Australian cricket’s current ‘crisis’ is nothing new – it’s the third such panic-stricken period in the past six years.
We heard similar claims about Australian Test cricket being ‘dead’ and talent reserves being ’empty’ after the Ashes losses of 2010-11 and 2013. Yet both of those series were immediately followed by periods of heady success for the Australians.
After being beaten by England at home in 2010-11 for the first time in what seemed like thousands of years, Australia went on a hot streak. Over the following two years, they recorded a dominant 12-3 win-loss record. The highlights were series wins in Sri Lanka and the West Indies, a series draw in South Africa and a 4-0 pummelling of India at home.
After the 2013 Ashes, which marked a streak of nine Tests without a win for Australia, the team rebounded in venomous fashion.
First, they humiliated the Poms 5-0. Then they travelled to South Africa to secure a rousing 2-1 victory over a wonderfully-talented Proteas line-up.
Both of these periods of resurgence ended with a thump and on each occasion, it was a trial-by-spin in Asia which spoiled the party.
Across 2011 and 2012, Australia climbed back up the Test rankings thanks to some phenomenal batting and inventive captaincy from Michael Clarke. In the two years after the 2010-11 Ashes debacle, Clarke piled on 2247 runs at 73, including eight tons from just 20 Tests.
Australia, at that stage, had a line-up that was thinner on talent than its current Test XI. The only batsman aside from Clarke who was a solid contributor was Mike Hussey, who was 36-years-old.
On the bowling front, Ryan Harris had obvious class but was constantly injured, Mitchell Johnson had the yips, Ben Hilfenhaus was trying to remodel his action, Mitchell Starc was raw and Peter Siddle was merely steady. Having churned through countless tweakers since the retirement of Stuart MacGill, spin bowling was a massive weakness for the Australians.
At that point, Australia had only four players who were automatic picks – Clarke, Hussey, Siddle and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Australia’s golden two years after the 2010-11 Ashes ended in horrific fashion when they were obliterated 4-0 in India.
To make matters worse, Australia also had significant off-field problems.
The team was fractured and the infamous homeworkgate only exacerbated the situation. Such was the panic around the team in the months that followed, coach Mickey Arthur was replaced by Darren Lehmann merely days before the first Ashes Test.
By the end of that series Australia had played nine Tests without a win. The outrage, scorn and hysteria among the Australian media and fans was identical to what emerged in 2010-11, as well as what we’re witnessing currently.
Just like right now, there were calls for virtually everyone in the team to be dumped. Blokes who had scored a ton or taken a five-for at some point in the preceding 12 months were put forward as Test candidates. Test line-ups featuring seven or eight or nine new faces were being suggested by Australian followers.
Many people seemed convinced that Australia’s winless streak would extend well beyond nine Tests, perhaps to ninety, such was the exaggerated pessimism.
Apparently Australia had not a single talented young player.
David Warner? A mouthy nothing. Steve Smith? Worst technique since World War II. Nathan Lyon? Prospects thinner than his hair. Mitchell Starc? Mitchell Shite.
In late 2013, negativity inundated Australian cricket like a typhoon.
It took just two days in November for the weather to clear up. By stumps on day two at the Gabba, Australia had already sewn up the first Ashes Test.
They were 0-63 in their second dig, holding a commanding lead of 222. Earlier that day, England had collapsed in terror in the face of some extraordinarily hostile bowling from the once-ridiculed Johnson.
Just four months later, Australia had rocketed to the number one Test ranking, having gone 7-1 against England and South Africa combined.
Over-the-top pessimism had been replaced by wild optimism. Many of the same people who in October had read the last rites of Australian cricket, were now proclaiming the Test side to be the world’s best.
While it was hard not to get caught up in the emotion of those months, I still felt Australia didn’t deserve top billing.
To truly earn the undisputed number one ranking, they would need to play well against both Pakistan in the UAE in late 2014 and in England in mid-2015. Australia flopped in both series, with the second loss leading to the retirement of six veterans in the space of just a few months.
