Sport loves a scapegoat. Finger-pointing and blame-shifting is the predictable by-product of failure – especially in a time-honoured contest like the Ashes
The Argus Report, commissioned back in 2011, was supposed to be the line-in-the-sand for Australian cricket.
It was crisis time. Cool heads and legends were supposed to fix us.
As a nation spoiled by success, a losing cricket team is among the most bitter of pills to swallow. But four years on from the Argus Report, the recommendations are fruitless and our team in tatters.
The blueprint for success convinced a naive public that success was a fait accompli, and wins against England, South Africa, India, as well as a World Cup should be celebrated.
But the essence of Argus was to address structural problems within Australian cricket, and on this front we have been clean bowled.
Australian cricket is in paralysis. We’ve paid lip service to change, but nothing more. Progress has stalled.
The major issues with the team have been:
Further, and more disturbingly, these were the finding from the ill-fated 2009 Ashes series.
The evidence from this Ashes and other recent series is that our basic cricket skills are lacking in key areas, in particular our ability to bat for an extended period of time, and approach to playing spin.
Any observer would be forgiven for thinking they’d fallen asleep in their DeLorean and woken up with Ricky Ponting still as captain. And bear in mind we only lost two Tests on the 2009 Ashes tour.
With a total lack of redress, how can national selector Rod Marsh and general manager of team performance Pat Howard remain in their roles?
As Einstein once quipped, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. Gallingly, Marsh and Howard, on the face of it, appear not to have even followed the Argus Review’s suggestions.
Marsh has critical responsibility for “communication of selection policy and strategy” and “evaluation of, and communication with, individual players”.
Shane Watson learnt of his dropping from the media. Brad Haddin had to draw it out of him, and Mitch Marsh was made aware of his non-selection at the 11th hour. By any measure, this is amateurish.
Howard is the single point of accountability for the side. What does he have to show for his tenure? On all accounts, his position is untenable.
This tour has been characterised by poor performance, poor team culture and poor communication.
The gulf between theory and practice has never been wider. Sadly, our performances in England have shown we’ve fallen deeply into that abyss.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
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Timmuh
Roar Guru
Its not poor series. Its continual thrashings overseas. Pakistan in the UAE, England again, India, etc. Of the competitive nations, only South Africa stands as an exception. And that is a pretty big exception. But the problems have their roots decades ago, four years was never going to change anything much.
Zac McLean
Roar Pro
I do think this is jumping the gun a little. After a 5-0 whitewash in Australia...a victorious tour of South Africa...a World Cup win...and a drubbing of the Windies it would suggest the measures of the Argus Report were taken into account. However the actions of selectors and poor communication between coaches and players in this Ashes series shows to me either arrogance, negligence and laziness. Teams have to keep evolving and looking for new ways to improve...and this Ashes series looks to me like Australia went into the first test resting on their laurels. Julian's incite into the poor communication with selections is particularly damaging... "Shane Watson learnt of his dropping from the media. Brad Haddin had to draw it out of him, and Mitch Marsh was made aware of his non-selection at the 11th hour. By any measure, this is amateurish." Very true. I think Lehmann is definitely the man to lead us forward... However Pat Howard and Rod Marsh should be the victims of a lengthy review...or the chopping block.
Warren
Guest
Hang on, one poor series and you're all experts. Lets see this as a time to regenerate and make the Aussies a formidable force again in test cricket.
CD
Guest
While I agree we've moved slowly on change, it was only 2 tests ago where we thrashed England at Lord's by 405 runs. No talk about poor batting then. 3 of the top 4 run scorers this series are Aussies. I don't think it's all doom and gloom for us.
Wolf Doggy Dog
Guest
As much as I think Pat Howard's position is redundant I don't think he should be made the scapegoat for this dismal performance. The buck stops with the players
JGK
Roar Guru
Well said Julian. The Argus Report (a bit like the Henry Report into taxation) is the report you have to look like you are doing something but don't really want to. Nothing will happen of course and Australian cricket will continue to bounce between feast and famine on the back of the odd great player or three. And totally agree on Pat Howard - what does he actually do?
Gavin
Guest
Great article. After 4 Years and nothing to show we should sack the lot of them.
John
Guest
Hi Julian, I was wondering when a story like this would be written. Yes, it does seem as if six years on and nothing has changed. The list of problems you identify from 2009 are largely the same today. So six years, a report and numerous changes later nothing has changed. I would suggest they all are accountable - the coaches, the selectors, the captain and CA.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Argus is rubbish because it is a corporate model designed to meet targets. It rewards without looking at the degree of difficulty. Unfortunately in test cricket targets fight back.