Australian cricket is officially a laughing stock. As if there wasn’t enough evidence of late to support that theory, yesterday came the definitive moment: four players dropped for not doing their homework.
No, that’s not a misprint, you read right. Four Australian Test cricketers were not considered for selection in the third Test against India because they failed to complete a homework assignment.
What a complete farce.
The task the players were meant to complete involved listing three points on how their individual performances and those of the team could be improved after the team suffered a heavy loss in the second Test.
Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Johnson and James Pattinson failed to do so.
The players were informed of their requirements on Tuesday night, and had until Saturday to deliver them. Every other member of the squad did so, but the four who didn’t were punished by not being considered for the next game.
Disgraceful.
You would hope after being annihilated in Hyderabad, the Australian players would be jumping out of the skin in looking for ways to improve their performance. Instead, these four players seemingly couldn’t be bothered.
Honestly, it would have taken five minutes for them to complete the task, even if they didn’t care.
Yet that’s the point, they should have cared. They should have wanted to spend a considerable amount of time really analysing how the team could get better after such an embarrassing loss.
Instead, the vice-captain showed zero leadership skills, the reserve batsman certainly didn’t exhibit a ‘leave no stone unturned’ approach to getting selected, a fast bowler who has missed significant time to injury risked missing another Test for no valid reason, and a veteran bowler failed to set a good example for the younger players in the squad.
Watson and Johnson should have known better, and did nothing for their reputations of being selfish and mentally lazy, respectively.
Khawaja should be doing everything he can to get into the Test team, while you would hope Pattinson shared Peter Siddle’s passion for the baggy green.
All should be extremely embarrassed. Not so much because they failed to do their homework, but because they gave every impression that they don’t care about the team improving.
Selfish, immature, irresponsible and lazy. Not exactly the qualities expected or needed of Australia’s Test cricketers.
Yet, by the same token, the punishment is ridiculous. A complete and utter overreaction.
I totally understand the sentiment that a line in the sand needs to be drawn occasionally, and that the players should be held accountable for their actions. Yet surely there are other ways to punish the players?
Significant fines, extra fitness sessions, public ridiculing, loss of certain privileges, detention, no playing with their toys, a Twitter ban, straight to bed with no dessert.
I’m almost certain an alternative punishment could have been utilised, one which doesn’t hurt the team’s Test chances, yet still highlights the severity of the indiscretion by the offending players.
And what would have happened if eight players had failed to do the homework? Would the side have forfeited?
Whichever way you analyse the drama, it suggests something is seriously wrong with Australian cricket.
Any scenario in which players do not fulfil their duties, show a lack of respect towards the coaches, give the impression they don’t care about the team, and are ambivalent towards the team improving, suggests all is not well within the Australian change room.
Such a notion is confirmed when team management react in such an over-the-top, heavy-handed manner; one that screams of attempting to show who the real boss is.
It’s a sorry state of affairs, and there are few winners from the whole fiasco – apart from perhaps Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith, who may earn themselves another baggy green by sheer default.
After the heavy loss in the second Test, many people asked if Australia had hit rock bottom. I scoffed at the suggestion, believing that to be far removed from the truth.
Now I’m not so sure.
johnb747b
Guest
A good start would be to dispense with Arthur and Howard. I'd then get on the phone to Rod Marsh. Simple solution.
Jo M
Guest
I actually think it is fantastic that these guys now know they are dispensable.
Jo M
Guest
Maybe that needed to be the punchline to jokes around the world to finally "get it".
Jo M
Guest
Matt, you are spot on. For Johnson (as a senior member of the team) and Khawaja to say they forgot is not good enough. When Khawaja played for NSW there was a lot of talk that he was lazy and had a bad attitude. Obviously, not much has changed. Watson should just go now. Even the interview when he got home was about "me", yes I know I did the wrong thing but I didn't deserve to get dropped for it. Has he been doing this sort of thing for years??? The most high maintenance player in the team. Pattinson probably needed a bit of a kick up the backside, I thought his attitude was starting to come through. He is the only one of the three that is safe out of this. I would hazard a guess and say that Arthur and Clarke have been speaking to players before now about various issues, but they have taken zero notice because they didn't think anything would happen. Now they know they are dispensable and we may see things change.
Teds
Guest
But you are buying into the storyline that Arthur and Clarke are saying. I dispute that version of the story. I do not think these players were given clear instructions. Pattinson is now instructed to cover for management and others are in lockdown with no outside contact.
Teds
Guest
I just want to add from the US, that I do not buy the version of this story as told by Clarke and Arthur. Khawaja et al are in lockdown i.e. they are forbidden outside contact so we do not know, and may never find out, what their side of the story is. I think the real story may be as simple as the instructions not being given clearly. Michael Clarke is trying to run the team as Don Corleone or Toni Soprano. And right now he is playing well but sooner or later he will hit the form issues. By his behavior he is permanently damaging the team.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Could a new term enter the vernacular in Australia? "If you don't do your homework, you'll never play for Australia!" Perhaps there are some happy Australians out of this fiasco: parents and teachers around the nation are rejoicing!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Not that I feel I did, but what's wrong with an each way bet, JB? Sometimes there isn't a 'right' and or 'wrong' side. Life isn't always black and white, and in this case, I feel like all involved have acted poorly and have therefore expressed that opinion. Considering match payments are around $15k, I would suggest that is a fairly apt and harsh punishment. And only Johnson wasn't going to be selected for this Test; I'm fairly certain Watson, Pattinson and Khawaja were.