Just like that, Australian cricket was stuffed again. Leading into last summer many pundits and fans thought Australia were a big chance to lose both at home and away to a solid New Zealand team. Without Harris, Johnson, Rogers, Haddin, Clarke and Watson, Australia was remarkably green and vulnerable. Their new line-up was rubbish, apparently.
Many of those criticisms were swept aside as Australia trounced the Kiwis 4-0 home-and-away, flogging the woeful West Indies in between. Hopes were high heading into the winter tour of Sri Lanka. Then the worm turned once more.
Australia was flogged. The critics returned en masse. Maybe the home summer could save Australia as it had done so many times in the past?
No. South Africa rolled through them with ease, descending Australia further into the pits of despair.
It’s a cycle which has been repeating itself for six years now. The one advantage Australia have this time around is that they have a strong core of players who are all aged 30 or younger, compared to the ageing teams of 2011 and 2013.
The question now is whether Australia has already bottomed out like they did with the 2010-11 and 2013 Ashes, or is there more pain to come over this home summer?
Amrit
Roar Guru
I think the tide would change from next week.
Simoc
Guest
No doogs Tim never had credibility. He follows Hawthorne AFL and therefore knows everything. What has happened in the past is players tried eg Forrest, Doolan then sent back to Shield to brush up on a couple of things which hopefully were spelled out by selector, coach or both. They have not responded and come back. Forrest in particular was very stable in technique and organised. He looked a fit for number 3 after Ponting , then vaporised. I haven't seen Doolan bat much. The others are from the current fad of picking older thanks to Mike Hussey performing so well eg Voges, Bailey. We definitely need to have a batter at 6 for a period and for me G Maxwell should get a chance to nail down a spot. He has the ability and has been short changed by selectors to date. The other is a new opener, either Bancroft or Renshaw for a long term trial. Fergusons debut was woeful and Burns doesn't look good enough at test level. Voges has copped some good balls and is out of form. Maybe try Burns in the mid order for a test but otherwise take your pick from the crop. I like Maddinson, others Handscomb, Patterson and a Roar writer likes Stoinus. However Australia does not bat to save tests and I can't see that changing anytime soon. We bat to win tests. Win or lose.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
So basically, after those last two terrible points for Australia, they were basically dragged out of the whole by a single player playing out of their skin. The first time by Michael Clarke, the second time by Mitchell Johnson, and in both cases they were having runs of form that had to come to an end eventually, and when it did the team started to crumble again because it had become so reliant on that one individual carrying the team. Those two individuals carrying the team to some extent papered over the cracks that were there and made the team seem better than it was. If Australia is to come out of this hole better than previously, and not just have a short period of good results before another crash, it needs to be by having solidity throughout the team, rather than having one or two players carrying the team.
doogs
Guest
Hi Tim. Clearly you don't like Lehmann. Funny though that you say Smith has a lack of support from Lehmann. Really?? I find that boring when people throw those sort of comments around. How could you possibly know that? You may be correct but you have no actual proof and then you sign off with Dizzy....Also you have based your comments on Khwaja based on Sri Lanka. Pretty tough. Sorry Tim but your credibility has lowered
George
Guest
Well said. He has seemed clueless since the last Ashes tour.
Jacko
Guest
Put Boofs son in. He looks to have what it takes. I cant believe the Shield pitches have produced so many centries this round. That is not helping the selectors at all.
Jacko
Guest
Well, not for SA anyway
Andy
Guest
What? This is exactly like you are article from the other day except it goes into more depth about what guys did 5 years ago. I get that you think that because something happened before it can happen again, but you have again offered no reason for it to happen other than that the team is younger. Also are we really going to try to and say that beating India at home and Sri Lanka and the West Indies away is evidence of a golden period? I get wanting to write about history, i love history too and its easy to write about because its all hindsight you get to sound wicked smart but you are pretending that you are writing about the current team and that its all ok without any reason other than some other guys did it so itll happen again.
spruce moose
Guest
There will be a false dawn against Pakistan before truly bottoming out in India. It's important the public and the administration place very little stock in the results (either way) of the Pakistan series. Australia are going to be absolutely trolleyed in India.
