The sight of Aussie cricketer Shane Watson surrounded by journalists at Sydney Airport as he arrived back from India last week revived memories of last year’s saga that embroiled Quade Cooper.
Suggestions Watson is rethinking his future in the team, and wasn’t happy with the way he was ‘treated’ in India etc, also had a familiar ring to them.
While I am not party to what has gone on in the Aussie cricket camp, the details released paints a picture of internal sloppiness on behalf of individual team members which is not entirely dis-similar from the circumstances that led to last year’s blow up.
In the team environment, maintaining discipline and adhering to team enforced standards – whether you agree with them or not – across the board is critical to success.
Invariably, when public blow ups like that just witnessed occur, they come at a time when said team is not performing, or has experienced recent disappointment – whether that be personal, with regards to the individual involved, or as a team.
Disappointments and defeats invariably put pressure on fault lines within any group.
There are no quick fixes and no magic formulas in team sport.
Ultimatums, such as those hinted at by Watson, don’t work: they really just reflect on the individual as opposed to the team, and are generally interpreted that way by the public, leading to a climb down (public or otherwise) at a later date.
As far as the group goes, unless everyone is pulling in the same direction, and are all prepared to make the required sacrifices; a team won’t perform to its potential.
Attention to detail, and doing the little things that might seem trivial to those on the outside (like the homework the cricketers seem to have not bothered about!) are paramount.
It’s as much the action of attending to the task that matters, as it is the outcome of it: doing it says, ‘we are all in this together, and we all will do whatever it takes!’
It was noticeable within the Wallabies after last year’s blow up that the team got tighter as a group and won some big matches (think Argentina at Rosario and England at London) when the odds seemed against us.
The current saga could have the same galvanising effect in India, but more particularly beyond.
When things start going awry, team environments generally go one of two ways and Australian rugby has had an example of a team that has benefitted from a dramatic internal cultural shift in recent times.
(I will leave it to the reader to judge which team I’m referring to.)
In this instance, a team that was underachieving, was facing plenty of dissension internally, and was being abandoned by its supporters, turned it all around on the back of a lot of enthusiasm, an absence of egos, the removal of a couple of powerful but selfish individuals, and some smart off-field management decisions.
It didn’t have to turn out that way and wouldn’t have without a firm commitment, from all involved, to accept the decline, and buy into arresting it by adhering to the principles they set for themselves.
I sense the Aussie cricketers have reached their tipping point, with short cuts in preparation being taken while powerful individuals dominate, at the expense of the team overall.
If the players all buy into the collective vision as a result of last week’s events, the pathway should lead to improved performance on a consistent and tangible basis.
The alternative is to stay as they are: a gradual decay of standards and decline in outcome that becomes the norm.
It will be interesting to judge in time which path it was the Australian cricket team took.
Bakkies
Guest
Last time I heard he was at Narbonne.
Bakkies
Guest
I reckon Moore would be against Cooper, he seems to be from the old school. He was one of the few that put in for the Brumbies in 2011 when the place was falling apart. He spoke to the media on behalf of the players and backed it up on the field.
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
I feel a bit sorry for Quade. His coach managed to get the best out of him when the chips were down but the final nail in his coffin was getting involved with Mindine and that awful manager. It's not too late to surround himself with the right people and get the very best out of himself with steely discipline and resolve. If he could rediscover the confidence he had in his decision making in 2010/11 and have a blinder against the AB's then his demons will be exercised
Dan H
Guest
I can certainly relate to going into teams that already have "cliques" its a very uncomfortable situation and certainly not conducive to playing your best football. Maybe thats why it seems the younger guys formed their own posse and pretty much didnt have respect for the senior players. To be honest I would likely resent them too if I was treated like that. Probably would feel like a "toxic" environment. But I guess many people would shoot that down because they have an inability to empathise with the "bad" guys. Its all speculative of course but unless your involved then I dont think you can really say anything with great certainty.
Kane
Roar Guru
Most of it was suspended so he only had to pay 10k and he will be a wallaby again, I'll bet your left testicle on it.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Jez I've played against a few ex-pros of Valentine's standard in HK and they rarely dominate like you expect them too. Maybe it's the heat or they don't really care...
linz22
Guest
completely agree with everything you have said.
The Battered Slav
Guest
Haha Jiggles, I reckon his liberal use of 'becuz' gives him away as a youngster, that's for sure. Although that was a funny post.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I last saw Valentine running around for Randwick in the SCC 7s here in Singapore - he didn't exactly shine like the professional amongst amateurs that you'd hope for.
sittingbison
Guest
or Henjak, even more a blast from the past :)
Jiggles
Roar Guru
I actually picture HT as a 15 year old who spends a bit to much time in the gym and loves the 'supplements.'
Justin2
Guest
HT is a crack up, must have some mighty high blood pressure...
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Watson outstanding? You must be related to Deans if you think he's been outstanding....
Hightackle
Guest
He got fined lots of money and a stint in exile. It remains to be seen if he will be a Wallaby again.
Jutsie
Guest
HT I like your style :)
Hightackle
Guest
Yeah its really obvious its been written by somebody who hates Quade. Nobody would mention what happened unless they hated Quade. I mean so what if Quade blamed his lack of form on the coach, his team mates and the environment. Surely it was everyone elses fault and surely to mention or compare it to Watson now means the insider hates Quade. I mean how dare he? Watson didnt even make the effort to publicly blame others, rubbish the team and say he would refuse to play for them, yet the insider has the nerve to compare Watson to Quade!? Obviously he hates Quade. Also Watson has been outstanding and Australias best at times in all forms of cricket and Quade hasnt really played that well for Australia ever, so to compare is obvious hate...BECUZ IT MAKES QUADE LOOK SO MUCH WORSE.
rl
Guest
could be Dean Mumm's Mum for all I care... over it.
Kane
Guest
They spend less time training more time writing articles? :)
Hightackle
Guest
Why do you keep saying the insider is a Tah?
Crashy
Guest
Where the hec is Josh Valentine these days anyway - thats a blast from the past.