I think for a while Australia was at Qtr to 12, where midnight is the end.
The selectors were riding on the work done in the late 80s rebuilding Australian cricket after defections, rebel tours and retirements of some greats.
For those who remember that era, they shuffled the deck chairs over and over again, guys would come in for a series or two, sometimes a test match or two.
Then alan border put his foot down and started building a team. Apparently there was a move to shut down this upstart queenslander by ACB and replace him with Dirk wellham according to some. He and the cricket team at the time, led by a powerful person in Bob Simpson started rebuilding, sometimes against the direction and wishes of the ACB.
Took some risks, Warne, steve Waugh being two, both went on to become legends of the game.
The last 5 years, the selectors have been doing a mid 80s reshuffle.
The captain was selected 5 or 6 seasons ago, and isn't anywhere near the legend status of Border but is building his reputation.
He has his favourites, and much like the rebuild, its coming of the back of the bowling. McDermott, Reid, Hughes, Reiffel, Fleming, a young raw mcgrath, Warne May, later gillespie and lee could fish out our batting out of any issue.
Later, our batsman became the dominant force in international cricket, batting down to 7 with the legendary Gilchrist with contributing runs from 8 and 9.
Perhaps some of these guys have hung on a bit longer, the Academy doesn't seem to be churning out the champions it used to be.
I would say, with some home, that Australia is on the dawn of a great era, on the back of our bowling.
Cummins, Pattinson are exciting prospects. Harris is the 'old man' but still a powerful force bowling at or around 150km with accuracy. siddle is the stayer, the mcdermott or hughes leading in the younger bowlers. hilfenhaus has made a strong statement for a position in the team.
Starc after a forgettable start, has shown his wears at the WACA, it remains to see whether its the WACA pitch or he is the real deal.
In the background is young mcdermott, hazlewood and others showing something.
With regard to batting, Punter and Hussey are struggling. They are legends as well, but clearly on the decline. Its questionable whether hussey will finish with an average above 50.
Warner and Cowans are in reasonable form, are they smashing a weak attack or the real deal? I would think Cowans will be more useful against the brits than Warner if he can't control himself. they aren't the pie chuckers the Indians are, and far more disciplined that them.
Clarke is an international class batsman. This series has been weird, a massive triple century, setting up a powerful win and nothing in the other innings so far.
Watson is injury prone but batting at 40 and bowling at 30, and his age is counting against him.
Haddin is seen as clearly the weakest link in the side, his keeping is only just above akmal and his batting below siddle and hilfenhaus, he's a no.9 atm.
Victoria is touting a few young batsmen, but none of them justify test selection, and its 'stars' are the WA imports rogers and hussey and both of test quality but well into their mid 30s.
NSW has some young guns but form is intermittent, maddinson, khawaja are two players that look the goods.
I would say the time in Aus is about 5.00 am, about an hour to go till dawn.
We need to improve our fielding, and our batting, and we will be challenging for the no.1 spot. Our batting and fielding is well below that of border and Steve Waugh's team. I don't think clarke carries the same authority of Waugh. I think a bit like taylor's team where waistlines increased and standards slipped. Waugh brought real steel to the team. I hope clarke can bring that steel or the next captain who is yet to emerge.
I must say, I loved the way Waugh executed teams, it was up there with lloyds team of the 80s, merciless. Similarly people said the WI and australia were killing cricket, i loved it.
..........
These are the SAME issues India and Sri Lanka have to face. Both have superstar batsman in their mid to late 30s that are fading. Tendulkar is a god in india. For SL and India its 10 past midnight, their clock is closed. They may score some runs in flat tracks, there is class there still, but its fading, as is the light in their teams.
Unless the can get the renewal that Australia is going through they will suffer.
We all remember the 20 years of misery we dished out to the brits, because they reshuffled the deck chairs for nearly 2 decades, gatting coming out to bat with a zimmer and front bad about 3 foot wide, gooch, stewart etc all well past their prime in their 40s.
They made the hard decisions, cut their fat and picked a team on form and drilled them with discipline, and drop players who don't perform.
