Australia has had a less than ideal start to the summer it’s pretty safe to say, and while every man and their dog are calling for “more changes” or “drop the captain/selectors”, have you stopped to think that maybe South Africa are just a better side than us?
Is it possible that the Australians are simply being outplayed and outclassed by a great side that is in top form?
They have arguably the best XI in world cricket at the moment and their form through the ODI series and tests against the Baggy Green in the last few months has shown their prowess in increasing position in world cricket.
More:
» Five talking points from Australia’s humiliation
» Second Test scorecard – Australia vs South Africa
There’s always excuses for losing, there’s always excuses for another batting collapse or a poor bowling performance that leaks out 500 runs in the third innings.
But maybe, just maybe, Australia aren’t failing miserably due to wrong selections or bad coaching decisions and the team and staff doesn’t need to be altered to the nth degree, but the better team is simply winning.
That’s how sport works right?
Two sides or individuals come together to contest their chosen sport, and at the end of the day, the better party walks away with the better result.
And while sometimes an off performance or a really negative display can bring out the old adage of “they lost it more than the other side won”, but that takes away from the opposition.
South Africa don’t deserve to have their performances so far in the series taken away from them because people would rather say it was Australia at fault and not them being better at the game of cricket on this occasion.
The partnership between JP Duminy and Dean Elgar in Perth showcased all the qualities the Australians weren’t able to get a grasp on in Perth.
Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada have exploited the Hobart conditions to near perfection in the second Test, but the home side couldn’t do the same in an identical situation.
The class and patience of Temba Bavuma has been matched only by Peter Nevill when Australia was trying only to survive during the back end of the second test.
Quinton de Kock has scored runs lower in the order and the tail has wagged considerably more than the Australians, playing with poise and intent where seven through eleven have collapsed for the home team.
The point being South Africa has just played better overall in nearly every facet of the contest and deserve to be in the situation they’re in. Plain and simple.
Yes, Australia have been their own worst enemy at times, but apart from a few brain explosions with the bat, the overall picture has been painted as a side unable to overcome a superior outfit.
As the public mull over another loss in the second Test, Australia needs to consider their game plan and how to counter enemy number one, South Africa.
Concentrating so much on their own performance means they’re looking away from the real battle and playing against themselves, not the opposition.
DavSA
Guest
One of the real plusses for SA in cricket is that back home the sport just does not carry anywhere near the weight of importance as it does in Australia. We did not even have high expectations of beating Australia , so one can imagine that the pressure on the players is also not even on the same planet as that on the Aussies. In the case of Quinton De Kock , when he lost form in India he was send back to domestic cricket with little or no fanfare to regain confidence in a lesser environment. At no stage was there any clamour for him to be dropped . It was a temporary and sensible move. Compare this to that of Mitch Marsh where I feel he is being drawn and quartered under the Australian public scrutiny.. He is not the only one. Can you imagine the inner tension when they come out to compete. The exact reversal applies in rugby union where the SA team is expected always and I might add unreasonably to win. The Wallabies lost to England and the Boks early in the season (forget NZ everyone loses to them) , but have steadily and without huge fanfare been able to evolve into a better side and have as have the Proteas improved after the series loss to England. The Boks have stumbled under the weight of pressure and just deteriorated. They seem as does the Australian cricket team to have the entire world on their broad shoulders. I predict a better performance from the Aussie cricketers in the final test as realistically few if anyone expect them to win.
Riordan Lee
Editor
Really interesting take, Connor - it's definitely an enduring feature of the Australian sporting psyche to avoid giving credit to the opposition, even in losses. It makes us feel more in control, I think. Full credit to South Africa, they were utterly brilliant.
Amrit
Roar Guru
Exactly plenty of options in the tank, may be a good thing
Rats
Guest
Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong mentally? Voges second innings dismissal.. I can't see the energy in them. If getting vocal is what it takes, then they should do it. If they consider themselves as typical Aussie cricketers who never gives up, they can still show some character. This is what earlier Aussie teams would have done in this situation - Win the next test. Thrash Pakistan next month.. Gain back confidence. No disrespect to Pak. They are easily the best sub-continent travelling team. Bowling is good, batting is fragile. Beautiful lines from the author - the Aussie batsman should fight with the opponents, not himself. Their body language right now is simple not right.
