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Yes, we did it. All the hope and belief that Australians invested in our cricket team actually returned a 381-run demolition of our visitors. And it was beautiful.
I can’t remember the last time I stood and clapped my own television, but I did when the Australian team left the field for tea on day two at the Gabba. Alright, and maybe once or twice again before the end of play on day four.
Now, as with any victory, the winning side deserves their pat on the back.
In this case, the Australian Test side had been down on form, and especially down on their luck in the Northern summer. It showed real spirit to open the series in the manner in which they did and they are deserving of praise.
However, I fear that these deserved pats on the back are being too closely followed by smug smiles – something Australian cricketers (and cricket fans) have not yet reclaimed the right to wear.
When interviewed on Monday morning, David Warner provided little beyond your run-of-the-mill responses in the wake of such a victory.
His delivery, however, carried an undeniable smugness, the likes of which is not yet justified in the context of this Ashes series – especially considering the outcome in England just months ago.
Now this is not to say I have an issue with arrogant sportspeople. The reality is quite the opposite – there is nothing I find more entertaining than seeing the most arrogant person (or team) go out and dominate a sport.
But herein lies my problem with any early onset of arrogance within the Australian cricket community – for arrogance to be justified, you need to be considerably proven.
Arrogance in sport should be considered a luxury item. If you can’t cut the cheques when it counts, you’ll end up looking like a fool.
As it currently stands, Australia’s most recent form is not enough to see me find comfort in the idea of entering the Adelaide Test with any appearance of an arrogant mindset.
I’ll admit I am excited, like many Australian cricket fans, at the thought of the momentum created by the Gabba Test snowballing throughout the summer, culminating in a commanding and historic victory. And like every good fan, I do believe such an outcome exists in the realm of possibility.
I have a stronger belief, however, that it is too early to think about ducking down to the shops to pick up some urn polish.
With Australia enjoying a 1-0 lead heading to Adelaide and Perth, there has been a wealth of confident chatter emerge about the likelihood of a draw on the flat track in Adelaide, followed by another dominant Australian victory, led by a barrage from Mitchell Johnson, on a pace-friendly pitch in Perth.
Penciling in such an outcome leaves Australia incredibly well placed to bring the Ashes home. But please, put your pencils down.
One of the major driving forces of Australia’s confidence is the form of Mitchell Johnson – but I cannot help but feel uncertain about how his series will unfold.
Yes, he has come out incredibly strong and appears to be both physically and mentally well prepared. But there is a reason cricket fans feel a haunting sense of frustration at the sight of his name on a team sheet – his streaks of form have long teetered on the fence between brilliant and inadequate.
Now I stress, I do not want to put forward a prediction that Johnson will stumble in Adelaide, and fall (beneath heavy expectations) in Perth – nothing would frustrate me more than to see this actually transpire. But the possibility underlines why I am cautious with my confidence at this early stage in the series.
As a result, I feel a need to advocate that Australians practice a bit of modesty as the next two Tests play out.
Let’s not be so enthusiastic to gift our underdog status to the English – such a status can be a powerful thing when placed in undeserved hands.
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