Too many theories
Hayden explains why Aussies are going downhill in ODIs too, blames excessive focus on sports science.
The Australians are known to whitewash the opposition, not get whitewashed themselves. But of late, such embarrassments have become too frequent and there has not been much display of the famed ugly Aussie fighting spirit.
The Aussies have had whitewashes in all three formats in eight-nine months – by India in Twenty20 (3-0 at home), by Sri Lanka in Tests (3-0 away) and by South Africa in the ODIs (5-0, away) yesterday. Australian cricket has never been so bad in its history and Mathew Hayden admits that the cricket Down Under has been going downhill.
According to Hayden, the cause of the slide is over-emphasis on sports science and sports theories. “There is too much sports science and too less cricket. The emphasis on physiologists and physiotherapists is not ideal. They have had too much influence on the players. The testing, the scrutiny over the number of overs being bowled, grass-root cricket level… I can list 20 different factors that had a direct influence on the game. I think cricket heads should be allowed to head the game. The sports scientists, trainers and physiotherapists have their place but at the end of the day, when you are an athlete you have to be good at your game -- you have to bat well, bowl well and field well. Justin Langer once said ‘your only commodity is your urns. That’s it.’”
But Hayden says the world champions were done in by injuries in South Africa. “No discredit to South Africa but when your permanent players are missing, it becomes difficult. They (SA) have had magnificent run chases – even over-350-run target. It showed that the Australian bowling was not up to the mark and that is because some main bowlers were out of action. We were vulnerable, no matter how many runs we scored. Mitchell Starc was badly missed.”
He tries to bring in the India factor. “If Ravichandran Ashwin is injured and if Virat Kohli is coming out of an injury, it would be difficult for India as well. Every team relies on two-three inform game-changers. For me, Starc is one such player and without him, the Australian bowling is average. The World Cup side was completely different.”
The former Australia opener does not want too many fall guys for the one-day series loss and defends skipper Steven Smith. He, however, welcomes the exit of chief selector Rod Marsh.
“I believe Rod Marsh is willing to step down as chairman of selectors. That is a fallout of the recent losses. But I don’t think we should put pressure on Steven. He was like Virat Kohli in New Zealand series. Virat was not scoring heavily (till the Indore Test) like we are used to. Then there are patches like mental fatigue. He (Smith) is one of the top-four players in the world,” Hayden says with confidence that the Aussies will bounce back.
“I don’t think anyone in Australian cricket establishment will throw the baby out of the bathwater. It is a consolidation period. They will do well at home but it will be a real battle in India, hopefully it will be better battle than New Zealand have put up in India,” he signs off.
SHOCK AND AUS
♦ For the first time in their ODI history, Australia were blanked 5-0 in a series
♦ The average score made by South Africa in the series was 305 In five matches Australia managed to take only 28 wickets at an average of 54.39
♦ The best economy by an Australian bowler in the series was 6.33 by Scott Boland
♦ SA’s 372-run chase at Durban is the second highest successful chase in ODI history
♦ Eight out of 10 highest chases in ODIs have now come against Australia --RAJNEESH GUPTA
HOW THE ODI SERIES BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA PANNED OUT
1st: Australia 294 (George Baily 74; Andile Phehlukwayo 4/44) lost to South Africa 295/4 (Quinton de Kock 178) by 6 wickets
2nd: South Africa 361/6 (Faf du Plessis 111; John Hastings 3/57) beat Australia 219 (Travis head 51; Wayne Parnell 3/40) by 142 runs
3rd: Australia 371(David Warner 117; Imran Tahir 2/54) lost to South Africa 372/6 (David Miller 118; John Hastings 2/79) by 4 wickets
4th: Australia 167 (Matthew Wade 52; Kyle Abbott 4/40) lost to South Africa 168/4 (Faf du Plessis 69; Chris Tremain 2/48) by 6 wickets
5th: South Africa 327/8 (Rilee Rssouw 122; Joe Mennie 3/49) beat Australia 296 (David Warner 173; Imran Tahir 2/42) by 31runs
The Australians are known to whitewash the opposition, not get whitewashed themselves. But of late, such embarrassments have become too frequent and there has not been much display of the famed ugly Aussie fighting spirit.