Rob
Guest
Maybe if Watson penned he wanted to stop getting LBW when bowler bowls on middle/leg. Someone may have said "take gaurd an inch or two back towards leg you big. foot planting boof head and put that ball straight over mid on or through midwicket."
Buddy Holly
Guest
I may be looking at this too simplistically but has CAs focus been on how they can bring in more customers and advertising money for example 20/20, day/night tests rather than focussing on development of players? The priority of the shield domestic comp seems to have been pushed down the list and there is a decline in player quality as an outcome. Unfortunately you can't have it all and something has to give.
Don Freo
Guest
What a grumpy lot of posts. This such a short dip to 2nd or 3rd in the world. Hardly rock bottom and very brief. Boof has been quite good with the cattle he has had. Teams lose when personnel are out. Two Marshes out. Cummins, Patterson, Paris. With them available, we'll regain rhythm and solo flair Behrendorff on the way back. Makin abd Stanlake back to provide the tall metronome. Lots of kids waving good willow to support the skipper and vc who are fine. Whiteman and Carey keeping time with gloves. No need for Argus #2. Ronan will do.
Rob
Guest
For years we have laughed about touring teams showing up and not getting enough practice games in before the first test. They get a hiding in the 1st game and then their confidence would be rocking for the next 2. How did this team prepare? Matador cup, Siddle returning from injury,Starc not having a game, Batsmen resting and a different team playing 50 over cricket. Schedule. We are all smarter in hinsight. Right now we need to blood some youth and stop picking 33 plus players that have always been there abouts like S.Marsh, Voges, Calum Ferguson and to a lesser extent Nevill. Don't pick blokes down on form like Burns. Identify good young talent in form that can bring something to the team in a position they are comfortable. Maxwell isn't someone you ask to bat 3 when he bats 6. Burns is not an opener and down on confidence, Renshaw is. The bowlers need clear plans and a captian has to demand they get carried out. They have to be aggressive and smart in the field. That does't mean being wankers with blokes running their mouths off. It means being on the same page and attacking opposition players weakness or even testing his strength (setting them up).
AlanKC
Guest
In retrospect I suspect "homeworkgate" was blown out of proportion. SA credit their performance, at least partly, to team work sessions where each player talks about what they want to achieve and their team mates commit to doing what ever they can to help them get there (paraphrasing given I heard it on radio and can't cut and paste) while my understanding of "homeworkgate" was that each player was asked to provide things they could do better to help the team win (or perform better?). I reckon if a certain WLB (google Bill Maher on Donald Trump) hadn't made a fuss we'd have a team that bats a bit more like SA does in times of need.
Don Freo
Guest
Perth wasn't bad.
Republican
Guest
Australian Test Cricket has been ordinary for years and is only getting worse. This version of the game no longer resonates with the average punter here so is no longer integral to our sporting culture sadly. This is not an exclusively Australian phenomena but I do believe we are far more impressionable to the razzle dazzle of the truncated versions, especially T20 compared to other nations. Why this might be, I do not exactly know but the seduction of crassness, is increasingly inherent of our national character.
Rob JM
Guest
Sayers, bird, behrendorf plus the unicorns of cummins and pattinson are all a class above siddle. Sayers is the only workhorse though, the rest are unjury prone.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Maybe, but it doesn't mean we'll get off Rock Bottom anytime soon. In fact if at the end of our summer and end of the Tour of India we haven't won another Test match (quite a possibility) then that will really be rock bottom.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I wouldn't even rate him in the Donald McDonald class of coaches fabulous talker from the point of sucking ppl in to believing his hype but not so good with actions or dealing with issues. Lucky he and the 'water proof tea bag' Howard are best buds
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Boof is no Clarko. Not even sure he's a Brad Scott.