What's ailing Australia?

Five years ago, in this blog, I predicted that the Australians will get a hard lesson in reality. That their dominance would have a shelf life was unthinkable back then. Two years hence, after walloping England 5-0, I repeated that to three colleagues at The Tavern (one of whom was an Australian), only for it to be promptly disputed. Now we know who had the last laugh.

Australia are feeling the pinch harder now than ever before. A seven-match losing steak in internationals was followed by an Ashes defeat at home for the first time since 1987. Following the retirements of several stars, the transitionary period wasn’t expected to take long. But recent performances have forced the selection committee to think harder than ever before. While they’ve done reasonably well to find capable replacements for McGrath, Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist and Martyn, they’ve let themselves down rather embarrassingly with Warne’s.

The developments since Warne’s retirement has been downright farcial, with calls for him to make a comeback. The man himself was amused. They were prepared to listen to everything he said – even a casual suggestion was enough for them to handpick a club cricketer who was unknown to the senior team. While Michael Beer didn’t make the final XI, it didn’t hide the fact that the spin cupboard was bare. The muddled selection policy on spinners is one of the major reasons for the team’s downfall.

In 2008, during Australia A’s tour of India, I interviewed three spin hopefuls fighting for a single spot in the Test team – Bryce McGain, Jason Krejza and Beau Casson. All three were humble enough to admit they weren’t as good as Warne, nevertheless, were delighted at stepping into his shoes.

It seemed safe to assume that at least one of them had a long-term future. For once, even my predictions were wrong. When the Tests began in India, Cameron White was suddenly the primary spinner. Krejza took eight wickets in an innings on debut in a losing cause, but it was good enough to guarantee at least five more games. He played one more Test and was discarded, because of his expensive economy rate. His replacement, surprisingly, was Nathan Hauritz, since he didn’t figure in India.

It indicated an open-book selection policy, yet, lacking in direction. The rest of the spinners probably didn’t know where they stood. Hauritz is no Warne either, but at least he was given a fair run. The one virtue which fetched him a lot of success was his willingness to flight the ball and tempt the batsmen into lofting him. He converted a potential weakness into his strength.

He wasn’t always consistent but he was by far the best slow bowler in the country. Many were left bewildered why he was out of contention for the Ashes. Anyone who could grip the ball like a spinner stood a chance of getting selected. Xavier Doherty couldn’t make an impact and was dropped for a bits and pieces spinner in Steven Smith. Steve O’Keefe and Jon Holland are the others who have figured in recent months.

Other factors have also contributed to Australia’s overall performance. Ponting’s petulance in the field, arguing over a shot-down referral reflected badly on the team’s image.

It isn’t the lack of self belief that’s putting the team down. The selection committee doesn’t believe in the players enough.