Australians go into denial mode
If there's one constant in sport, it's the implausible crap we have to listen to from losing coaches. We endured it from Duncan Fletcher this summer. What John Buchanan served out in 2005 could've fertilized a botanical garden. And following our 5 match losing streak, the worst in a decade, Buchanan is stressing losing was just part of his fine tuning plan. Who needs Warnie? We still have the greatest spinner in the world.
Meanwhile, Nathan Bracken has a unique spin on why Australia have surrendered the 4 highest run chases in ODI history (being the only bowler to have played in all 4 matches). It's because the batsmen have nothing to lose:
"As a bowler, it is always tough going into a situation knowing the opposition are going to come out without a care in the world. You get in a position when a team is chasing that sort of score they have nothing to lose. They can come out and if they get knocked over for 120 and lose the game, they can say: 'oh, we were chasing 340, so be it'. They are in a position where they can come out and play any shot they want to play, chasing fours and sixes, without the consequence hanging over them. It can be tough to bowl in those situations. You have to get on top early or it can get tricky."Interesting theory. So it wasn't our poor bowling - it was merely a case of the batsmen having a bit of a slog without caring about getting out. Luckily they get away with it. Over and over again. Doesn't happen to other bowling attacks though. Funny, I thought it was the second innings that always faced the additional pressure of a run chase - apparently it's the opposite effect according to Bracks.
Meanwhile, Mike Hussey (who also played in the 4 highest run chases) has revealed his 'glass half full' personality. Our bowlers can't defend 300+ scores? Easy peasy! Just set 400+ scores. Obviously a certain day at Wanderers has escaped Mr Cricket's attention.
After 2005, Australia spent an intense 15 months plotting how to win back the Ashes. Part of this plan involved poaching Troy Cooley as bowling coach and it showed as Australia's bowling was far superior. However, the wheels seem to have fallen off already with bowling our greatest weakness heading into the World Cup. With only one week till the squad flies to the West Indies and 13 days till our first warm-up game, time is running out to complete Buchanan's "fine-tuning".
| Posted by JC on Thu 22 Feb |  11 comments |
Too harsh I feel. They were playing without Gilly and Ponting. No one will underestimate the Aussies in the WC. I think when they are down and out, as they are now, they are at their most dangerous.
Australia can only go up from here. Sadly for us....
Posted by Omar on 2007-02-22 10:28:08
Australia can only go up from here. Sadly for us....
Posted by Omar on 2007-02-22 10:28:08
Pretty good call I think JC. I noticed Gilly was making similar kinds of excuses. Yes, I've been tossing up whether Buch deliberately set this up to remove pressure from Australia to go in as favourites for the World Cup. England were favourites before the Ashes series and look how Harminson rose to the occasion...If he is that kind of brilliant coach (which he appears to be) then I hope his stunt pays off.
On another note, I subscribe to a Cricket Channel here in Singapore which is pretty pricey. Will the Cricket Channel show any of the World Cup? No. You have to pay an extra 70 bucks to watch it on another channel. Whoever the $%#% is making these decisions be very careful or you might find the fan base for this sport stops growing.
Posted by TA on 2007-02-22 11:31:33
On another note, I subscribe to a Cricket Channel here in Singapore which is pretty pricey. Will the Cricket Channel show any of the World Cup? No. You have to pay an extra 70 bucks to watch it on another channel. Whoever the $%#% is making these decisions be very careful or you might find the fan base for this sport stops growing.
Posted by TA on 2007-02-22 11:31:33
TA that televising fiasco would certainly make me P. Dorf, in fact, I'd be inclined to cancel my subscription with the cricket channel.
In terms of the situation the Aussies find themselves in, I don't think it takes too much genius to work out what the problem is. The bowlers are not hitting their spots on the pitch. It's too late to go tinkering with techniques. If I were a selector, I'd get all the bowlers in contention for selection and have them bowl at a circle placed on off-stump at yorker length. The 4 bowlers who hit the circle to most get selected. Problem solved
Posted by P. Dorf on 2007-02-22 12:06:33
In terms of the situation the Aussies find themselves in, I don't think it takes too much genius to work out what the problem is. The bowlers are not hitting their spots on the pitch. It's too late to go tinkering with techniques. If I were a selector, I'd get all the bowlers in contention for selection and have them bowl at a circle placed on off-stump at yorker length. The 4 bowlers who hit the circle to most get selected. Problem solved
Posted by P. Dorf on 2007-02-22 12:06:33
I wonder how Bracken can include the 22 wides and 5 no balls they bowled as part of this theory? That was the difference between winning and losing.
