Rest assured, the only conclusion that can be made of Australia replacing its coach 16 days before the beginning of the Ashes is an admission of imminent defeat.
It’s a decision that has been underpinned by the team’s frequent failures of late, but then cast in stone by the obvious fracture in the group, where it became very apparent that the players’ attitudes ranged along a scale from minimal care to no care at all.
This was easily visible, much to the chagrin of all the passionate Aussie fans, when most of the team went to a pub at 2 am after suffering a defeat in their first Champions League game, an ill-advised venture that culminated in David Warner’s absurd actions, the batsman throwing a punch at English player Joe Root.
Shameful, in a word, and so disrespectful to all those who have given their all for the sacred baggy green, that this current bunch could treat the honour with such scant regard.
Ultimately, Arthur had to carry the can for this untenable situation with his job.
As a result, Darren Lehmann has been ordained as Australian head coach, with his contract running until June 2015 and including the Cricket World Cup. However, the question still being asked is what immediate effect he can have on the Ashes campaign.
On this point, to lend an AFL parlance, you can see him expecting to receive a hospital hand pass with real short term pain. I say this for his hands are virtually tied, as he goes into this series having to deal with the decisions made by others as well as the decisions that were not made. Just think about the decision to retain Dave Warner for the tour that set off habitual whiner Shane Watson like a two bob watch .
Apart from the ‘cultural issues’, there is little doubt that the team is very low on ability. However, the lack of ability is also accentuated by the frailties in the mind that are apparent in the group, as well as the lapse attitudes. This is easily seen by the fact that many in the group are paralysed from undertaking pro-activity in their play through fear of failure, which inherently is due to their lack of self-belief.
In the long term, you can see a noted man-manager like Lehmann working on this, but in the short term it is virtually mission impossible. In a sense, you can see him being like a Santa in the upcoming series, making a list of whose who have been naughty and nice, and then acting on that thereafter.
Away from the now, the future is very bright with Lehmann at the helm, as long as he is supported by further decisions that must be made. The first has already happened, with captain Michael Clarke relinquishing his position as a selector. This needs to be taken further, with John Inverarity to be given a similar tap on the shoulder that Arthur got.
It is sad that such a course of action has to be taken for a legend of Australian cricket, who was revered for his thoughts on the game during the powerhouse Western Australian days of the 1970s. However, it seems that his acumen has now deserted him. His choices in the recent past have been very curious; just refer to the Indian humiliation caused by the selection of bits and pieces players.
It would be ideal if Cricket Australia could bring back the pristine competence of Messrs Halbish and Speed to replace the water-proofed Tea Bag James Sutherland, but supporters should not be greedy.
Instead, they should think that every waterfall begins with a rain drop, with this move, in time, leading to a more magnanimous future for the baggy green.
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