Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
From the outside looking in, it might very well seem that this has been the year from hell for Cricket Australia, and that recovery will take a long while.
The focus on the actual cricket has been as minimal as former New Zealand cricketer Chris Martin’s focus on batting. Ball tampering scandal, suspensions to key players, concerns over their mental health, coach resigning, CEO resigning, and I haven’t even mentioned the disappointing Test series loss in South Africa, or disappointing home ODI series loss to England. People who have no idea about cricket in this country were talking about cricket.
However, among all this is a shining light. The ODI series in England represents a fresh start for this team – a chance to clean the slate and rebuild their reputation in the eyes of the Australian public. That is most important. It look a ball tampering saga to get to this point, but the ball tampering saga is eventually going to be looked at as a blessing. You’ll see.
What other fans think of Australia isn’t as important as what the Australian public thinks. Other fans can dislike Australia all they like, and Australia can dislike them. It’s all part of the awesome rivalry of international cricket. However, Australia are often disliked for reasons other than cricket, and that has to change.
I have been called anti-Australia on Twitter a few times, but I have never been anti-Australia. I went in all guns blazing the day after the ball tampering scandal, seeing it all unfold in the early hours of Sunday morning Sydney time, but it has never been anti-Australia. It is anti-Australia behaviour for me. Anti-Australia cricket team culture. The ball tampering issue, and the fall out from it, was not a surprise to me. It was coming.
When we choose a sporting team to follow, it is not always because they are the local team, but because their values are similar to our own. We are proud to associate ourselves with them. A team that has a “victim”, “win at all costs” and “better and bigger than the world” culture that chooses when and where the “moral line” is drawn is something many Australians didn’t want to emotionally associate themselves with. I was part of the list.
Now, there has been the change that has been needed for three or four years. Management is now aware of the need to throw hypocrisy outside the window, whilst encouraging humility and competition within the spirit of the game.
What do I mean by “hypocrisy”, you ask? You can’t sledge then complain when someone does it to you. Nor can you give send-offs then complain when someone does it to you. You can’t ask the fans to make sure a player “goes back home crying”, and then complain when someone does it to you. You can’t have a go at someone ball tampering, and then try mastermind it yourself.
South Africa exposed Australia, and I know Australia will be much better because of it.
It was time for a change in mindset and personnel, and the year 2018 so far has driven just that. Darren Lehmann is gone. So too James Sutherland. Justin Langer and Tim Paine have have filled me with optimism, and while Australia start as outsiders in England, I will be following them religiously hoping for a win. Steve Smith will return and continue to be prolific, especially at home. Cameron Bancroft could come back, too. If David Warner is to return, he’ll especially need to buy into Australia’s new culture they want to create and maintain.
Australia have always sledged, and will continue to sledge, which is perfectly fine. In my latest article for Last Word on Cricket, I highlight that sledging is part of the wonderful game of cricket. A cricket field is not a place to stay silent. However, personal sledges and taunts are hopefully going to be a thing of the past, and what’s happened in 2018 can truly be a catalyst for change.
It would have been ideal (and correct) to invite Bangladesh in July, and show them the respect they deserve. That would have been a big step to getting the public onside.
However, it wasn’t to be, but I am looking forward to Australia beginning a new chapter in England. It’s time to show the fight that is consistent with what it means to be Australian. The issues that have plagued Australian cricket this year is actually a blessing, and we’ll see this in the near future.
Here’s to a good rest of 2018 and beyond.
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Have some spare time? Be sure to also catch my tribute to Afghanistan ahead of their first ever Test.
