On the 5th of January 2014, Australia completed a whitewash of England, only the third time an Ashes whitewash had occurred.
Amazingly, Australia was ranked fifth on the ICC Test cricket ladder only a matter of months prior.
Not only that, they had just suffered a 3-0 loss to England, with the first XI constant chopping and changing, and South African coach Mickey Arthur being sacked two weeks out from the opening Test at Trent Bridge.
Australian cricket was in disarray.
Australia’s supposedly first choice spinner, Nathan Lyon, was dropped for 19-year-old Ashton Agar. A handful of games for the Western Warriors and an impressive start to his first class career had earned him a spot in the national side.
When Australia was 9-117, Agar teamed up with Phil Hughes and created history. The two of them put on a world record last-wicket partnership of 163 runs. However Agar couldn’t manage to pick up wickets, which he was in the side for. Lyon came back for the third Test.
But by then England were 2-0 up and Australia had to win every match to regain the Ashes.
To think that now we are number one in the world!
I wrote an article on how Australian cricket would return and we would become world beaters again. However, this wasn’t what the people who had, like me, spent all night sitting up and watching Australia have yet another batting collapse wanted to hear. Comments like “you’re crazy, fan boy” and “we’ll be the next West Indies” were a regular occurrence.
I admit it was a rubbish article. However I have leant a lot about writing since then, and I’ve decided to write about how the future looks bright for Australian cricket slump again.
Australia have a lot of excellent players in Shield cricket at the moment. Young batsmen such as Ryan Carters, Chris Lynn, Joe Burns, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Jordan Silk. We have a bevy of fast bowlers at our disposal and the once-dry pool of spin bowling has refilled with the likes of James Muirhead, Stephen O’Keefe and even Agar, who is getting the ball to spin further.
Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner lead the way as replacements for the injury-prone Shane Watson, with Mitch Marsh and Luke Butterworth on the outer of all-rounders.
The wicketkeeper’s job is an exiting prospect for Australian cricket. Pick Tim Paine or Chris Hartley, who would offer experience and reliability, or pick someone who is young and has potential, like Sam Whiteman?
It’s a difficult choice.
Don Freo
Guest
Wouldn't Ronchi be better for NZ than Watling?
Lachlan Doyle
Roar Pro
Yes I would love Agar to be in the team as much as anyone. Although I'm a big fan of Nathan Lyon and believe that he'll be our spinner for at least the next 5 years. On a side note, Although the media was talking about how Ashton Agar was having the season from hell, it's very interesting to see that he still took 21 shield wickets meaning that he was third on the Warriors list of wicket takers for season 13/14. That was only bettered by Jason Behrendorff (40) and Michael Hogan (36). He'll be back next season better than ever.
Shouts Chen
Guest
It could be better if we had spinner Ashton Agar into the Test Squad for the 2015 Ashes. He has played brilliantly last year with a record 98 on his debut.
Wyrden
Guest
Perfect article. The aussies look much better now. They play spin better and have better spinners so can challenge in subcontinent. Also the domestic system improved and we see lots of promising players. Ww WAers got to sheild final with a team full of yung guns.
trev
Guest
After I talked them up they just had a terrible collapse - out for 200 odd. Pride comes before a fall and all that. Re Brownlie: I reckon his best bet is to try and reinvent himself as an opener. Unless McCullum's back gives out and Ryder keeps getting in trouble there wouldn't be any space in the middle order. I reckon his technique against pace would make him better than most of our openers.
Lachlan Doyle
Roar Pro
I agree, NZ will be a very competitive cricketing nation again in the next few years. Just a quick question trev. Do you reckon that Dean Brownlie will be playing for the blackcaps again this year? I only say this because a friend of mine is related to him and it made talking about the test series between Australia and NZ a bit more interesting.
trev
Guest
I'm sure you have some good players, but I think They will have to get used to losing to New Zealand. I reckon we would have the best under 25 team in the world. Southee and Rutherford are 25, Boult 24, Williamson, Neesham & Anderson 23, Latham, Adam Milne & Matt Henry 22, Sodhi 21. I think New Zealand is going to have its greatest team ever in a few years.
Lachlan Doyle
Roar Pro
Couldn't agree with you more Brendan. Ashton Agar is the player I'm backing to be back better than ever. Due to traveling, I don't get to see WA play there Shield games. But I was watching the SS final through CA's free live stream, and Agar was really getting the ball to move. A big difference from the two test he played a year ago. A lot of people are already writing him off which I think is really silly, at the age of 20 he has show he can already bat and is improving with the ball. He could turn out to be Australia's number six in your line up for the 2020 Ashes. Australia has one of the best bowling attacks in the world. A lot of young batsmen are going well in the Sheffield Shield and the once empty pool of spinners is overflowing with talent.
Brendan Buckley
Roar Rookie
It could be an interesting prospect for Australia. For next years ashes series & WC, but also 5-7 years down the track and beyond. But imagine the Aussie test team playing an Ashes series in England this time in 6 years. It will be the 15th June, 2020. The Aus line-up will look; 1.Warner (vc) 2.Carters 3.Burns 4.Smith (c) 5.Maxwell 6.??? 7.Whiteman (wk) 8.Pattinson 9.Lyon/O'keefe 10.Behrendorf 11.Cummins (his body might hold up at the age of 26?). Then have extras waiting still like; Faulkner, Hughes, Head, Lynn, M Marsh, Nick Stevens (hopefully), Silk, Starc, Hazlewood, Sayers, Richardson, Cutting, McDermott, Coulter-Nile, Wade, Boyce, Agar, Steketee, Rainbird, Bancroft, Bosisto, Patterson, J Peirson (wk), Turner, Sandhu, Paris etc. The list goes on. It is exciting!!!
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Sam Whiteman has bags of potential, but Nevill will be a better batsmen for short forms and hopefully will take over in one dayers if Haddin isn't up to it anymore. He should really be in the short forms already as Haddin's keeping has gone downhill overall.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Sam Whiteman has bags of potential, but Nevill will be a better batsmen for short forms and hopefully will take over in one dayers if Haddin isn't up to it anymore. He should really be in the short forms already as Haddin's keeping has gone downhill overall.
Lachlan Doyle
Roar Pro
I reckon that Whiteman should get a game or two in the world cup next year. So that when Haddin retires, Whiteman won't take forever to find his feet in the international game.
jameswm
Roar Guru
On the keepers - it looks from the Aust A sides picked for the winter that Whiteman and Neville are in line to replace Haddin when he goes. Both seem ahead of Wade, Hartley and Paine (and what other country has 6 keeper/batsmen at that level?). I think we need to pick one and bring them into the 50-over side. Groom them for test duties.