The humiliation is complete

For the first time in 86 years, the Ashes has seen a whitewash. And from the moment the cricket became a sideshow to the three retirements, it was always clear that there would be mini battles that would be played out.

And so there were. McGrath vs Warne, Langer vs Hayden and not for who will win it, but who will complete the final rites. As it turned out, McGrath got the last wicket and Hayden scored the winning runs. But the biggest result of this Test would be that Australia have come to the end of an era.

And there is finally hope for a new generation of players to make their mark. And this applies to players from other countries too! Maybe now someone can beat Australia!

Australia’s next Test assignment is an easy one against Zimbabwe (albeit away) in September. But thereafter come 6 Tests against Sri Lanka (2) and India (4). And this would be a real tester for them before their away tours to Pakistan and the West Indies in 2008. So time is on their side for rebuilding.

But a big “thank you” is in order for McGrath and Warne for being the fantastic sportsmen they have been and to Langer for his grit and making opening batting an art. Thanks, guys. You will be missed…

Testemonials: Shane Warne | Glenn McGrath | Justin Langer timeline [All via Cricinfo]

Told you so!

And we are not just referring to the new year (oh, yes Happy New Year!)… but more retirements are now happening and the latest announcement comes from Justin Langer. This effectively breaks what is arguably Australia’s best opening pair since Boon and Marsh! Any replacements in sight? Maybe Matthew Elliott… he would still be just about 32. Or Greg Blewett… 34?

Where does Australia go from here?

First it was Martyn. Then went Warnie. Then it will be McGrath. That leaves the current Australian team with only a few seasoned campaigners, all of who are well into their 30s. Let’s face it, Ponting’s not exactly young at 32. Neither are Gilchrist, Hayden or even Hussey for that matter. Maybe Hussey has the most time left.

But 12 months down the line, the Australian line-up could well look dramatically different…

Australia Test XI in Perth (3rd Test, Ashes 2006)

1. Matthew Hayden (35 yrs)
2. Justin Langer (36 yrs)
3. Ricky Ponting (32 yrs)
4. Michael Hussey (31 yrs)
5. Michael Clarke (25 yrs)
6. Andrew Symonds (31 yrs)
7. Adam Gilchrist (35 yrs)
8. Shane Warne (37 yrs; retiring for sure)
9. Brett Lee (30 yrs)
10. Stuart Clark (31 yrs)
11. Glenn McGrath (36 yrs; retiring for sure)

This would remain largely unchanged (perhaps with the exception of Andrew Symonds) till the final Ashes Test, but the next Test Australia will play after that would see a very different side indeed…

1. Matthew Hayden Any takers?
2. Justin Langer Any takers?
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Hussey
5. Michael Clarke
6. Andrew Symonds He may HAVE to play!
7. Adam Gilchrist (?) How long?
8. Shane Warne Stuart MacGill?
9. Brett Lee
10. Stuart Clark
11. Glenn McGrath Shane Watson?

This makes only 5 of the current 11 certain starters (subject to fitness, form and selection). Not a nice situation to be in. What’s worse, is that none of the new crop would get a chance to be groomed alongside the two great bowlers. And let’s face it… Brett Lee isn’t exactly mentoring material yet. He himself has a long way to go before he can be considered someone who can groom upcoming bowlers.

The average age of the current Australian side is 32 and a half years! And if they keep blooding players at 31, that will always remain the case. But so long as they are winning, what’s wrong with that?

The trouble is that at some point, they would run out of experienced quality players who can be called up from domestic cricket to face the vagaries of the international scene. Just take a look at the differences of the careers of Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke. Both bat in the middle order and both have had some good times. But after a rousing start, Clarke fell away and was on the sidelines for a short while. Which is when Hussey came in. To be honest, they are both captain material as well and Australia would do well by appointing the younger one as the next captain. Ponting should perhaps start the ‘grooming’ process immediately, if he already hasn’t.

One generation of Australian cricketers has perhaps already missed the boat. People like Hussey and Clark (Stuart) are lucky that they got a chance so late. Clark owes it to the burned out Gillespie while Hussey owes it in part to Steve Waugh, Andrew Symonds and maybe even Michael Clarke!

