Sometimes you see something on a sports field that you just can’t believe. Adam Gilchrist dropping a simple catch off VVX Laxman during the recent test match at Adelaide was one such moment. It isn’t that Gillie doesn’t drop catches – everyone does. But he never drops easy ones. That drop illustrated just why the Australian team are so good, in two very different ways.
Firstly there were no recriminations. Brett Lee didn’t throw a strop and not getting the wicket his bowling deserved (as Andre Nell might have done). Ricky Ponting didn’t put his head in his hands as if to say, “why am I in charge of these incompetents?” (as England captains do much of the time). There was a brief exchange of nods between players to acknowledge what had happened, and then they got on with the game. They are a team, and they support each other, even when they get things wrong.
As for Gillie, he went back and looked at the film. He saw what he had done, realized that his own very high standards were slipping, and announced his retirement. There was no question of hanging on to set records, or because he was too proud to give up the gloves. In his own view, he was no longer good enough to wear that famous baggy green cap, so he made the selectors’ decision for them. That’s class.
The Aussie team has come in for a fair amount of criticism recently, and rightly so. But they are not the best in the world for nothing. It helps to remember that. Other teams please take note.
What annoys me about the Australian team is that they probably have two world-class keepers waiting in the wings… When the English lose someone, there’s usually a gaping hole and the squad can’t cope.
Which is odd because, even with the presence of overseas players, there are more Englishmen playing first class cricket than Australians.
Having said that, though, Australia is struggling to replace Warnie.
Well, no one could replace Warnie, of course. But that’s an interesting point about more Englishmen playing first class cricket. Maybe it’s the quality of their academies? Perhaps the year-round decent weather? Or that down-under competitiveness.
I always thought the English were just too ‘gentle’ to be able to intimidate an opposition. Especially back in the dark days of Athers. I always thought Pietersen was stronger when he was more arrogant. Now he’s mellowed, he’s not as strong.
There may well be cultural issues involved. Having lived on three different continents, I make the following (hopelessly generalized) observations:
– Americans love winners, and expect their winners to glory in their success;
– Australians love winners, as long as they don’t glory in their success;
– The British think that it is uncouth to try to win. It is much more respectable to lose gracefully.
Yeah, that seems to explain so much. Oh well. Next time I go to Trent Bridge, I won’t be expecting much.
But at least I’m half-Indian… 🙂
The next test match at Trent Bridge is against New Zealand, who are a much less ferocious prospect than either the Australian cricketers or the All Blacks, especially as they’ve just decided that they can do without Shane Bond. They are also much less ferocious than the Sarf Efrikaans, who are over later in the summer. Have a little hope.
No Shane Bond? No secret weapon then. I might have to get a ticket for that.
Oh, there’s always blind optimism following England.