Cracks showing in Aussie cricket

If the massive 320-run defeat inflicted on the World Champions Australia by India in the Second Test at Mohali is an indication, then the cracks in the once mighty Kangaroos is beginning to show, and it is disintegrating time.

Pity when one thinks of the dominance they had in the game. They were a cricketing juggernaught, led by Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and now Rickey Ponting that just steamrolled over all opponents with arrogance and ruled the game for quite a long time.

But with their cricketing cannons - Damien Martyn, Justin Langer, Glen McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist all going quickly it exposed their deficiencies and also laid bare their cupboard of talent.

Compared to their greats who retired, the new ones just look mediocre. That Aussie cricket is on the skids is quite apparent and unless brilliant once emerge, thy will soon lose their world champion rating in both versions of the game Test and one-dayers.

And when their day of reckoning dawns, it would be sad. But those are the vicissitudes of the game and it is good for a change for the Aussies to suffer the pangs of pain that comes of being on the losing side.

The Aussie game and their organisation was the envy of all other Test playing nations over the years, so much so that most Test nations did not hesitate to employ their coaches.

But with the invincible cricketing bubble of the Aussies bursting, the demand for their coaches too would diminish and that too would be sad and unacceptable.

And to make matters worse, their mighty all-rounder who could have added all-round strength to the team Andrew Symonds too is missing, dumped from the team for going on a mad fishing expedition.

With the Aussies now in losing streets, a pertinent question to ask the selectors would be: should they not have fined and severely reprimanded Symonds with a final warning that if he repeats, he would be forced to hang up his boots and taken him on the tour?

Probably the Aussie selectors would not have wanted to compromise ability with discipline.

Test debacle

If the meek surrender of the Aussies by 320 runs to India in the Second Test is a pointer, then the homsters are on victory street and if they continue in the same dashing manner, then the series would be theirs.

When the First Test ended in favour of the Aussies, it looked as though the series was going to live up to the tag of being labelled the 'mother of all cricketing battles'.

It was hyped up so much so that many believed that it would also put the Ashes battle between Australia and England into second best. But with this bashing all those hopes have been dashed, and it is likely that the Kangaroos would be limping out of India shorn off their invincibility.

But with their cricketing pride in tatters, there is the possibility that the Aussies would want to hit back with a vengeance in the next Two Tests. If that is to happen, then it is paramount that skipper Ponting wins the toss and tot up a formidable total, otherwise defeats would be inevitable.

Frayed tempers

When a side is in the dumps and unable to accept defeat, tempers tend to get frayed and it was no different with the Aussies, if the verbals between Pointing and 'blond bomber' Breett Lee is an indication.

What apparently led to the spat between the two was because the skipper had ignored his pave ace and not given him a bowl before lunch when the Indian batsmen were smothering the rest of the bowlers.

All fast bowlers are temperamental and it was no different with Lee. These incidents that could well be avoided occur when things are going against them.

Lee is their most experienced campaigner and it sure would have hurt him to find himself being overlooked, while the lesser penetrative bowlers were made to feel important.

One hopes that those who matter would move in and make peace between the two and not let it fester to the detriment of Aussie cricket. A split in the team at this moment must be avoided at all costs, if the Aussies are to rise Phoenix like and save pride.

Old wounds haven't healed

Wounds that were inflicted when the Indians toured Australia seemed to have healed with only the scars showing. That was an acrimonious tour with Symonds and Harbahajan Singh having a verbal match of their own which was not cricket and which nearly led to the calling off the tour.

But these scars seemed to have opened up with Indian pacier Zaheer Khan having a few verbals with Aussie opener Matthew Hayden and showing him the way to the pavilion.

Why Zaheer had to act in such an insensible and unacceptable manner when the Indians were scenting victory is inexplicable. It is hoped that the teams would bury these uncricketing episodes in the turf in Mohali and when New Delhi and Nagpur where the next Two Test would be played comes around get on with the game and play it the way it was meant to be played - with bat and ball - and not with foul mouths.

Accepted that a few verbals must be exchanged. But the verbals must not be aimed at hurting one's feelings, keeping in mind that cricket is just a game and not the end of the world.

That is why sport is tagged the great leveller. It must be played hard, yet clean for the participant to enjoy it.

We hope the Aussies and the Indians would set an example in the next two crucial Tests.