Australia Caught in Terminal Spin

If any of the England players, particularly those who have lost an Ashes series before, managed in Dunedin to get their hands on a copy of yesterdays Australian Herald Sun, they could be forgiven for having a wry smile. Or even a bloody good laugh at the expense of their baggy green-wearing counterparts.

“Australia is on its knees after losing the second test inside four days...” the newspaper cries. It’s not wrong though. Never had a test match side declared in the first innings and gone on to lose by an innings defeat.

It’s unforgivable and unimaginable, but also typically Australian at the same time. Without wanting to dwell on the declaration decision too much, it is hard not to feel that it was, and still is, indicative of their predicament. 

It was an admission of weakness to the Indians, a waving of the white flag along the lines of ‘We’re not good enough man for man in these conditions, so we’re going to have to outthink you and if that fails then please make our defeat as painless as possible.’

India are no great shakes mentally but neither are the Aussies are the moment. If there was ever one thing you thought you could rely on it would be the tourists being more resilient and tougher mentally. Not so.

The Herald Sun vented a column of fury in the direction of the underperforming Shane Watson (above), who hasn’t scored a test match century in his last 37 attempts, asking for him to be axed and proclaiming that Cricket Australia are not getting value for money from their central contracts. When the poster boy of Australian cricket is being given a rough ride, you know you’re in trouble.

Only Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, is seen to be keeping his head above water with the press and that’s because the team around him capitulated to give the Indians a 2-0 lead in the four match series.

It’s realistic to suggest also that Clarke may be the only survivor from the great Ashes whitewashing side of 06/07 to feature in this year’s back to back series. Gone are the names that trip off the tongue: Ponting, Langer, Hayden, Hussey, Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath – blokes who would revel in rubbing England’s noses in it time and again.

England defeated India in their own back yard at the turn of the year and Ricky Ponting still has the audacity / forgetfulness, call it what you will, to state that “the Indians are masters of their own conditions.”

The three lions know they will be facing a wounded beast, however it is seriously disorientated and the predictions from the Herald of ‘The only way is up’, only add to their disillusionment and desperate situation.