The Aussies have had whitewashes in all three formats in eight-nine months – by India in Twenty20 (3-0 at home), by Sri Lanka in Tests (3-0 away) and by South Africa in the ODIs (5-0, away) yesterday. Australian cricket has never been so bad in its history and Mathew Hayden admits that the cricket Down Under has been going downhill.
“Last six months have not been the best period for Australian cricket,” Hayden says the day after the Aussies got blanked by South Africa in the fivematch ODI series. “We are not finding our feet in any version of the game at the moment. We got whitewashed in Sri Lanka and that spells trouble for us in India, come February.”
According to Hayden, the cause of the slide is over-emphasis on sports science and sports theories. “There is too much sports science and too less cricket. The emphasis on physiologists and physiotherapists is not ideal. They have had too much influence on the players. The testing, the scrutiny over the number of overs being bowled, grass-root cricket level… I can list 20 different factors that had a direct influence on the game. I think cricket heads should be allowed to head the game. The sports scientists, trainers and physiotherapists have their place but at the end of the day, when you are an athlete you have to be good at your game -- you have to bat well, bowl well and field well. Justin Langer once said ‘your only commodity is your urns. That’s it.’”
But Hayden says the world champions were done in by injuries in South Africa. “No discredit to South Africa but when your permanent players are missing, it becomes difficult. They (SA) have had magnificent run chases – even over-350-run target. It showed that the Australian bowling was not up to the mark and that is because some main bowlers were out of action. We were vulnerable, no matter how many runs we scored. Mitchell Starc was badly missed.”
He tries to bring in the India factor. “If Ravichandran Ashwin is injured and if Virat Kohli is coming out of an injury, it would be difficult for India as well. Every team relies on two-three inform game-changers. For me, Starc is one such player and without him, the Australian bowling is average. The World Cup side was completely different.”
The former Australia opener does not want too many fall guys for the one-day series loss and defends skipper Steven Smith. He, however, welcomes the exit of chief selector Rod Marsh.
“I believe Rod Marsh is willing to step down as chairman of selectors. That is a fallout of the recent losses. But I don’t think we should put pressure on Steven. He was like Virat Kohli in New Zealand series. Virat was not scoring heavily (till the Indore Test) like we are used to. Then there are patches like mental fatigue. He (Smith) is one of the top-four players in the world,” Hayden says with confidence that the Aussies will bounce back.
“I don’t think anyone in Australian cricket establishment will throw the baby out of the bathwater. It is a consolidation period. They will do well at home but it will be a real battle in India, hopefully it will be better battle than New Zealand have put up in India,” he signs off.
SHOCK AND AUS
♦ For the first time in their ODI history, Australia were blanked 5-0 in a series
♦ The average score made by South Africa in the series was 305 In five matches Australia managed to take only 28 wickets at an average of 54.39
♦ The best economy by an Australian bowler in the series was 6.33 by Scott Boland
♦ SA’s 372-run chase at Durban is the second highest successful chase in ODI history
♦ Eight out of 10 highest chases in ODIs have now come against Australia --RAJNEESH GUPTA
HOW THE ODI SERIES BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA PANNED OUT
1st: Australia 294 (George Baily 74; Andile Phehlukwayo 4/44) lost to South Africa 295/4 (Quinton de Kock 178) by 6 wickets
2nd: South Africa 361/6 (Faf du Plessis 111; John Hastings 3/57) beat Australia 219 (Travis head 51; Wayne Parnell 3/40) by 142 runs
3rd: Australia 371(David Warner 117; Imran Tahir 2/54) lost to South Africa 372/6 (David Miller 118; John Hastings 2/79) by 4 wickets
4th: Australia 167 (Matthew Wade 52; Kyle Abbott 4/40) lost to South Africa 168/4 (Faf du Plessis 69; Chris Tremain 2/48) by 6 wickets
5th: South Africa 327/8 (Rilee Rssouw 122; Joe Mennie 3/49) beat Australia 296 (David Warner 173; Imran Tahir 2/42) by 31runs
