mikeh wrote: For many years the Australian Cricket team had a mental stranglehold over the English. If you look at the ashes tests between 1989 and up to 2006, England would often challenge the Aussies for a session or even a day and even dominate a game for a while, but eventually would subside because deep down they didn't believe they were as good as the Australians.
A classic example of this was the Adelaide test in the 2006-07 series which we won 5-0. England scored over 500 in their first innings and controlled the game for the first four days, but collapsed spectacularly in their second innings and Australia grabbed a most unlikely win. Obviously having legends such as Mcgrath, Warne and Gilchrist helped as well and this addded to the aura of superiority.
Fast forward to 2013 and the situation is now totally reversed in that England have the self belief that they can beat Australia from any position they might happen to be in and they generally do, whereas now Australia are in exactly the same position as England were 10 years ago.
I really don't think England have been all that good in this series and Australia are not as bad as the 3 nil scoreline indicates, the difference is that England are in the habit of being able to win crucial moments in a game and gain momentum from that. Without doubt the turning point in that whole run chase yesterday was the dismissal of Warner. It was a near unplayable ball which would have sent shudders down the rest of the Aussie batting line up.
The problem now for Australia is the same one England was facing in the early 2000's in that there is now a generation of Cricketers who know nothing but ashes defeats. Of the current Australian team, only Michael Clarke has played in a winning series against England.
I don't think its all gloom and doom for the Aussies, although there is no short term solution. Like the last slump in the 80's, selectors need to earn their money by identifying the players that they think have the ability to play 50 - 100 tests for Australia and show faith and give these guys an extended run in the team. So if they have decided that it is Khawaja, give him 10 tests and don't have him looking over his shoulder all the time like Phil Hughes has been doing most of his career. Remember Steve Waugh didn't set the world on fire in his first 10 - 15 tests but the selectors persevered because they saw his potential. Nic Maddinson is a guy who I reckon is a potential middle order player, so he could be tried as well.
Our fast bowling stocks are pretty good at the moment barring injuries and Lyon is an honest spinner and they have a good apprentice in Agar.
The team just need to shed this inferiority complex they have with England at the moment and it is this mental stuff that I reckon Lehmann needs to work on more than anything.
Well summarised Mike & freeze.
Why have all identified the faults with our batsmen, keeper, spinners etc but one other thing we need to identify is a hard ass skipper in the mould of a Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell or even a Mark Taylor type. Yes Clarke is currently our best batsman but to my mind he just doesnt cut it as the type of leader to take the group further. Too nice, always smiling etc we need a Captain Grumpy to put the wind up the Poms and make them at least feel like they are in a war not a Sunday Arvo Picnic. The only one's who fit that mould at the minute are Warner, Siddle and Harris (at 33 too old tho). Time for a change at the top!
