By now we’ve all had time to take in the fact that the sacking of Australian coach Mickey Arthur was as poorly timed as a Chris Martin cover drive.
We all know that instating Darren Lehmann is as much a silver bullet for the Australian cricket team as installing a non-bowling Shane Watson as captain.
But surely we must all agree that the results that have come from this move are ones we, as Aussie cricket fans, have been craving for the past two years.
The farcical rotation policy that saw us sacrifice a chance to go number one in the world in lieu of a better turnout against a Sri Lankan side that never had a hope? Gone.
The coach who let raw Test cricketers play their natural games when tightening, adjusting, and instilling a grinding attitude were the order of the day? Gone.
The absurd situation whereby the captain was a selector, but also one of the boys, but also not one of the boys because he held their livelihoods in his hands?
All despised. All gone.
Sure, it’s two weeks away from when the first ball of the Ashes is to be bowled in anger, but these are all extremely positive steps that will improve the Australian team environment.
What’s more, we hear that our captain’s problems have finally let up a little, and Michael Clarke will be taking the field and letting the runs flow from the willow against Somerset, his first match of the tour.
Despite the inevitable mumblings of disruption and rumours that the camp is in disarray, the uprooting of the coach and the planting of a new, healthier one, to go along with a handful of necessary administrative and policy changes can only lead to positives for this side.
The Aussies were headed to a horrific, embarrassing defeat at the hands of England in the motherland. The signs of surrender were present during the 4-0 whitewash in India, and had our side stripped off the whites and used them as a flag against the old enemy there would have been no worse place to be than Sydney airport upon their return home.
It would have been a bloodbath.
Now that Arthur is gone, of course, there is a ready-made excuse for failure. ‘Our preparation was hampered.’ ‘The sacking of the coach really made us unsure of the direction.’
No. No. No.
As Darren Lehmann said in his press conference, there are no excuses.
Lehmann’s already given the side the directions and nothing less than what came out of his mouth would be an acceptable result.
Two victories in the Old Dart would be a triumph. Any less and more heads will have to roll, if the wheels haven’t already been set in motion for that.
But more came from that Lehmann press conference than just the optimism of the new coach. It is clear that Lehmann is a man who will endear himself to both Aussie fans and players.
His coaching has earned rave reviews from around the globe, and although the smile that was stamped on his face from the outset of that media grilling will likely wane, his appetite for the team’s success won’t.
Lehmann didn’t mention processes. He didn’t mention homework. What he did speak about playing aggressive cricket, and playing to win.
A return to first principles, the first of which is winning, is something the Aussie side desperately needed. No more rebuilding. No more looking to the future. Let’s just play our best side and do our darndest to win.
We all felt sorry for Mickey Arthur. His dignified exit and eloquence in what must have been the most difficult of circumstances made you stop and consider life for a moment; but only for a moment. He wasn’t the man to take Australia to an Ashes victory.
While the coaching orders under Arthur came under question, it is clear that players need to work harder on their games. Again, Lehmann should provide.
This becomes clear when you look at the fact that Ed Cowan, perhaps the least talented bladesman in the side, is currently one of our most dependable scorers, and when he doesn’t score at least he’s out there long enough for you to remember he participated.
We all know why. It’s exactly the reason that David Warner, Phil Hughes and Watson haven’t been our most consistent scorers over the past two years.
It’s time for them to reign in those shots that continue to get them out. Watson must put away the pull and cut shots until he’s over 50. Or better, over 100. He drives and works to leg well enough he doesn’t need to hit every ball that is just short of a half volley over midwicket or through backward point.
Warner and Hughes must learn that not every delivery outside off stump demands to be scored from.
Lehmann should instil these values. He understands that our only banker, the only guy who you realistically can let go and say: ‘play your unadulterated natural game’ is Michael Clarke.
For the rest there’s work to do. Oh, and there’s only two weeks to do it, so get cracking!
But make no mistake, this should be a positive time for Australian cricket. It’s a time for optimism ahead of the greatest challenge in cricket. In the hallowed words of Johnny Mercer:
“You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between”
Err… well said Johnny.
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