When Bill Clinton successfully used the term “It’s the economy, stupid” in his 1992 presidential campaign, he could have been thinking of the current Australian cricket team. Just change economy for overs.
To put into perspective the woefulness of how the Australian batsmen have fared in this series, in terms of overs faced, it is worth comparing to how the English fared on the disastrous 2013-14 tour.
At the corresponding time in that series at the end of the fourth Test the English had managed to face a total of 656 overs with Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris at full pelt. An average of 82 per innings
Not a great effort but still better than the Aussies have managed this series.
Thus far the Australians have faced 560 overs, nearly 200 of which were at Lord’s, for an average per innings of 70. Take out Lord’s and that drops to 60 per innings.
The total number of overs England faced in the 2013-14 series was 755 in a right royal 5-0 thumping. That means Australia would need to face 195 overs in the forthcoming Test to reach those heady heights.
To put it in further perspective the Aussies managed to face 811 when they last toured England, meaning they would need to face over 250 overs this Test to meet that mark.
This is an astonishing difference and demonstrates the fragility of the current batting line-up.
The old adage, and a favourite of Geoffrey Boycott, of “occupy the crease and the runs will come” clearly holds in this series. At least in the last Ashes series England attempted to occupy the crease.
Talking of Boycott, compare it to when Australia lost in England in 1977. A summer of inclement weather and a comparable 3-0 margin. In that losing series the Australians still managed to face over 900 overs, days were lost in a couple of Tests but still over 900 overs.
In comparison, and if current form is anything to go by, this Australian team may face as few as 650. Nearly 40 years between those series but it equates to something in the order of 50 overs per Test.
Of course all of this may point to technique, the Dukes ball, better batting wickets in Australia, and overcast conditions in England. But what it really talks to is the notion of grit and backbone.
The notion that building an innings in true Test match style is a dying art.
To build a Test match innings batsmen need patience, guile and technique. But most importantly the ability to blunt attacks and absorb overs.
On all levels the Australians have achieved none of the above.
If things are to improve at the Oval someone needs to tell them it’s about the overs they face.
Dave Richardson
Roar Guru
Arthur, lots of food for thought here. You should post it as an artilce
Arthur Pagonis
Roar Guru
If you truly love the game, question everything about it. Now that we have 3 forms of the game, question it even more. Never accept that the Toss is the way to decide cricket matches. Let the home team chose whether they bat or bowl in Tests 1, 3, 5…and the Visiting team choses in Tests 2 and 4. And reverse the process when the team is playing away. If you believe in the integrity of the home country and the groundsman and the ICC, then you will allow the individual groundsman the freedom to produce a 5 day wicket. The ICC should scrutinise the preparation. One can do nothing about atmospheric conditions, other then give each team a fair chance to use them first. Tradition can be an excuse for lazy thinking. Why should Australia win 90% of home Series in Australia and England win 90% of home series in England???? What is the point??? Challenge everything! What we want in cricket is not to have visiting teams getting shellacked 3,4,5 nil. We want even competition and fair opportunity in all Series, wherever they are played. Why should we have such one-sided home series??? Question it!!! Why, if the Duke Ball lasts longer, swings for longer, maintains it’s shape and colour longer, should we not use it in all forms of cricket throughout the world??? The ICC again should intervene. It should select a ball which is to be used for the World Cricket League, an 8-11 team competition of member Nations featuring 3 forms of the game…What do we then have??? Uniformity of ball! Uniformity of opportunity. Why is Cricket Australia, the ECB and the BCCI controlling the running of the ICC via Wally Edwards , Giles Clarke and Mr Srinivasan and where is world cricket headed??? Question it! Ask CA why it is in such an unholy alliance which gives minor nations no choice but to tag along for pitiful money handouts. If what CA is doing is wrong…it is wrong. Don’t accept it, question it?? If Australia has lost this series 1-3, 1-4, 2-3…and the previous one 0-3 under the same people, why would you let those same people take the team for another stint?? Ask the question of CA…question it! Why should Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann, 2 lovely guys, but who have lost away Series like there is no tomorrow , be retained??? Is Justin Langer the best bet for Australia’s future…or do we have to hit rock bottom again to find the right formula??? Are we going to accept that every Australian team that tours overseas to the big 4-5 nations will lose???? Could we beat India, Pakistan, England or South Africa at their place in a Test, ODI or T20 series next week???? Is Steve Smith the best person to captain Australia?? Why??? Is Adam Voges the steadiest and best placed captain in Australia currently or is he too old…is it Dave Warner? Is it Moises Henriques? Would Pete Nevill be better? Never accept that anyone is the best when you can see and hear with your own 2 eyes and ears what is going on…accept nothing. Why would Australia pick Shane Watson in the ODI Series but not in this last Test? Why does Michael Clarke play in the final Test when clearly out of form? Is it sentiment, tradition? Why did Peter Siddle play? Why did Shaun Marsh, Fawad Ahmed and Pat Cummins not play? These men are clearly miffed…you can see it in their body language. Question it! Would Australian and World Cricket be better off with a World Cricket League run by Independent Commissioners? Would each Member Nation be able to run a National League where the 3 forms of the game were played weekly? Why? Do you believe the DRS is completely fool proof?? How could it be improved…..do not think you do not have the answer…you do! You watch as much cricket as the guys playing. Why is the ICC not focused on bringing Ireland, Zimbabawe, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Scotland, USA etc into the fold of Member Nations playing the 3 Official forms of the game if cricket wants to dominate the world of summer team sports???? Question it!!!! Do you believe that Australia could have won this test series with Justin Langer at the helm of Australia and with him picking his coaches and his team? Do we need 4 test selectors or can Justin run the team with the help of a general manager like Rod Marsh or someone of the ilk of Adam Gilchrist??? Are Selectors necessary in a professional format such as a World Cricket league where teams are travelling the world monthly??? Is the selection of the Australian Cricket team or any Member Nation enhanced by having 3-4-5 selectors, or is it just sentiment and tradition??? Question it?? Question everything…because people…we do not have the best answers from those people who are running cricket in the world at present. Cricket is not using it’s noggin….and it needs a good shakeup. Independent paid Commissioners to structure and grow the game is required…don’t you think???? That was my last question…do you have any more???? ARTHUR PAGONIS MANAGING DIRECTOR AUSTRALIA GLOBAL TRADING PTY LTD 10 HERTZ WAY, MORLEY, W.A. 6062 AUSTRALIA PH. 61.8.9377 3833, FAX 61.8.93773877, MOBILE 61. 409918874 SKYPE: apagonis2 WEB: www.ausglobaltrading.com