After a fervent week of cricketing controversy, Friday morning’s first ball at the Gabba is probably the tonic we all need.
What a week.
An SCG Test for the ages was, in itself, enough to drive conversation for days.
But any narrative about perhaps the best match on Australian soil in years was overwhelmed by goings-on in and around the Test itself.
There was abuse from the crowd, abuse from Tim Paine and alleged abuse of the pitch from Steve Smith. Some of it was unequivocally warranted and a conversation that needed having.
But some of it was, contrastingly, whipped-up fervour whose proponents had an existing axe to grind.
Of course, there was little nuance to any of the debate online, and each case was almost entirely clouded by parochial allegiances. Unsurprisingly, fans on both sides of the fence didn’t cover themselves in glory.
Some Australian fans, pointing to a lack of crowd evidence that Mohammed Siraj was racially abused on Day 4, felt vindicated that they’d been wrongly accused, ignoring the country’s very real (and very recent) issues with racism in sport.
Other fans overseas (and prominent ex-players), posted shoddy evidence of pitch tampering to character-assassinate Smith, alleging another example of so-called cheating.
Both were really poor takes.
And to be honest, it’s all been a bit exhausting and somewhat disappointing in a series where the on-field drama alone has been a huge advert for Test cricket.
It brings us to today; the final Test of what’s been a brilliant series.
(Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Australia hasn’t hosted a ‘live’ last Test of the summer — where all three series results are still in play — since 2004, when they went into the fourth Test against India locked at 1-1.
That clash (and the series) ended in a draw, but should Brisbane’s weather play nice it’s difficult to see the same result this time around.
It’s a huge Test for Paine, who has had a difficult week.
Paine was right to apologise on Tuesday for inappropriate behaviour at the SCG. He and coach Justin Langer have been at pains to tell the Australian public that this team, their team, is different to the Darren Lehmann-era side.
So after slipping back into that mould, Paine correctly identified that it could not simply be swept under the carpet, and made a candid apology. Yes, he is perhaps held to a higher standard than others around the world — but it’s a standard that he and Langer have set.
The Gabba Test also represents a big occasion for Paine given what’s at stake.
Few Australian captains survive two home series losses in three summers, and inevitable questions of his future will arise should Australia go down to a severely under-strength India side.
In reality, Paine will almost certainly lead Australia into the Ashes series later this year and despite the inevitable backlash should they lose, his position is not on the line.
But without doubt, there are aspects of his captaincy he needs to improve.
Paine has struggled when momentum shifts heavily towards the batting side, and has a tendency to revert to panic. It happened on Monday when Rishabh Pant got going, and it happened at Headingley in 2019 when Ben Stokes was seemingly impossible to dismiss despite a difficult surface for batting.
Michael Hussey, on commentary for Fox Cricket during that Pant innings, said Paine was ‘ball-chasing’ with his fields — that is, moving a fielder to exactly where the ball was just hit.
Paine exudes a tenseness during these periods rather than slowing things down, remaining positive and backing his highly-credentialled bowlers to execute their lines.
This tenseness, he admitted, impacted his wicket-keeping and contributed to dropping Hanuma Vihari off Mitchell Starc, similar to how it impacted his decision-making regarding reviews during the latter stages at Headingley.
(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Of course, this is a difficult, largely intangible skill and something that improves with experience. But he could do worse than look at his opposite number in Ajinkya Rahane as a shining example.
For Rahane’s side, the loss of Jasprit Bumrah cannot be understated. Not only is Bumrah the biggest threat to Australia’s top order, but he played a vital leadership role with the young Indian quicks in Melbourne and Sydney.
With Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar all injured, the tourists are having to pick their sixth, seventh and eighth choice seamers in Brisbane.
As Mohammed Siraj (two Tests) leads the line with Navdeep Saini (one Test), Indian selectors will likely pick between Shardul Thakur (one Test) and T Natarajan (yet to debut) in one of the least experienced pace attacks we’ve ever seen on these shores.
Cricket throws up some amusing storylines from time to time, and the irony of cricket’s behemoth nation being cast as plucky underdogs is not lost on some.
But given their skeleton squad, they truly do arrive at the Gabba as a real outside hope.
