What the wounded Australians lacked - Opinion
Australia succumbed to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Alastair Cook’s impressive side in the UK just recently. It was a disastrous result for a side which has led the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. Despite losing to a resurgent
Indian side in the quarters of that tournament, it was widely believed that Australia should be forgiven in the ODI format, as they were reigning champions for three straight World Cups in a row. Yet what was on view in this series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 was a complete
lack of intensity, purpose and flare, traits which are alien to Australian cricket.
With the Poms taking it away and reasserting themselves as a formidable outfit in their own conditions, Australia lacked a central force that has guided them historically, whenever the chips have been down. Previously, Australia’s reputation as the most
feared outfit in the world was largely due to genuine match winners at their disposal. The problem for their opponents was that there was not one match winner in the tank but three or four that could take the game away from you, regardless of initial success
against them.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Gwyl-Bevan-c75927 are the most obvious examples of match winners in the shorter format. In contemporary times, there are names which have been sorely missed when Clarke’s side took the field at Lords.
Michael Hussey’s reputation as Mr. Cricket has never truly evaded him. His impressive average of 48.27, where numerous match winning innings have littered his CV, is just one case in point. Hussey has normally been the ‘go-to’ man for Australia, whenever
the top order has faltered. In the recent series versus England, the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JM-Anderson-c1705. What normally follows up in such a situation is a top notched number three who is expected
to anchor the innings and guide the team out of trouble.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746
can draw some inspiration from the fact that they once fell to 10/3 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Symonds-c44611 and Ricky Ponting staged a remarkable partnership to steer Australia to 368/5. The result was a victory from the jaws of defeat.
Clarke’s side, this time around, did not have a Hussey or Cameron White which could do the job, let alone a Symonds or a Ponting.
Recently, Australia’s scores had constantly kissed the 250 or thereabouts in the five match ODI series. The last game, which was rained out, saw Australia crawling to 145/7 at a run rate of 4.53 at Old Trafford in a rain shortened game. Average it out for
fifty overs then one would get a score well below 250, which is easy to get in such consumerist times.
Credit needs to be given to the English batsman for hitting respectable deliveries for boundaries from the likes of McKay and Lee. Players like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373 almost did it with his eyes closed. Yet if Australia manage to instill fear into the opposition in
future series or tournaments, by including an experienced ODI player, the table could turn in their favor.
A player who is meant for building the innings after probable collapses was missing in the UK, where the trend of being white washed 4-0 could have been avoided. Tactically at least, it is a major concern for a side which prides itself when in colored clothing.
Michael Hussey’s approach was far from being replicated by even some of the most astute players such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Bailey-c1480 are given
games ahead of Hussey and Cameron White, (barring the latter’s injury woes), then Australia could well and truly be beaten by oppositions who are traditionally strong at home such as Sri Lanka or even http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. For a side which has dominated world cricket
for so long, this is a damning indictment.
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