Richard Michael
DeanoHarmoWhat an anti-climax!
December 18th 2006 06:09
Category: No Category
What happened? I blinked, and by the time I opened my eyes we had the Ashes back. Were they even gone? Or was it just a really bad dream? Am I able to add another pointless rhetorical question? Yes. Yes I am.
Seriously, the main problem with this Australian team is that, on occasions, they are just too good. So good that when they really put everythinig into a series and are at the top of their game, it is physically impossible to beat them. It really wouldn't have mattered how England played in this series, the result probably would have been the same.
When this Australian team wins, it generally wins in a manner that does not bode well for exciting finishes. Those finishes are reserved for when Australia loses. In order to defeat this side, the opposition generally has to achieve some super-human feat, and inevitably a record will be broken. Think last years Ashes series. The reason it was so dramatic: Australia lost. Think the one-dayer against South Africa earlier this year when both sides broke the record for the highest total in an ODI. Australia lost. Think the last time the Aussies toured the Windies. Australia lost one match only after the Windies broke the record for the highest successful Test match run chase. Think the entire 2001 series in India.
And so, after a build-up that even the media was sick of, the Ashes has returned to Australia. While last year we had to wait until the very end of the last session of the last Test to determine a winner, this year we know after just 3 Tests and less than 15 days of cricket.
Many have argued that the one thing the team lacks is balance. They are right, but they are just looking in the wrong areas. We need a balance between being good enough to win, but not so good that when we win it's boring and repetitive. I think we should drop McGrath, Ponting and Clarke so that the other nations will have a chance of winning a series against us when we're at the top of our game, only to fall just short. Warne and Hussey will get us home.
Don't get it? Im thinking of the Wallabies team circa turning of the 21st century. Every time they won a game it seemed to be a once-in-a-lifetime incredible victory. Now the All Blacks are thrashing everyone and its quite repetitive (not to mention heartbreaking). So have a bit of empathy for our pals over in the UK, and to every other non-Australian cricket fan for that matter. Give them a bit of hope. And then crush that hope, along with their hearts, when we win by one wicket or one run. The moment will be far sweeter.
Seriously, the main problem with this Australian team is that, on occasions, they are just too good. So good that when they really put everythinig into a series and are at the top of their game, it is physically impossible to beat them. It really wouldn't have mattered how England played in this series, the result probably would have been the same.
When this Australian team wins, it generally wins in a manner that does not bode well for exciting finishes. Those finishes are reserved for when Australia loses. In order to defeat this side, the opposition generally has to achieve some super-human feat, and inevitably a record will be broken. Think last years Ashes series. The reason it was so dramatic: Australia lost. Think the one-dayer against South Africa earlier this year when both sides broke the record for the highest total in an ODI. Australia lost. Think the last time the Aussies toured the Windies. Australia lost one match only after the Windies broke the record for the highest successful Test match run chase. Think the entire 2001 series in India.
And so, after a build-up that even the media was sick of, the Ashes has returned to Australia. While last year we had to wait until the very end of the last session of the last Test to determine a winner, this year we know after just 3 Tests and less than 15 days of cricket.
Many have argued that the one thing the team lacks is balance. They are right, but they are just looking in the wrong areas. We need a balance between being good enough to win, but not so good that when we win it's boring and repetitive. I think we should drop McGrath, Ponting and Clarke so that the other nations will have a chance of winning a series against us when we're at the top of our game, only to fall just short. Warne and Hussey will get us home.
Don't get it? Im thinking of the Wallabies team circa turning of the 21st century. Every time they won a game it seemed to be a once-in-a-lifetime incredible victory. Now the All Blacks are thrashing everyone and its quite repetitive (not to mention heartbreaking). So have a bit of empathy for our pals over in the UK, and to every other non-Australian cricket fan for that matter. Give them a bit of hope. And then crush that hope, along with their hearts, when we win by one wicket or one run. The moment will be far sweeter.
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