Simoc
Guest
The Saffers knew how to win in Perth by batting on and on when everyone said they should declare. Took Australia out of the game first knowing full well that Australia do not have a great record of playing for draws, or any record that I'm aware of. They've got a great new bowler in Rabada and in Hobart where Australia needed to get a win it was all over early on. Phsyced out and it showed with a couple of horrible batting displays against an excellent attack. It is embarrassing that the team, apart from Smith, shows no fight at all. So you have to guess that off the field things are also a bit bleak.
Ches
Guest
Maybe. But not this many and especially at home. Pat Howard and the board are mostly (but not all) responsible for this. The selectors & Boof hold some responsibility here as does Smith from poor captaincy. But to their defense they are working with a poor system. The thing that saves Howard and the board is they are not "solely" responsible. Huge mistakes and poor systems are rife at First Class, Grade and junior Representative levels. Hence they keep their jobs. Despite poor handling at the top quality players are not coming through the system. Then can then claim "its not my fault" as they blame the grass roots admins & coaches. Hmmm I've seen it at junior levels with my own eyes. Cricket in Australia needs to be shaken up from the top down. Replace the top leadership, the dominoes will fall lower down. Stop blaming current top tier players, coaches & selectors. Their job is made too hard by "The board", Howard and poorly managed First Class, Grade and junior reps teams. The game has changed from the glory days of the 90's and early 2000's and needs a different approach. Fact.
michael steel
Guest
They lost by an innings and 80 runs to a team which hit 326 with one century maker. and the match went for seven sessions.That's beyond woeful. And they went out as favourites on Saturday morning.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Hey John sorry I have to disagree, how is the Australian team better on paper? There are only two Australian players I'd include in the Proteas if I could any or combined the teams, and that's Steve Smith & David Warner to replace Cook & either Elgar/Duminy I reckon. Remember the Proteas did not lose to any other team home or away in almost 10 years, other than Australia in SA. 2006-2015. That's a good run! Had a speed bump and derailed losing to both India & England last year, the first time losing to anyone other than Australia in 10 years, but now they're back on track. :-)
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
How is the Australian team better on paper? There are only two Australian players I'd include in the Proteas if I could any or combined the teams, and that's Steve Smith & David Warner
davSA
Guest
Insightful observations Conor. All and sundry appear to be blaming individual players and or selections. Could SA really be an exceptional side and could Australia just be in very bad head space at the same time. Both Ian Bishop and Michael Vaughn have described the Proteas first hour of bowling today as some of the most sustained and consistent seam bowling as an outfit ever !!Vaughn even went so far as to say the dvd of this bowling performance should be sent around the world to coaches for study. High praise indeed from two of crickets greats. The biggest problem the Proteas have right now is when AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn return who do you leave out..Still waiting in the wings on tour is the very exciting Riley Roussouw. He also deserves a game.
Rob JM
Guest
Australia was only playing with 5 men. Must have thougth they were playing basketball!
doogs
Guest
That is really interesting. I have definitely noticed the team seems much happier and much more supportive of each other. It seems odd considering their results. If they could transfer that good energy over to a few wins then who knows what a force they can be. At the moment there are only a handful of players in the team really performing.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Yes the Saffers are better. They've won the last two times in Aus. Thing is they are missing two senior and very fine players, but you'd never know it. Their batsmen are far more disciplined than the Australians.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
I think that Channel 9 ratings have slumped to all time low - possibly due to the current performance of the team
Amrit
Roar Guru
I think he should stay at the job, regardless of the results; He definitely has to uplift his team, yet he seems the only one who has some brains.
Amrit
Roar Guru
Well that's true but sometimes you are being made rubbish by a better team
Tony Tea
Guest
Losing to a better team and being rubbish are not mutually exclusive.
JimmyB
Guest
That's the spirit, she'll be right mate!
GWSingapore
Guest
Yes they are being beaten by a superior South African team. They are also men being paid to play a game. So don't get too hung up about it. Some fresh blood will be found and things will recover
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Australia has certainly been beaten buy a better-performing side, but test stats would probably have the Aussies in front as the better team, on paper at least. What cannot be denied is that the South African side are much harder and tougher when they are under pressure, showing considerably more heart and fight than the Aussies. Without AB DV and Steyn and with Morne Morkel, not getting a run, the Aussies, at home, were expected to repeat the performances of last summer. Amla and Faf have done little and their spinner is still wearing his L plates. These things should have us set for success, or at worst, being very competitive. The reality that we have been smashed and are performing at near record lows, hints that our problems lie deeper and extend higher than the playing roster.