are 18 clubsm, each with a $9.5m salary cap. If he gets State selection, he's looking for a spot in one of six state sides, each with a salary cap of $1m. And thats why the next Shane Warne wont pick cricket. http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/selector-jamie-cox-critisizes-cricket-australia-for-slashing-state-payments-to-fund-the-twenty20-big-bash/story-fn2mcu3x-1226084006515#.UTcmoaISzEw