It’s been a year to forget for Australian cricket.
Today marks the one-year anniversary of one of the darkest days in the nation’s sporting history, and while Steve Smith and David Warner are now eligible to rejoin the national set-up and try to recover their damaged reputations, the stigma associated with Australian cricket will live on for years and decades to come.
The Aussies have suffered on and off the park during the last 12 months.
The resignation of coach Darren Lehmann was the first of many involving Cricket Australia personnel.
A cultural review of the administrative body was damning, labelling the organisation “arrogant and controlling”.
The media were simply not talking about the cricket anymore – this was the only story that mattered.
Journalists may be forgiven for focusing on matters outside the field of play. When a team loses one of the world’s most prolific run-scorers and one of the most dynamic openers in world cricket, there weren’t going to be many positive headlines.
The results speak for themselves. Australia lost a home Test series to India for the first time ever and went on a horrible run in the ODI arena, winning just two of 11 games in three consecutive series defeats after the ball-tampering saga.
Incredibly, Australia’s loss in the second ODI against India in Nagpur was their 21st out of their previous 25 completed matches in the 50-over format.
(Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Australia’s batting order had been flimsy and at times experimental throughout that period, and no-one could be sure of the line-up that would appear in the next match.
Things were looking grim, and with less than three months until the start of the World Cup, it looked like Australia’s campaign was already on life support.
Those Aussie fans who hadn’t yet given up would have been frantically checking their calendars to find out when Smith and Warner were due to return.
Perhaps the players finally sensed that the pair’s return was imminent, because everything seemed to change after the match in Nagpur.
Ahead of the third match in the series against India, and facing the prospect of a fourth-straight ODI series defeat, under-pressure openers Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja would have been looking over their shoulders after some less-than-impressive performances.
Thankfully, they decided to give Australian selectors a different type of headache by compiling a match-winning partnership of 193.
This partnership didn’t just ease the pressure on the openers. It was the moment the shackles of Australian cricket were finally released, and it’s been the Aussies of old we have been watching ever since.
Set 359 for victory in Chandighar, few would have given Australia a chance, especially when Finch departed for a duck. Up stepped Khawaja again, and this time he was joined by Peter Handscomb and an amazing Ashton Turner in achieving Australia’s highest ever successful ODI run chase.
Australia went on to win the series against India 3-2 after being 2-0 down, and have since taken a 3-0 lead in their series against Pakistan in the UAE. After their awful run, Australia have won six on the trot.
The timing could not be better.
(AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
With Smith and Warner eligible to return to the side ahead of the World Cup, Australia have a host of players who are in form and peaking just at the right time.
Aaron Finch is leading by example, having scored a mind-boggling 359 runs in the first three matches against Pakistan.
Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa are reaping the rewards of having extended stints in the first eleven, while Pat Cummins is right up there with the best bowlers in the world.
Although there have been some injuries in the bowling ranks, there is a genuine feeling that this Aussie side can do what many thought would be impossible just weeks ago – defend their World Cup crown.
Of course, the conditions in England aren’t going to be anything like those the Australians have encountered in India and Pakistan in recent weeks, and there’s still the matter of having to come up against the hosts, who have been far and away the best side in the format over the last two years.
The Poms won’t have forgotten the 5-0 drubbing of the old enemy less than 12 months ago.
But that was an Australian side fresh from the ball-tampering bollocking and with a brand new coach at the helm.
Justin Langer has now had almost a full year in charge of the national team, and the media’s sandpaper bandwagon has almost rolled out of sight.
Australia’s current performances will scare England, who will be under huge pressure to win their home tournament as favourites.
Sure, the Aussies are going to cop sledging wherever they go during the event, but the five-time winners need only hold up one hand showing all five fingers, and the other hand held with a closed fist to silence the home fans.
They’ve also had to put up with constant reminders of the ball-tampering fiasco, so by now they should be well and truly used to the chatter.
It might be an optimistic view, but Australia have a huge pedigree in this tournament and will not be a team that the other nations will enjoy coming up against.