But to be fair, the future doesn’t look too promising and while the larder may not exactly be bare, it appears rather thinly populated at this point. For most names that are often discussed or recommended are in the ‘late bloomers’ category.

In some way, this is following the trend that the great West Indian side of the ’80s faced. The last two of that legacy, Walsh and Ambrose, had to struggle to keep it going. Australia may well be headed down the same path unless they take some risks in the short term and set things right for the long term. A crop of players like they have had over the last 20 years is rare and even by their standards, it will become rarer again.

One hopes that in the rarified air of high success, they don’t lose sight of the crowd at the bottom that is perhaps ready to be given a chance.

 

Losing the impossible and winning the improbable!

Australia snatched victory from certain draw and have almost regained the Ashes. Heroic performances by Mike Hussey, Ricky Ponting and that wizard of spin Shane Warne saw Australia snatch an incredible 6-wicket win in the 2nd Test.

Interestingly, in the last series too, it was the second Test that had provided a lot of nailbiting moments… just this time, the tide is flowing the other way!

Here are some interesting reactions from around the world:

Six & Out: And again please

24×7 Cricket: Pommie bashing!

24×7 Cricket: Nice record to have

The Burnt Bail: Hussey guides the Aussies!

Cricinfo: The greatest win, say Ponting and Warne

Cricinfo: Flintoff shocked!

In other developments, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohd. Asif find that they are now ban-less. Meaning, the doping ban on them has been lifted [News]. And how did this happen?

An appeals tribunal appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has exonerated fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif of doping offences and lifted their long-term bans.

So what this tells me is that the entire exercise was a bit of a sham. The ban lasted all of 5 weeks. I smell a rat here and some fabulous planning. The PCB was rather proactive in banning the two players. This manouevering ensured that the ICC did not do any banning of their own.

And once the issue seemed to have cooled off, the PCB goes and lifts the ban. Especially on a day when England lost the “unlosable Test”, who would notice? We’ll know soon! More importantly, though, why was the ban lifted?

“The tribunal, after looking at every aspect of the case and hearing the arguments of the players, has decided to lift the bans and cancel the earlier decision of the drugs inquiry tribunal,” Hasib Ahsan, an appeals tribunal member, said on Tuesday.

What about the proof based on which the ban was imposed? Or is that unnecessary?

England looking good

I sure hope I do not jinx this for England, but they are looking good in the ongoing 2nd Ashes Test. Paul Collingwood is close to a hundred and one hopes he does get there this time around. Kevin Pietersen is also looking in good touch and might just make the Aussies pay with a big score. I sure hope so!

But more than the English batting display, what interests me is how the English bowling would fare. On a pitch where the Australians are struggling on Day 1, there is a good chance that the Aussies may just pile up a massive total putting pressure on England. And then again, they have that wizard Shane Warne who can make the most of a Day 4/5 pitch if Australia does manage to get a massive total.

Whatever the case, the series seems to be well and truly alive and England may just be able to get something out of it. Or have I spoken too soon?

There is some great coverage of the Ashes to be found at Cricket 24×7, Six & Out and The Burnt Bail among others. Check it out.

[Scorecard via Cricinfo]

Not really fair, is it?

A bit unfair, no to write off the England team after just one day, no? Especially if we were to remember how the last series panned out… And day 2 has not been exactly one-sided now, has it?

And if music is your thing, here’s a song about Brett Lee killing Freddie Flintoff. Sing it to the tune of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Brett Lee just killed a man

Bowled a ball around his head,

hit his temple, now he’s dead.

Freddie, your time has come

Your Ashes urn was here but now it’s blown away

Technorati : Ashes, Australian Media, England v Australia

Harmison’t fit!

It’s Ashes time and while the ‘mind-games’ have been on for a while, the biggest piece of news has been Marcus Trescothick pulling out (rather suspicously, if you ask me) and Steve Harmison declaring himself fit. I mean, isn’t someone else, like a doctor, supposed to do that?

The other good thing to have happened of late is that cricket season is well and truly underway. West Indies struggle against Pakistan, India wait for the clouds to clear so they can take on South Africa and the Ashes is just around the corner…

Fun shall be had!

Technorati : ashes 2006, cricket, england v australia, harmison