“It won’t get tougher than this” was the remark Justin Langer made at Edgbaston before Australia had to fly out of England, winless in six limited-over games.
Langer, in his first assignment as the full-time coach of the Australian team, was mesmerised by how the hosts England knocked out the Australians every time it looked like they were running away with the game.
The West Australian, who succeeded Darren Lehmann as the coach of the national team after he stepped down in the wake of the ball-tampering saga, fulsomely credited their opponents for their ruthlessness. Langer also admitted that the English top three were on par with the former matchwinning trio Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting. That is where the scars ran more profound and became more alarming – but the ringmaster saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
Not that defeating this inexperienced and wounded Australia emblazoned England with the tag of even the unofficial world champions; it merely meant England were starting to have Australia’s number in a format in which the former have never before looked like the team to beat. The men under Tim Paine took the field last year in June in England oblivious to how the rebuilding process could shape up for at least a year more without two of their leading players.
But at the heart of the matter was that Australia underwent a sharp decline in ODI cricket. As a measure of a fix and to arrest the slide, the defending champions’ understanding was to pick a leaf out of England’s book. For Australia, that wasn’t the only blueprint to England recovering their rhythm, let alone Australia finding their own again; the all-attack approach has betrayed England in crucial games.
Their hopes of a revival weren’t by any means for a smooth one. If Eoin Morgan’s men inflicted on them the beating of a lifetime, it was South Africa’s turn next to maul them Down Under. It wasn’t going to be easy, as Virat Kohli’s men were also approaching the Australian shores. While the most extended format for the large part of the tour was in focus, the 50-over games weren’t much behind, with the grandest stage fast approaching.
Unlike any of the other World Cup editions, Australia’s chances of putting up even a respectable amount of resistance were in jeopardy. But fast forward to the present and the men in yellow will go out to defend their crown in a much familiar landscape, reincarnated and resurrected. It all turned out to be exactly as Langer was confident it would be. Undoubtedly Usman Khawaja’s marathon knock in Dubai suggested Australia’s ignominy wouldn’t last long if they weren’t playing like champions already. The same man was highly decisive in turning their ODIs fortunes around.
Australia’s Usman Khawaja (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
It is ironic to think now how an ocean of uncertainties was looming over the troops when they landed in India. The shattering defeat in Nagpur affirmed it further. Collapses like those had become consistent enough for Australia in the recent past, as besides negating middle overs tactfully, they were toiling to get over the finish line. But Aaron Finch’s men have not only managed to envelop those nagging worries, but they have dealt with them confidently.
Nonetheless, the third ODI in Ranchi was where they turned the tables in ecstatic fashion. It all began in Ranchi, and until Dubai the Australians stretched their impressive winning streak to eight matches. Their timing and intent couldn’t have been more correct as they thundered back into contention.
Not only did Australia raise their game without panicking, but luck was also a factor – but what success doesn’t involve a stroke of luck? After
Darren Lehmann voluntarily stepped down, Langer faced close calls with two other fellow Aussies contending for the job but had succeeded over both by a mile for the job. Not only had Langer undertaken the role of an assistant coach for the national side in the past with a track record hard to overlook, but he was also a battler himself. After existing on the fringes and on the brink of being forgotten, he cemented his place in the Test side alongside the crashers and dashers.