They are a great chance of winning the 2019 World Cup.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
The real key for mine would be how Langer and co. will be able to integrate Warner and Smith into the team without disrupting the flow and form of the current lineup. There is no doubt they're both in our best XI - they are, after all, our 2 best batsmen - but perhaps it's best to let them take a slightly more backseat role in the middle order so as not to put too much pressure on them? I'm glad our first pool game is against Afghanistan, it will allow us to experiment a touch with the batting order. I'd keep the bulk of the lineup the same, especially the opening pair, and drift Warner and Smith up and down the order to use them whenever the game scenario dictates.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
You mean IF Australia win both - don't get ahead of yourself! England are still world no.1 in ODIs (despite the blip in the West Indies), so I'm putting them as CWC favourites. It is rare that England lose an ODI at home. Oh, and Australia have not won an Ashes series in England since 2001, so good luck! (P.S. If you haven't guessed, I'm English)
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I would give Justin Langer a huge pat on the back for his role in achieving that unity and spirit. He took over with Australia on the canvass and copped a lot of flack initially. The similarities between him and Gary Kirsten, one of the great coaches is remarkable. Both opening batsmen of identical tempermant. Langer the stable foil to the more flamboyant Hayden, Kirsten to Gibbs. Both have similar physiques but mostly their coaching styles match. They prefer to be in the background and to create a dynamic and enabling environment for players to express themselves. Aus are lucky to have him. South Africa are poorer without Kirsten.
Paul
Roar Guru
I like your second comments almost as much as your article, Ray. I don't think India took their foot off the gas though, there's no way anyone would do that in a Kohli led side! That said, I think they took us way too easily and assumed they were going to beat us 5 zip, then got a helluva shock when we beat them 3-2. Much will depend on two things; what squad selectors will chose for the Cup and how well these guys acclimatize to conditions. I hope the selectors don't play funny buggers and pull Mitch Marsh into the team for example. We have more than enough guys in good form to fill a squad and be competitive, as long as these guys adapt to English grounds, especially our bowlers.
Ray McLachlan
Roar Rookie
Hi Paul - you’re 100% here, When I finished this article I felt it lacked a bit of flow and a convincing argument - it turned out to be a bit of a story instead. I think the point I was trying to make is that we have been bad for so long in the one day format and all of a sudden we have hit form. Ok, so India may have taken the foot off the gas during the series over there but the 359 chase is still a fantastic effort, and now we’re 4/4 against Pakistan. All I can see is that we are starting to show some mettle at the best possible time and we are gonna give this tournament a red hot go. England (clear favorites in my opinion) should be on notice because they are perennial tournament chokers and we will sweep the rug out from under them if they’re not careful.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Ray, I enjoyed reading your first piece but am left with a question. You wrote " They are a great chance of winning the 2019 World Cup", but didn't really say why you thought we could? You mentioned Zampa, Maxwell & Cummins but I'd be interested in your thoughts about why a side that was totally dysfunctional 2 months ago, now become "great chances" to win the Cup, especially with all the issues the side still has to face over in England.
Rob
Guest
The Warner and Smith suspensions have brought about opportunities and freedoms for players that have never really received any level of support and consistent international exposure. In all honesty the boys club mentality has been fractured. Don’t forget the current success is without Hazelwood, Starc, Wade and a good old overdose of NSW arrogance. The jealousy selfishness from senior players within the team no longer exist. They are playing for each other with spirit and confidence. That doesn’t happen with snipping (sledging) and teapot posturing team mates under pressure. Payne and Finch have been cool and controlled and player have responded by playing for the team. UK massive innings against Pakistan, Maxwell playing with confidence, Richardson and Harris international exposure, a 2-0 T20 and 3-2 ODI series win over India in India probably doesn’t happen without the change of culture. The suspended coach and players were guilty of being so self absorbed and arrogant of their positions that they were answerable to no one. The fact they choose to flaunt the rules at the expense of the sport and Australia’s sporting dignity proved that. The over the top sledging was the start of the arrogant culture IMO.
Ray McLachlan
Roar Rookie
Absolutely mate. I’m so excited for the English summer - back to back CWC and Ashes - absolute scenes when the aussies win both!
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Mostly because the changes it has brought into setup by smashing that fractured structure. I still hold onto my stance that, the reaction & the punishment to Warner & Smith was way over exaggerated. But if not for that tampering saga, the fractured setup would have never come out in light & Aussies would have performed in same way they did in Champions Trophy. Right now, we can see the positives the changes have brought in. Most importantly the selectors have been making some very sensible & common sense decision which was long over due of them, instead of voodoo practices of traditions. Picking ashes team very late giving players enough time to prove themselves, bringing in Patterson after announcing team to name a few. These players that have brought positive results, actually have been around for quite a while now, it's not then they just came in & set the world on fire immediately . But never got decent chances to show what they have got because previous selectors were picking bits & pieces players who are good for nothing. If the current trend continues ,with Smith & Warner coming back, Aussies have got a lot of headache.In a good way.