Gone are the days of big lovable characters in the Australian cricket team who every man and his dog loved.
Test cricket is slowly on the decline in Australia. This is due to the Australian public being unable to relate to the Australian players. You used to feel like you knew the players, like they were one of your mates. We had Boonie, Punter, Binga, Hayden, Pigeon, Gilly, Mister Cricket and the Waugh brothers to name a few who all Aussies universally loved. They all were blokes you would love to have a beer with. They are all blokes you loved to watch play cricket.
These days we don’t have these characters. Never has an Australian team been so polarising. We don’t feel like we know the players and in turn, we are less willing to ride the highs and lows with them. We have Warner who is statistically one of the most dominant opening batsmen ever, but the public is still undecided on him. Unlike Matthew Hayden who was universally loved. Why is this?
Because these days the players are so restricted in what they can say to the media. They offer boring, bland response to media questions at the fear of saying the wrong thing. Let them show their personalities, trust that they won’t overstep the mark. Once we start building these personalities in the game again, that will lead to the crowds returning to Australian cricket.
This is why the Big Bash has been so successful. Channel Ten has done a great job of bringing personalities back into the game. Just look at the recent characters of Big Bash. We’ve had Hussey, Hoggy, Andre Russel, Gayle, Chris Lynn, Travis Head, Ludeman and Brad Hodge to name a few. Through the openness of the players, you feel like you get to know them. These are now the players kids pretend to be in the backyard rather than the Australian players.
This is a massive problem for the future of Test cricket. We need the characters back in the Australian cricket team. When this is achieved, the crowds flood back to the game.
DavSA
Guest
As a South African I can sincerely say that Australia brings out the very best of our cricketers . This is because you guys are just so good at the game and we acknowledge that. To a large extent the pressure is always on the Aussies because our public are hopeful but don't fully expect us to beat you . I still feel that the sides are a lot closer than the WACA game suggests and that this series is not yet over. We also got wacked in India simply because the conditions were just so tailored to their one dimensional game (love to tackle them at the Wanderers but they don't seem to want to visit) . Also Sri Lanka not that much different to Indian conditions. The Australian side is being really hammered by the press and public right now and would probably want to look inwards to find a positive way forward . Are guys like Starc/Smith/Hazelwood etc suddenly poor cricketers. I think not. Lets wait for the full series and then share a beer.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Winning brings out the crowds through imperious performances , not characters . You can have a bunch of characters you might relate to, but you are not going to rush to the ground if they are getting flogged regularly .
Onside
Guest
Many Australians like winning more than they like the game. Emphasising Australia's failure in Perth, out trumps genuine admiration for the South African victory. The cricket was very good. But not for Australia. Characters in Australian cricket play in winning teams. Once again, many supporters seem to appreciate the 'character' more than they do the game. Supporters bemoan Australian failure against spin in say India, rather than acknowledge Indian spinners are good, and Australian batsmen , despite being paid THREE TO FOUR MILLION DOLLARS a year, cant bat on Indian pitches. (all nations doctor pitches, but only the best can adapt to any surface). Win = Good . Lose = Bad The Big Bash is a different beast. Fast food cricket , live theatre in contrived conditions. All highly successful good fun mind you, but loosing is tempered by the fact the entertainment nullifies any emotion associated with loosing a game. And hey, 'there's another match on to'morrow night' Next year, this seasons favorite son will probably be playing against you in a different team. ...............and so it goes
michael steel
Guest
Most players get their "character" from displaying ability on the field.
Hoy
Roar Guru
The issue is we can't relate to them, because due to the high turnover and three different forms of the game meaning selections of three different teams, we don't know them at all.. and some of them are bloody lucky to be there.
Andrew Sinclair
Roar Rookie
The big bash is full of young teams who the public were unfamiliar with until recently. However we have very quickly seen the characters in the game. Why is it different for the Australian team
colinp
Guest
"we've had Boonie, Punter, Binga, Hayden, Pigeon, Gilly, Mister Cricket..." it appears the only criteria you have measured against in your home brew personality test is nicknames....this side has plenty: vulture/buzzard (my own nicknames for warner admittedly) marshy uzzie smudge grandad lead feet boring boring nevill starc naked sids hazelnut Goat
peeeko
Guest
most of the team are young and not established. a nick name or a gut doesn't make you a character. i dont know how many people would love a beer with Mcgrath or Hayden