I’m well on the way to 40 now, so I’ve seen the Australian cricket team in various phases.
I have seen them struggle through the 80s and early 90s, then achieve phenomenal success and now drift into not only mediocrity, but also become completely devoid of anything close to integrity.
If ever a sport was ruled by politics, then it’s the one I used to care deeply about: cricket.
It may as well be a nightclub that you have to get your name on the list to just get through the door. Look at the past with the likes of Dean Jones and Tim Zoehrer. Then there’s the forced retirements, albeit some I believe are justified.
But even in those dark times, there were still positives. A captain that evoked the spirit of everything Australian: the one and only Allan Border. Up and comers, like Steve Waugh, who was always destined for greatness.
Not to mention a World Cup.
However, what has transpired over the last few years is nothing short of pathetic and has left even the most die-hard fans, both sad and disillusioned.
I’m not talking about the lack of results by the Test team, because everyone understands there are peaks and troughs. But the manner in which the whole establishment called Cricket Australia has decimated any progress the team could be making.
If one action sums it all up, then it has to be Simon Katich not receiving a cricket contract (and subsequently, retiring) the year after being the most consistent batsman in the team.
And you only have to look at who was a big reason for that taking place, Michael Clarke.
The fact that he is now our captain must make you shake your head because common sense went out door and has never been seen again.
Sure, Clarke is a magnificent batsman and in the form of his life, but how’s his captaincy during the shemozzle that is our Test team.
The selectors plucked George Bailey from obscurity to be our One Day captain…come again?
I know that I’m talking about Test cricket here, but such a strange decision epitomises everything wrong with Australian cricket.
Rotational policies are never good for the stability of a sporting team, let alone Test cricket. There has been absolutely no forward-thinking in picking players for the long-term rather than short-term glory.
Think the West Indies and Sri Lankan home series in the last two years.
With the regards to the whole handling of the current Indian tour, I really don’t think the selectors were trying at all.
They did this by picking a ridiculous squad to begin with and then delving deeper into misery rather than fixing the problems.
Never mind the lack of the talent in the current squad, what about common sense?
Since when it is acceptable to play the wicketkeeper as a specialist number six batsman? Then playing two all-rounders and dropping the spinner, in India?
This latest fiasco in dropping four players is just plain laughable but disturbing.
Do the selectors really think we can compete with England in the back-to-back Ashes series later this year with the mess that’s going on in India right now?
I’m also sick of hearing people make excuses that retirements of exceptional players is a major factor. You have to get on with it, Cricket Australia.
The talent is there in the Sheffield Shield ranks, so you just have to play the percentages and pick the right players. I was at the WACA in 1987 when Chris Broad and Bill Athey made a huge opening stand during a series in which we got drubbed.
To think, 26 years later, I’d rather endure the pain of that day many times over than witness the current Test team make a mockery of the game under the tutelage of a scandalous governing body.
Johnny
Guest
George Bailey is a good cricketer (sometimes), but had no business being made captain when he hadn't even established himself as a One-Day regular.
Johnny
Guest
Thanks T! Yes, Watso leaving the tour and threatening to quit clearly shows there is something terrible going on behind the scenes. If history tells us anything (and it hasn't), then I'll be smiling knowing that Watso will never play Test cricket again. No accountability from Clarke though, as usual. He's everyone's best mate (no matter how you perform) until you rub him the wrong way and then it's curtains on your career. He picks the squads too and is very much to blame for the whole debacle.
Tom Dimanis
Roar Pro
Great article Johnny, you took the thoughts right outta my head. Much has been said about Clarke and his 'inner circle', it will be his downfall if the runs dry up, so to speak. How do ya like Watso leaving for home? As much as I detest the bans, Watson not playing does make me smile a little bit.
Mike Pickering
Guest
Here here, sack the substandard coach ( who brought us the joke bowler rotation system and a summer of failure) and don't blame our players and captain of the future for not agreeing to be treated like schoolboys. They are professionals for Gods sake. Clark needs to pull in his head and support his players not a dud coaching staff . Sympathy to Watson and co.
Ridley
Guest
What's wrong with George Bailey? The kind of player and bloke they should be building this team around.
Red Kev
Guest
I personally liked The Daily Mail's contribution - a triptych of three Australian Cricketers with the caption can't bat, can't bowl, can't catch and appropriate action photos of course.
Disco
Roar Guru
They shouldn't be selectors. And for all his good batting form, Clarke isn't going to be able to captain very well if he's not popular with the players as well as Cricket Australia.
Stephen
Guest
Yes Arthurs credibiltiy has taken a hit, i was supportive of him initially but this is the last straw, Pattinson has played his heart out for the last 2 tests matches, Khawaja and Johnson have been workig hard behind the scenes, this has made us a laughing joke for the rest of the world
Harry
Guest
Fair sledge from Matthew Hoggard in the pommy press: "I know Shane Watson and he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Getting him to write things out and put them in front of the coach is not going to be his strong point." Can you imagine the sledging all 4, but particuarly Watson, are going to get from now ...
DJW
Guest
I noticed that Inverarity has left India and Marsh is coming over to head the selection panel. Do the whole selection panel not travel to India? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick here? Good article. I think the squad selected for the India tour already highlighted the NSP didn't know what they were doing and they continue to add evidence to support this.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
We defs would have won the Bodyline series if we'd had Arthur and Clarke. Perhaps they are the embodiment of Arthur C Clarke because they love science fiction.
Scifi
Guest
Arthurs is finished. This action of his is not tough, it makes him look like a primary school teacher spitting a dummy, not a coach of grown men. How about he and his multiple support coaching staff work out ways to improve the players? Clarke has taken a huge blow to his popularity. He is a good player and in great form but this dramatically diminishes his captaincy. It does highlight that Arthurs and Clarke should not be selectors.
sheek
Roar Guru
Johnny/Lroy, And I'm closer to 60 than 50! Heck, I've already said too much already. Soon after I started following cricket, there was the debacle of 1970/71 - four losses to SA followed by two losses to England. Six losses from 10 tests in less than 12 months with no wins. As a fan I reckon it's good to get the bad out early. It means you don't take things for granted & enjoy the good times when they happen. So in this respect I was lucky. By contrast, those fans who came onboard during the good times were emotionally unprepared when the test team collapsed. I guess the next downward stage was the mid-80s. Hot on the heels of the 'holy trinity' - G.Chappell, R.Marsh & D. Lillee - retiring, you had the split in ranks with the successive twin rebel tours of South Africa. And now it has come to this, players being dropped for failing to submit their homework. I can think of many other & better ways this could have been handled. Watson, Pattinson, Johnston & Khawaja might be the short-term losers here, but in the long-term, both Arthur's coaching credibility & Clarke's captaincy credibility have taken massive hits.
Lroy
Guest
Mate, I concur. Im closer to 50 now than 40, grew up worshiping Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh, used to watch the great man terrorise some of the best batsmen the world has ever seen with the Fremantle doctor at his back.. Ive never seen Australian cricket in such a state.... Packer years, the Rebel tours, the sudden retirement of the greats in 83... getting slaughtered by the West Indies for ten straight years.. terrible Ashes losses.. ... none of that compares to what I have seen this season... It seems the world has gone mad.... there have been so many inexplicable decisions, (think youve covered them admirably)... For me.. the line in sand moment has come... Pat Howard, Invarerity and that Clown Arthurs must all be sacked immediately... Shane Warne has to come into the setup somehow as a mentor for the team (even as as a temporary measure) ... someone like Steve Waugh needs to be approached to take Howards job... ASADA need to do a dope test on the board of cricket Australia.... tipping a positive result there...