The selectors were riding on the work done in the late 80s rebuilding Australian cricket after defections, rebel tours and retirements of some greats.
For those who remember that era, they shuffled the deck chairs over and over again, guys would come in for a series or two, sometimes a test match or two.
Then alan border put his foot down and started building a team. Apparently there was a move to shut down this upstart queenslander by ACB and replace him with Dirk wellham according to some. He and the cricket team at the time, led by a powerful person in Bob Simpson started rebuilding, sometimes against the direction and wishes of the ACB.
Took some risks, Warne, steve Waugh being two, both went on to become legends of the game.
The last 5 years, the selectors have been doing a mid 80s reshuffle.
The captain was selected 5 or 6 seasons ago, and isn't anywhere near the legend status of Border but is building his reputation.
He has his favourites, and much like the rebuild, its coming of the back of the bowling. McDermott, Reid, Hughes, Reiffel, Fleming, a young raw mcgrath, Warne May, later gillespie and lee could fish out our batting out of any issue.
Later, our batsman became the dominant force in international cricket, batting down to 7 with the legendary Gilchrist with contributing runs from 8 and 9.
Perhaps some of these guys have hung on a bit longer, the Academy doesn't seem to be churning out the champions it used to be.
I would say, with some home, that Australia is on the dawn of a great era, on the back of our bowling.
Cummins, Pattinson are exciting prospects. Harris is the 'old man' but still a powerful force bowling at or around 150km with accuracy. siddle is the stayer, the mcdermott or hughes leading in the younger bowlers. hilfenhaus has made a strong statement for a position in the team.
Starc after a forgettable start, has shown his wears at the WACA, it remains to see whether its the WACA pitch or he is the real deal.
In the background is young mcdermott, hazlewood and others showing something.
With regard to batting, Punter and Hussey are struggling. They are legends as well, but clearly on the decline. Its questionable whether hussey will finish with an average above 50.
Warner and Cowans are in reasonable form, are they smashing a weak attack or the real deal? I would think Cowans will be more useful against the brits than Warner if he can't control himself. they aren't the pie chuckers the Indians are, and far more disciplined that them.
Clarke is an international class batsman. This series has been weird, a massive triple century, setting up a powerful win and nothing in the other innings so far.
Watson is injury prone but batting at 40 and bowling at 30, and his age is counting against him.
Haddin is seen as clearly the weakest link in the side, his keeping is only just above akmal and his batting below siddle and hilfenhaus, he's a no.9 atm.
Victoria is touting a few young batsmen, but none of them justify test selection, and its 'stars' are the WA imports rogers and hussey and both of test quality but well into their mid 30s.
NSW has some young guns but form is intermittent, maddinson, khawaja are two players that look the goods.
I would say the time in Aus is about 5.00 am, about an hour to go till dawn.
We need to improve our fielding, and our batting, and we will be challenging for the no.1 spot. Our batting and fielding is well below that of border and Steve Waugh's team. I don't think clarke carries the same authority of Waugh. I think a bit like taylor's team where waistlines increased and standards slipped. Waugh brought real steel to the team. I hope clarke can bring that steel or the next captain who is yet to emerge.
I must say, I loved the way Waugh executed teams, it was up there with lloyds team of the 80s, merciless. Similarly people said the WI and australia were killing cricket, i loved it.
..........
These are the SAME issues India and Sri Lanka have to face. Both have superstar batsman in their mid to late 30s that are fading. Tendulkar is a god in india. For SL and India its 10 past midnight, their clock is closed. They may score some runs in flat tracks, there is class there still, but its fading, as is the light in their teams.
Unless the can get the renewal that Australia is going through they will suffer.
We all remember the 20 years of misery we dished out to the brits, because they reshuffled the deck chairs for nearly 2 decades, gatting coming out to bat with a zimmer and front bad about 3 foot wide, gooch, stewart etc all well past their prime in their 40s.
They made the hard decisions, cut their fat and picked a team on form and drilled them with discipline, and drop players who don't perform.
