Reduced To Ashes

The Ashes is winding to a close and one can be forgiven for thinking that this time England was playing Zimbabwe or Canada and not Australia. It was so easy for the hosts that they have pocketed the Ashes urn around mid-way of the series itself.

Barring the first test when things went down to a wire, thanks to some doughty batting by Australian tail-enders in both the innings, the Aussies hardly looked threatening. They had an upper hand in the third test but then the notorious English weather played spoilsport. So was the Decision Review System, which gave many controversial rulings, that too mostly against the Aussies.

But all this no way diminishes the fact that Aussies are a pale shadow of their former self. Their top and middle order looks badly depleted, though the bowling department looks a shade better and some of them have even adeptly wielded the willow during crunch times. Barely a couple of years ago they were the 21st century version of Donald Bradman's 'Invincibles'. Their nearly two decades of dominance of cricket, first under Steve Waugh and later under Ricky Ponting had made it look like the sun would never set over their rule.

However, the Aussies were not so endearing heroes, as their swagger and sledging turned many off. But even their harshest critics had to grudgingly acknowledge that the men in baggy green caps will always have the last laugh.

Hence, for the Aussies and their fans, the current slump in form and back-to-back losses at Ashes will be something they will find very hard to live down in near future. They are simply not used to these kind of reverses.

The generational change from Waugh to Ponting was smooth, but looks like a lot was lost in transition from Ponting to Clarke and, as it happens during lean phases, nothing seems to be going right. The country's steady stream of talent has run down to a trickle, both in terms of quantity and quality.  The current newcomers are finding it difficult to step into the shoes of their legendary predecessors like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. The retirement of Mike Hussey only revealed how acute the talent drought is.

On the coaching front too things were at a loose end. Mickey Arthur somehow could never keep the team as a cohesive unit. The near revolt by players during India tour exposed too many chinks and he seemed hardly in command.

Right now for the affable Michael Clarke the cup of woes is overflowing. Hope he does not throw in the towel and try to turn thing around - the Aussie way. 

Also Read: Bangalore Beat