I think Australia's form will only turn around when someone says 'we were garbage, we need to go back to scratch' like Michael Vaughan did. has anybody done that yet?
Posted by MT on 2007-02-22 13:09:17
I think Australia's form will only turn around when someone says 'we were garbage, we need to go back to scratch' like Michael Vaughan did. has anybody done that yet?
Posted by MT on 2007-02-22 13:09:17
I guess the question you have to ask is, whether what are hearing is different to what the players are hearing.
After the 2005 ashes as JC pointed out we were given a load of rubbish about why we lost, while now we hearing from Ponting and the rest that they sat down and mapped out their plan to regain the Ashes, we certainly didn't hear about that in 2005.
I think we look too much at the public comments and don't consider that there is alot more planning and preparation going on in the background.
For me I think the biggest danger Australia faces is trying to play injured players without match time. It also undermines their replacements. Besides look at what Cameron White and Haddin and Hodge managed with a few matches under their Belt.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-02-22 13:22:37
After the 2005 ashes as JC pointed out we were given a load of rubbish about why we lost, while now we hearing from Ponting and the rest that they sat down and mapped out their plan to regain the Ashes, we certainly didn't hear about that in 2005.
I think we look too much at the public comments and don't consider that there is alot more planning and preparation going on in the background.
For me I think the biggest danger Australia faces is trying to play injured players without match time. It also undermines their replacements. Besides look at what Cameron White and Haddin and Hodge managed with a few matches under their Belt.
Posted by Andrew on 2007-02-22 13:22:37
TA, how can they call themselves a cricket channel and not broadcast the world cup? Un-freaking-believable!
Omar, Australia had Ponting and Gilchrist when England beat us 3 times in a row. The malaise had set in well before the Chappell Hadlee Trophy.
Re Australia's excuses for their form slump, I can only hope the public noises they make are different to what they're saying in private, as was the case with the Ashes loss. Not much time to turn things around though. It'll be interesting to see how we go when we get most of our players back (or with luck and a few injections, all of them).
Posted by JC on 2007-02-22 14:50:29
Omar, Australia had Ponting and Gilchrist when England beat us 3 times in a row. The malaise had set in well before the Chappell Hadlee Trophy.
Re Australia's excuses for their form slump, I can only hope the public noises they make are different to what they're saying in private, as was the case with the Ashes loss. Not much time to turn things around though. It'll be interesting to see how we go when we get most of our players back (or with luck and a few injections, all of them).
Posted by JC on 2007-02-22 14:50:29
Used to here Aussies (not that long ago) talk about how their 2nd 11 could beat anyone in the World. Now it's we would have won if X, Y and Z were playing. Have you go the talent you used to have or are you going to slip and no longer dominate? And if so what happens to Cricket in Australia?
Posted by Jon the Pom on 2007-02-22 23:48:20
Posted by Jon the Pom on 2007-02-22 23:48:20
I dont want to condone the bowling; it was quite horrendous but the point Bracken makes has some counterintuitive logic. Sometime back it was far easier to chase targets around 250-260 than around the 210-225 range Now apparently its much easier to chase 340 than 300.
That said the bowling was awful. And Bracks was definitely the best of the lot.
Posted by jethro on 2007-02-23 03:04:23
That said the bowling was awful. And Bracks was definitely the best of the lot.
Posted by jethro on 2007-02-23 03:04:23
Real reason Australia lost - banning of Mexican Wave.
Posted by unaha-closp on 2007-02-28 13:28:10
Posted by unaha-closp on 2007-02-28 13:28:10
I AM SURE THAT THE 2 TIME DEFENDING CHAMPIONS WILL DEFINITELY WIN THE WORLD CUP FOR THE THIRD TIME,I CAN BET MY LIFE.THE BOWLING SPEARHEAD MCGRATH WILL DEFINITELY ROCK ANY BATSMEN.
Posted by C.K.SELVAKUMAR on 2007-03-03 20:37:33
Posted by C.K.SELVAKUMAR on 2007-03-03 20:37:33
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