If they can replicate the level of fight they showed in Melbourne and Sydney, however, we’re set for a brilliant finale to what’s been a tantalising summer.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I agree with your dislike of bad manners - few things are worse. I'm not saying I've never been guilty of it mind you.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
I agree with most of what you say. StilI, I don't want to re-prosecute the Roy case because it has no bearing on this one. I dislike any abuse on the basis that it is just bad manners. On balance. I'd prefer to wait for the results of the investigation.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I’ll tell you what I am sticking to: neither being Indian, nor a senior public servant has any relevance as to whether they are telling the truth or not. We will never know for sure. Remember the impeccable character Sachin Tendulkar went on record as corroborating Harbajan Singh’s version of event in the Symonds case. What I find amusing, in a rather dark way, is that so many Australians believe Symonds, but not Mohammad Siraj … I happen to believe both of them. In any case, when the alleged wrong doing is entirely verbal in nature, it is next to impossible to prove because it quickly and pretty much automatically degenerates into hearsay he said she said type stuff, totally different to when the alleged wrong doing is physical, such as assault, or murder or whatever else. So I suggest we stop arguing about it. It’s pretty obvious neither of us is going to budge from our stand point.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
So you're sticking with the "sensible recognition that it is legitimately problematic" that all people with Hindu names will lie about racism directed towards Indian Muslims? Let's hope none of the police investigating have Hindu names. Namaste, by the way.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Far more relevant than being a public servant.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
So?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
That is 100% a hindu name.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
The gentleman is Prateik Kelkar, which is a surname native to the Chitpavan Brahmin of Maharashtra. He might be Hindu. Or an atheist. Or simply agnostic. In any event his evidence has been supported by that of Ben Grogan, reportedly a senior NSW public servant. I suggest that public statements made by two people who are prepared to have their names go on the record should make folks think twice before plonking all their chips on red.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Ironically though, Tom, we've had a holier than thou pile on from dial-a-quotes, Michael Vaughan & Darren Gough about Smith. Michael Vaughan! The captain of England in 2005 when Marcus Trescothick admits his job was designated ball tamperer! Total hypocrites! https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/trescothicks-ball-tampering-leaves-a-sour-taste-20080826-ge7cdt.html
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Definitely not, obviously there has to be a line in the sand for sure & certain. But let’s not get super precious here. I am not going to hold stadium crowds to the same level of reverence that I would expect at my dinner table or my quiet office environment. If fans in an IPL game hold up a sign stating “Pat has short Cummings” or fans chant “David is a Porner”, I would not expect the IPL officials to stop the game & remove the offenders. I would not expect the ICC to get involved & berate Indians are a disrespectful race, I would expect Pat & Dave to laugh it off, feed off the moment & show their great skills. Not go sulking to the umpire.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Do you think paying entrance money gives spectators the right to say whatever they like to players?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
No, I am entertaining the possibility that the spectator was a Hindu – there’s an 80% chance in fact – and Mohammad Siraj is definitely a Muslim. In fact, if anyone can provide me with the name of this seemingly beyond reproach Indian spectator, I will be able to tell you with total certainty what religion he is.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Bernie, you making the assumption that the spectator witness might be a Muslim & you maybe or maybe not be right. But I have read some of your really good posts over the years. But I must say you are making a major statement that can only be categorised as an assumption. If what you are saying is correct, he must have encountered a lot worse issues in his career. Can you substantiate rather than assume he has stopped internationals for the same sort of level than he did last week? Obviously not, so I ask you why has he chosen to take a stance now?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
It depends what was said.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
So has he stop international matches every time he has been "offended" or just on this occasion?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Goodness, that is some tangent you have gone off on ... do I really have to spell it out for you? It is well within the realms of possibility that the Indian spectator whose word seems to assume gospel truth among some could well be a Hindu that doesn't like Muslims.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Then why would an Indian cricket player stop an international cricket test match due to being offended for racial issues that have been constant since 1947. Are you saying that this a one off only experienced in Australia or has he been regularly been stopping games throughout his cricket career on the sub-continent?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Who said that India doesn't have a major history of ethnic and religious intolerance come violence? I certainly never said any such thing.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
So Bernie, are you accusing people from the sub-continent of having racial issues? I thought that sort of of thing didn't happen over there? And that is why Siraj was so upset?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Go and learn a bit about India which prior to 1947 included Pakistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.