http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 should warn his team of a second season syndrome as a they prepare for the 2013 Ashes – Opinion - Part 2
Many factors are attributed to their recent slump, and the somewhat inconsistent period the side has had to witness during in the past 12 months or so. For starters, one must not compare the current team with the one which http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shane-Keith-Warne-c89672, Adam
Gilchrist and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Matthew-Lawrence-Hayden-c75233 in its rank.
The ODI whitewash at the hands of their fiercest rivals even baffled Head Coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mickey-Arthur-c1969, who had no answer to the ease with which his side had been bullied. He wanted his team to show more aggression on the field but every time, they were hit even
harder, with the margin of defeat growing bigger and better.
Former Australian great, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MEK-Hussey-c1942’s
example, claiming that they had earned respect and presence by their ability to outplay their opponents on the pitch.
That element had been missing in their performances against the Poms, where the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Bailey-c1480 do not have the stature or the runs to intimidate their counterparts. The current side is struggling to find a regular
no.3 in the ODI team, chopping and changing too much.
Also they need Michael Hussey in that finishing role, in order to make a telling push for the upcoming series against the Men in Green and more importantly, for the mega T20 event that follows. Even the head of the national selection panel, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Robert-John-Inverarity-c85980,
had to admit defeat in finding quality talent in the current Australian set-up, claiming that current group remains the best they had to offer.
While preparing for Ashes, one might not look into the details of the side’s ODI debacles and try to focus on their Test performances and playing XI, which according to Clarke, is in a much better shape.
Indeed, he may be right to say that but that XI also largely relies on his experience, along with that of Ponting and Hussey. In the past 14 Tests, the skipper has averaged 58.91, scoring 1355 runs, including a staggering unbeaten 329, and the two veterans
have also fared exceptionally well with Hussey making 1058 runs, while Punter hitting form by scoring 983, including a double hundred.
The opening slot has seen adjustment, mainly due to a lengthy injury lay-off for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 also failed to nail down a permanent spot.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Graham-Downton-c44379 Cowan are the preferred choice upfront but their consistency leaves a lot to be desired. The former has averaged just a touch over 42, which is good for a new comer, while Cowan’s temperament makes him an obvious option, even though he
has yet to make a notable – match-winning - score.
The major boost comes in the shape of a settled bowling attack, where http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RJ-Harris-c2330 and Pattinson form a formidable group.
With the home summer schedule recently announced, the Aussies will need to ensure that they make the most of the battles against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, in order to take that confidence into the Ashes. The second season could be indeed a
defining one for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Australian Cricket.
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