Revenge is the great motivator that has driven almost every spurned protagonist since stories were first told.
I can think of no more spurned team in the last six months than the Australian cricket side.
The death of cricket as we knew it, the established order, was very much overstated by the media. Cricket was said to be in crisis. I didn’t buy it. Was our first class system really that busted? Were our batsmen and coaches really so terrible?
Losses in Sri Lanka were comprehensive, but with the team we took in, not necessarily unexpected.
Losing to a good South African side showed something was wrong. But not enough was wrong that it would require a decade of hard slogging and Allan Border-types to resurrect.
No, Steve Smith and his men had more to them than that. They showed that in Adelaide, coming out and comprehensively whipping the same South African side that had done it to them at Hobart a week earlier.
It was good. It showed that not all was wrong and that losing can be arrested with good performance from players you know are capable of it.
That was redemption.
Now it’s Pakistan’s turn. Australia will be angry, and they have every right to be. Fire in the eyes and revenge as your carrot should prove very powerful indeed.
Powerful enough to inspire them to a 3-0 victory?
I should definitely think so.
Because their revenge would be incomplete if their performance is lacking in any facet. A win raises the expectation in the public’s eye. Where are all the comments about cricket in crisis now?
But within the team, the comments from all the big pundits will still burn. There will be that innate desire which seems to drive every premiership-winning footy team and every Ashes-winning cricket side – “we proved them all wrong.”
Pakistan didn’t do anything to deserve what Australia will be hoping to exact on them. They just happen to be the ones touring Australia at what is a difficult time for the national side.
The ultimate goal is the kind of fairytale trajectory which saw the Wallabies reach the World Cup final last year. Number 1 in the Test cricket rankings isn’t actually that far away. As of 29 November, Australia are equal second with England, ten points behind India.
Pakistan presents a golden opportunity to start the journey back to the top of the pile.
The chance to start a move to the top, to show the media that cricket’s not dead, that the national pastime is something we’re still the best at on the international stage. Those are powerful motivations.
That’s what Steve Smith and his crew will be channelling when they walk out in Brisbane under lights.
Take back the number one spot. Take their revenge for the narratives that have been spun about them.
It’s theirs for the taking.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Not Warner bashing old boy, simply saying he shouldn't open. Bring him in at 3 and let him play his natural game, he is a devastating player when he gets going. I simply say that he is not our best option at the top of the order.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
More Warner bashing despite a very good record that will eclipse old greats like Taylor, Boon, Slater, Marsh, and if he keeps his milestone rate most likely Hayden and Langer also. Sure you are going to get him cheaply sometimes, and yes its most likely going to be him hitting an attempted boundary. But the anger seems to come from that fact more so than like in previous decades an opener nudging outside off stump and edging to slip. Sure when you get him early others need to adjust to suit just like any match. Rogers and now Renshaw are capable of that.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
You don't follow much when it comes to cricket it seems.
davSA
Guest
Ii've consistently said on The Roar that Australia are a very good side . The problems that SA exposed are fixable. Steve Smith just needs a bit of time to mould this side to his own style and it appears to be happening. The lack of patience that people talk about was also reflected in the bowling . When wickets dried up instead of sticking to tight and accurate line and length bowling they seemed to try too hard to take wickets. So getting back to the article , any talk of revenge is probably shortsighted. Rather just focus on their own gameplans and doing the basics 100% correctly than focusing on the opposition and trying too hard to win games. The rest will fall into place . In my opinion the Australian cricket side is far more short of confidence than it is on high quality cricketers.
NZ Jim
Guest
Troll? I don't know his recent record off the top of my head but warners test career average close to 50. I'd love to see who you've got waiting in the wings
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Patrick Adelaide was a success for a few reasons. Firstly changes were made to a side that was picked more on promise than form. One exception to this was Maddinson who was picked on a "everyone says he's good" philosophy, and the other is that Neville should never have been dropped. But at least changes were made. Secondly and, just as crucially, Warner was not allowed to open in the first innings. Old Faff thought he pulled a swifty on the Aussies but what he really did was allow two far cooler heads to come in and open. So instead of Davie swinging away like a madman to anything he fancied, we had openers who dug in and made the opposition work hard for their wickets. Our openers did the job they need to and this has been sorely lacking in our team ever since they picked Warner. Australia had shown a distinct lack of patience and game management for a long time. Yes it was getting to the point of a Border style salvage. Remember he had quality players with him too (Boon, Hogg, Lawson, Hookes) but didn't have a complete team. This was what the Australian team was, a few good players and the also rans picked for God knows what reason over and over again. I have some confidence in the new team so long as they are given a chance to gel. That is what will get us wins over Pakistan and others.
Don Piper
Guest
I don't quite follow
Steve Mikić
Guest
Pride in the baggy green should be enough motivation, not revenge
Don Piper
Guest
Warner must be dropped from the test side a brilliant ODI batter but a poor poor test man he isnt considered a test pedigree either, having not attended an exclusive boys college and played in there First XI
twodogs
Guest
While not travelling so well in NZ, I would dare say the Pakis have their eyes on a bigger prize. Just warming up may we say. ?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
The wonderful pakis also took our lads to the cleaners in the UAE, They are also coached by Mickey Arthur and he's doing a better job than he did with Australia. A certain U T Khawaja might be keen to extract revenge after not prospering under old Mickey.
twodogs
Guest
Yet to come, Smiths real test is.