Without a doubt Langer has guided this Australian side remarkably well and could go on to become one of the greatest coaches for the men in yellow. It was in June 2018 that Australia was forced to carry the scars of one of their groundbreaking thrashings in one-day history. Come June and they will be back in the same zone, being no stranger to the threat that is to follow.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
World Cup is a 3 horse race. England, India and West Indies.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
AFL, cricket and the rugby's are big sports in Australia but they all pale into insignificance when compared to our major national pass-time which is, of course, self criticism. I'm not trying to speak for anyone else but this is how I see it and it may or may not be true. It's what I believe though .. We tend to hate it when anyone else rags on us, and sometimes we react badly to it, but the truth is we are our own worst detractors. Whether we like it or not we are still not quite over our cultural cringe and don't like fellow Aussies making us look bad in the eyes of the rest of the world. We want to be respected, simple as that. I'm even foolish enough to want others to see us as hard but fair. Cheating is not fair and, to me at least, it's a bit soft too. That's why I hated what they did. Others will have their own reasons but that's what irked me about it. They got what they deserved imo but now it's time to move on.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
No we are not neither are any other country. We have left sanction to The ICC. That's where it ends. It's what they have been tasked to do. The Aussie media also big contributors to the feeding frenzy. There is acceptance that ball tampering pretty widespread across the board globally hence SA supporters surprise, in my circle of friends at least to the severity of the punishments.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Actually we are pretty aware of our own transgressions in SA Uglybetty. There is one huge difference though. Cricket in South Africa is not such a massive sport. A poor cousin to soccer and rugby. As such not nearly as big a deal as it is in Aus where top cricketers really do enjoy iconic status way beyond what occurs here. As such SA left the allegations at the door of The ICC. Which Australia should have done too. I mean even your PM got involved. Closest time that happened was when Hansie Cronje was charged with match fixing then it was the Minister of Sport not the President who got involved. I am not condoning in any way ball tampering. It's cheating. The ICC needs to tighten its regulations but Australia must take a leadership role. They have a lot of influence at The ICC. But so far I see no real proposed changes.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
I think it's only Australian supporters that agonise over these type of issues. I'm not aware of full scale inquiries by other cricket boards, or aspersions being cast by supporters of their national team's successes. South Africa is an interesting example. Faf was busted in the second test against Pakistan in October 2013. They won that test, which enabled them to draw the series 1 - 1. Philander was then busted 9 months later against SL in the first test (July 2014). The Saffers won that test and the series 1 - 0. And of course there is the Hobart test. Faf was busted again. They rolled Australia for 85 and 191 and won by an innings and 80 runs. Philander took 5 - 21 in the first innings and Abbot took 9 - 118 for the match. I don't have an opinion on whether the ball tampering had any impact on the outcome of these tests, but you would have to say that the charges coincided with some excellent results. Do you think that SA supporters are calling for inquiries and/or diminishing the results of their national team as a result of these charges ?
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
I wonder do these questions (allegations) continue to dog the other test playing nations who've been caught ball tampering? How many Saffies knew Du Plessis or Philander were up to dodgy tricks? Atherton? And sub continental teams? Mint anyone.....
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I know hyberbole is the new standard, but this England is hardly like facing something like the West Indies at their peak. They are a pea shooter attack, but compensate for it with slogging power on flat wickets. On a tough wicket they will fall like skittles , has there been a team that has been run through by the current weak West Indies for such low totals.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
It was a leadership decision as in Smith, Warner and executed by Bancroft. Whether anybody else knew about it or not thats irrelevant. What could they have done anyway. Go public? And then?
Brian
Guest
Fair point he led the only Australian tean to ever lose a home series to an Asian opponent. Only Test series and World Cups should really be measured, so lets see where things stand in a few months.
Peter warrington
Guest
So you say the CA investigation was a fix? or a botch? And with all of the hoohah, the truth hasn't come out yet? I think THAT beggars belief and the law of probability (which I am struggling to see how it is relevant, but I will go with it.)
Onside
Guest
Australian cricket will never be reborn until such time as the complete sandpaper story emerges. It's simple; who else knew. Only three players have been lumbered, which beggars belief, and the law of probability.
Paul
Roar Guru
Whoa, Smudge! I think you're getting way ahead of yourself in what was a pretty good first piece. If Langer stepped down as Australian coach tomorrow, his record would read as one of the worst in the history of Australian cricket. In Test cricket, series losses to Pakistan and India, followed by a series win against a weakened Sri Lankan team. He's done marginally better in T20s with a tri series loss to Pakistan followed by a one off win in the UAE, a drawn series against India in Australia, a lost series v South Africa, a hammering by Pakistan in the UAE and finally a winning series v India. Langer's real test starts when he gets the ODI squad together because he needs to get this side playing as a team. We'll soon see how good a coach he is when they trial games start in a few weeks and his legacy is likely to be defined by how well the team goes in the World Cup and the Ashes, even if he coaches for another 4 or 5 years. No argument he's helped get Aussie ODI & Test cricket back on track, but lets have a look at how the teams went, once the last game is played in September.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Justin Langer took on the job with Aussie cricket in turmoil. He has stabilized the ship. Give him all credit.