V44
Guest
Have read a lot here with points of view from every angle. I am a bit old school, if boss asks you to do something, even if you do not agree with it you do it. Was punishment over the top, yes. You can't change attitude by belittling people. Whoever suggested "examples have to be made" and "line in the sand" approach does not respect team culture nor most probably actually care about individual personalities. Some people respond to the stick others a carrot. One size does not fit all. In Test Cricket or any National side you do not deliberately weaken your team "just to prove a point". Couple of points 1 Watson had prior to tour expressed wish to come back to Australia for birth, so this is just a timing thing caught up with the not doing homework debacle. On performances should he be in the side, no. 2 What is better, a bit of self reflection or more net time...bit like how long is a piece of string?....I laugh at some of the comments coming out of the Aussie camp about how well "everyone is looking in the nets" problem is, we are not batting or bowling, in the nets against quality Indian spinners or bowling against well tuned Indian bats. Any of our bats would look good against likes of Maxwell, Doherty, Smith in the nets. Lyons I rate. Perhaps some time thinking about your own game and what you have to bring to the "team table" of more value. I know this is a bit each way but, to me, the homework ask was just a tool to try and get players heads around their game. It is not like they do not have the time. 3 Talking of Lyons, was there more to his stand down in the last test than "technical issues"?. 4 Was Pat Howard wrong to badmouth Watson, absolutely....praise in public, critique in private...particularly when you don't know what you are talking about and he is vice captain of the team, not some rookie. 5 Will this add to the well known and documented problems in the dressing room? Probably yes...Clark will continue to focus on "respect the cap", do the best for the team mantra and for him this is full circle. It was not that far back that he was taken to task by Katich (now he would be handy in India, with bat and ball) for not respecting the team and preferring a bit of nooky with Lara. Clark is a bit like the reformed smoker no one wants to be around (ask Hussey). The public person is VERY different to the one "leading" this squad. He is the outcome of poor advice and guidance. 6 How fit is Clark..part of Watson saga has been his inability to bowl. Pre tour, when Indian Tour Squad was announced Clark came out and included himself as one of the bowling options " in the right conditions". In the last test particularly he did not take the ball. Why? If one of his problems, as a selector, is Watson not bowling what about himself....only person not upset by this is Maxwell. 7 Will Arthur and others survive all this to lead us to "doom and gloom" in England....yes...but only because they have effectively masked their own deficiencies with this latest bomb. We lose test / series not coach / selectors / high performance management problem, it was all the "gang of 4" and lack of player responsibility. Forget the upset rotation has caused, forget only adopting "parts" of the Argus review....CA has a lot to answer for. I am so over it. Was looking forward to the League season but ASADA has taken a lot of gloss of that but that is another story.
A1
Guest
Fantastic points Richard! Pretty clear the selectors don't do their homework! Why don't they get dropped!
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
A fair punishment for whom, jameswm? The players? The team? The country? Oh, look at that, it's all of the above. I wish people would take these axeings seriously. Without evidence of severe misconduct, I will not be convinced that 'teaching these guys a lesson' is worth the price-tag that it has come with: utter humiliation and the near certainty of being destroyed in Mohali and losing a Test in which we can conclusively say that we did not field our best team. I will eat my words if we manage a victory, but we won't.
parko
Guest
You all make some valid points and it really shows your passion for aus cricket... What pisses me off is that 4 of our highest paid cricketers couldn't show the same level of passion. Red kev, I did the same self analysis at tac level so surely professionals can step up, these guys are getting paid around 500k if they can't or won't help there srn managers on how to improve the team then they are not team players and should f#ck off to ipl. The above is hard to say because i think that James Patterson is the future of our team. In all honesty the rest i could be happy to not see in the baggy green again
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
That's really touching Ryan....you old softie you. :)
Richard
Guest
It appears a player can have their career potentially cut short for not doing homework between games. More importantly the, it follows that the selectors should definitely be under the same threat for not doing their homework between series. Did they pick the right bunch of players for this tour? Everybody agrees they didn't. Where was SOK? where was a solid No6 with leadership experience like Bailey to cover for the retiring Hussey. Why pick know lousy players like Maxwell and Smith? You need some older wise heads brought into a callow team. Verdict: fail With what they had did they pick the right team for the first test? Everybody agrees they didn't. Why pick three inexperienced seamers on a raging turner of rolled dried mud in India. Why wasn't Clarke showing some courage and leadership by moving up the order in this inexperienced team. Verdict:fail In the second test why wasn't Khawaja exchanged for Hughes who was clearly all at see against spin, why was Lyon dropped for Maxwell? Verdict: fail This team is being failed by its leadership. No wonder they are not following directives. This is a desperate attempt by failed leaders to look like they are doing something and an attempt to sheet home blame for their failed decision making on to the players. We are being led into total oblivion!
JB
Guest
I'm really tired of commentators (like you Ryan) having a bet each way on this. If the punishment was such an overreaction, what would the apt punishment have been - and please don't tell me fine of match payment - what punishment is that if you weren't even going to be picked for the match?
Disco
Roar Guru
Indeed. The Argus Report achieved what exactly?
Disco
Roar Guru
'Wellness' is part of The Hayden Way, no?
Disco
Roar Guru
Precisely. Khawaja's treatment *is* shoddier than anyone else receives.
Disco
Roar Guru
Ponting should have been dropped - not Khawaja - but the selectors didn't have the balls.
Kev
Guest
"If the coach wants the players thoughts, he should have organised 15 minute chats with each of them, and asked them to come prepared to discuss their views on improving the teams and their performance. You do not say “give me a presentation”. There is literally no value to attain from such a worthless exercise. It shows how lazy Arthur is if anything, not the players." - Prove that it's a worthless exercise and not just a baseless opinion.