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That’s pretty much exactly what I think too Scott, excellent analysis, brilliantly summed up.
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The Australian disease
By Scott last year, mid-February Leave a comment on this post
Everyone’s got an opinion on why Australia are playing rubbish cricket at the moment, so it is incumbent upon me to add my own two bob.
It seems to me that the big problem is that the bowling side of the game has completely disintegrated. Australia’s batting, despite Friday’s lamentable performance, is still quite potent enough. The problem is, no matter how many runs Australia are making, the opposition are able to chase them down. In the last 12 months, Australia have failed to defend 434, 336, and 332, and there have also been a couple of 320+ scores that they only just succeeded in defending.
Whatever John Buchanan might suggest, his game plans are not working. The opposition are about to counter Australian moves and there seems to not be any way of stopping them.
Another point worth noting is that Australia is too willing to concede singles. It was pointed out by New Zealand commentators yesterday that Australia were missing Ponting, Symonds, and Clarke, a devastating fielding trio inside the ring. However it makes little difference, because when opposing batting lineups go on the attack, the inner fielders go back to the edge of the thirty yard circle. This means that opposing batsman can work the good balls around for singles, and wait for the inevitable bad ball that they can send to (or over) the fence. In this method, you can get eight runs an over without taking a great deal of risk.
Meanwhile, the concentration that Australia has put into bowling for Test cricket has meant that the coaching energies of Buchanan and Troy Cooley have been very red-ball oriented. It is noticable that few of the Australian bowlers are able to get the white ball to reverse-swing properly; the best exponent is Brett Lee, and that is not surprising- the faster you bowl, the easier it is to reverse. And naturally that shows up with the numbers of wickets that he takes.
However it is nearly two months now since the Ashes have been settled, and one would expect that the work the bowlers have been putting in would have got some rewards. So far, there’s little to show. This means that once batsmen are set, there’s little in the bowler’s armouries to dislodge them, and Australia have really struggled in breaking partnerships during these huge runchases.
The lack of a finger-spinner who can keep things tight in the way that Panesar or Vetorri does has also hurt the Australians. Hogg has played an effective role in the past, but he seems to be affected more then most by his form on the day. If you go after Hogg, his confidence wilts.
Australia can turn it around; there’s nothing like a transfusion of self-belief to change the atmosphere of the side. It seems to me that Tait and Bracken have to step up- they are the immediate future of the Australian attack, and it is up to them to turn things around. If they don’t, or can’t, the disease of doubt will simply get worse and worse.
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14 Responses to “The Australian disease”
February 19th, 2007 at 10.11 am
February 19th, 2007 at 11.06 am
Yes, Scott, you’ve got it. And that also happens to be similar to what the panel of old pros like Border, Damien Fleming, Gilchrist and others all thought as well. ( Ive just finished listening to their analysis on ” Inside Cricket ” before checking in here). I saw a few rereuns of Tait as he’s been inthe last few months and he did look impressive. Apparently the English team were glad they didn’t have to face him in Sydney.
what was really interesting, though, was Andy Bichel’s reminder that the Australian team were in a similar position before the last World Cup, so perhaps being dazed and confused is a good thing, after all?
so I have faith again (Hope you don’t mind my sticking in that bit from Border and co. but I thought it might interest)
February 19th, 2007 at 3.08 pm
Test
February 20th, 2007 at 6.58 am
Scott, I’ve got it! The Australian plan is to not worry about the bowling - it’s to simply slog out higher and higher scores! They know all about those little Caribbean grounds. Don’t bother with batting yourself in, either, do a Voges (on debut) and open with a 6. Just keep hitting!
February 20th, 2007 at 9.13 am
I can’t believe the run chase tonight! Can’t believe it. What a thrill.
February 20th, 2007 at 9.16 am
oh dear..it’s a blackcapwash!
February 20th, 2007 at 9.20 am
There was a time Kathy when I wouldn’t have believe it too, but these days 300+ scores get chased so often its almost appearing to be a norm, but cracking game, I tuned in at about break fast time here, and been hocked to the TV ever since.
Credit to NZ, but Australia bowled complete trash for the better part, only Bracken made some impression at the beginnings but nothing to speak of otherwise. Mitchel and Johnson don’t look like they’re up to it. Dropping Stuart Clark might backfire.
Add in the fact that Lee’s rated 50-50 for the World Cup, and that Gilchrist will be missing the start as well, and that Symonds might not make it either…and that Michael Clarke’s injured too …and Australia have got quite a few serious problems to look at.
This might be one of the most open World Cups ever. Any of the major test sides could win it.
February 20th, 2007 at 9.22 am
Meant Johnson and Tait …
February 20th, 2007 at 9.54 am
Zainub, Don’t want to take away from NZ’s great performances, but when you say Australia bowled “complete trash”, doesn’t 336 and 346 suggest the Kiwi bowlers were having a little trouble, too? I know Bond wasn’t there, today, but on Sunday he only took 1 wicket also, though his economy rate was better than anyone else’s.
February 20th, 2007 at 10.11 am
22 wides versus 2 wides and Aussie lose with 3 balls left.
February 20th, 2007 at 10.26 am
Sure NZ had it tough going too Fiona, but the thing is, their bowling has always known to be their weaker link when Bond’s not fired, he’s basically, along with Vettori their only trump card. We don’t hear the NZ camp singing praises of their bowlers all the time.
On the other hand, these young Aussie quicks, particularly Tait and Johnson come will all this baggage about them being so talented and full of potential, and “really quick” and god knows what not. They’ve looked well below all of that. They’ve not lived up to their hype that’s for sure.
And as Scott said in the original thread starter, this hasn’t been a one off thing, Australia’s bowling has been showing the cracks in the one-day format for a while now.
February 20th, 2007 at 10.45 am
Theyll defo be doing a Chappell-Hadlee 07 DVD after that win. Great to see McCullum not throw it away. His determination and trust in Gillespie allowed us to bring that one home.
February 20th, 2007 at 10.59 am
“We don’t hear the NZ camp singing praises of their bowlers all the time.”
That’s because New Zealanders are too busy singing the praises of the All Blacks. Cricket don’t register. Do you know, in NZ, people don’t have the Kiwi national flag over their house, they have the AllBlacks’ flag?
(don’t get your rag out, now, Kiwis. The All Blacks are my favourite rugby team too. I rate them over the “Wobblies” any day) 
February 20th, 2007 at 7.19 pm
You’re right, Fiona, the All Blacks are godlike here, which is a bit of a bore. Give me a fallible cricket team any day.
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