Australia did not manage to win a game in the Champions Trophy. Quite frankly I am not surprised.
Australia have received a lot of press and it has pretty much been of a negative nature. Everyone is fully aware of the issues that have plagued the team. Put simply, the trip has been ordinary – on and off the field.
The absence of Michael Clarke was no doubt felt. Australia missed his run making ability and attacking captaincy. It does affect sides when your best players are not in the side for one reason or another.
Clarke’s absence was felt more because he was not only off the park, but holed up in a hotel in London receiving treatment for his long-standing back complaint. His presence around the team would have been a help even if he wasn’t participating in the game.
His back is a major concern – potentially career threatening. One thing is for sure, the medical team are leaving no stone unturned to help ‘Pup’ get back on the park, but there are some genuine concerns that he may not play a full part in the Ashes.
Phil Hughes (43 runs at 14) and Shane Watson (34 runs at 11) were expected to step up and get the job done in the top three, but they didn’t.
It may seem harsh I have highlighted these two players, especially with there only being three games and one was a no result and that there are 11 members of a side.
The fact is, though, in one day cricket, one of your top three needs to make a significant contribution.
Let’s use England as an example. Their top three contributions in the tournament were:
These contributions allowed their middle-order to up the ante, so to speak, in the middle and latter part of the innings whether they are setting or chasing a total.
That is much more challenging for the middle-order when you are 2 or 3 down for not many.
Hughes and Watson are not new to international cricket, especially Watson, and they understand the important roles they play and the associated pressures that come with top order responsibility.
If Australia were to progress in the competition, these lads needed to fire. Simple as that.
The off-field issues have been spoken enough about so I won’t mention them again here. Everyone has moved on. What concerns me is the words coming out in the media from the Aussie camp:
The coach talking about players as ‘risks’ and ‘lack of trust’ in the team does not sit well with me at all and it can’t breed a positive environment. Nor can it be helpful when captains acknowledge the team has low confidence, or off field issues have damaged their captaincy.
These comments in the press, while well meaning, smack of retreating.
Be positive, always. Back your players publicly and privately. This is a non-negotiable.
The old term ‘never give a sucker an even break’ is especially relevant here. You never give your opponents ammunition. At the moment, Australia are supplying England it in abundance before the Ashes.
Just have a look at the Australian coat of arms. The reason there is a Kangaroo and an Emu is that they are two animals that cannot go backwards. Never take a backward step!
nickyc
Guest
Maybe, although the guys who 'choked' at the end won't be playing in the Ashes.
Jason Gillespie
Guest
Thank you for all the positive comments. I am genuinely excited about the Ashes coming up now that D Lehmann is in charge!
Steve Peall
Guest
from a ex Zimbabwe player who supports the aussie team, guy's first get rid of Micky all you have to look at is the last 4 years to see that get your own guy's involved who played in a winning team and know how to win and teach the guy's how to be a team again, and well said merv to Johnno about Duncan well Johnno look at the results china and also don't look past andy flower, anyway at leased it can only improve
Wayne
Guest
Langer hasn't done to bad since taking charge of Western Australia...but agree that Boof should have a crack
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Merv Aus A were poor in the second innings when 2 run outs started the rot but they would have won comfortably had they not declared after just 47 overs first up. They had one poor innings out of 4 in the match and they won all 3 matches on tour, with the first two both absolute beltings. Fair enough none of the 3 sides were good but you can only beat who is put in front of you. Don't forget the English "Lions" did not win even 1 of their 8 games in Australia recently against second string State teams stacked with guys who normally never get a game. What's more, in 5 of those games they were absolutely thrashed
Matthew Skellett
Guest
No offense taken Merv we just want to see the National Team take responsibility for a change and suffer for their sins for once we collectively don't expect to win the Ashes this tour at all we just want to see a bit of courage and character displayed while these players are representing us Australia the great country we are :-)
MervUK
Guest
No offence australia A just barely beat glos, who are an awful championship side... They got skittled in the second innings, hardly promising
MervUK
Guest
Johnno, are you aware that Duncan Fletcher's side have just won the champions trophy
Matthew Skellett
Guest
The standards for the National Test Team are down near their bootlaces it's about time the whole shebang was cleaned out root and branch Put Australia A in and send these muppets home including the captain who should hold hollywood interviews from a high-flyer convalescent home for all the support and cover he's done for his own team he's supposed to be the respected leader of
Brendon
Guest
lehmann is in England coaching Aus A, get him in there! Glad this has happened, but not sure about the timing, could be a masterstroke
Cantab
Guest
Dizzy the faceless man, pulling the strings at the ARU!!!
Johnno
Guest
Incredible news this. Maybe Dizzy was the curse lol. Micky Arthur has been sacked. Yes sacked, the roar will do a story on this in the next 1 hour i have no doubt, but Micky Arthur has been sacked as Australian cricket coach.
Don Corleone
Guest
The pointless Champions Trophy is meaningless in relation to assessing Australia's form for the Ashes. A far better indicator was the Australia A tour matches.
wisey_9
Roar Guru
Australia need a Bob Simpson-style dominant head coach to bring the squad into line. Steve Waugh would rule with an iron fist - something that the Aussies need at the moment...
JAJI
Guest
Clarke as a batsman is still the saviour...but its his role as captain that is causing the wheels to fall off well and truly Half the squad hate him with a passion - cant believe James Sutherland was able to get more money out of Channel Nine and Ten given big bash ratings dropped 40% in season 2
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
And will England's choke in the CL final have an impact? Might indicate a weakness in the Poms if Australia can put them under pressure...
Chui
Guest
Taking the Mickey may be a good start. The whole sport of cricket in Australia lacks leadership.
Johnno
Guest
well better than Duncan" i can't coach ride of the coattails of the a great ASHES 2005 pace attack, then get whipped 5-0 by Australia in Australia, then bomb out of the 2006 world cup Fletcher , and all the other average performances that clown did.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Justin Langer is part of the problem. Since he became involved in batting coaching the national team every single batsman (bar Clarke) has gone backwards.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Langer? You mean after he did so well as our batting coach? Boof's the only option from them.