Steve Waugh once told his team during an Ashes campaign in England: ‘attitudes are contagious, so make sure yours is worth catching’. Ricky Ponting’s men would do well to follow that advice for the rest of the series. Swanny’s Diaries (available on YouTube) tell us that the English team is relaxed and raring to go for the third Test at Perth that commences Thursday morning.
The latter might be true for the Aussies as well but no one is sure how relaxed they are. Steven Smith has been called into the probable squad and, other than playing for Australia, he has been assigned the job of ‘keeping things fun’. His job is to make sure that everyone is feeling motivated and pumped up; you can either see this as a sign of desperation or a drastic remedy.
Another surprise emanating from the Aussie camp is the selection of Michael Beer – a left-arm spinner with only 6 first class games on his CV. Ponting, before this Test, had not even met this gentleman. And whether or not Beer plays this match, any dreamer should have reason to smile about what this opportunity must mean to the left-arm spinner.
It is the sort of moment that schoolboys dream of. He was an obscure spinner till one Shane Warne recommended him. The latter’s shoes are not easy to fill though.
Just to give you an idea of Shane Warne’s prowess, his latest association with Liz Hurley notwithstanding, Beer is the tenth spinner to be tried by the Aussies since Warne left the Test team. So, almost an entire cricket team of spinners has been tried to replace that one genius.
Coming back to the immediately more relevant matters, there is no harm if a side experiments when it is desperate for a win. The danger, however, is that it might end up doing too much. The pitch at the WACA is likely to have pace and bounce on it therefore it will be odd if the Aussies pick two spinners. Most spinners playing at this ground have realized far too late that, because of the pace of the wicket, they have to bowl slower through the air. The added flight does get surprising bounce but that is better news for Swann than Beer or Smith.
If the Aussies want to exploit the traditional WACA advantage then they have to put their faith in a fast wicket and back their pace-men. At the same time, if ‘Aussie pace attack’ were a religion then the believers, at present, would be hard to find. But the beauty of cricket, just like life, is that a desperate search for inspiration often yields up-lifting results. Dogged determination goes a long way compared to mere talent. Australia have to hope that the wicket suits pacers more than spinners for one simple reason; Beer and Smith probably can’t match the class or confidence of Swann right now. Aussies need to fight this war on their terms and their pace bowlers, rather than spinners, have a better chance of matching and beating their English counterparts.
With Katich’s absence, Phillip Hughes is back in the side. All cricket fans would remember the rather forgettable time he had against the short ball last time he played against England. There are many who doubt Hughes but he is a sparkling young talent who has not even played 10 Tests. His determination at the top of the order, rather than Smith’s humour, could lead the Aussie charge and allow their flag to fly proudly again against the Union Jack. With Hussey in form, either Clarke or Ponting need to step up and make sure that the scorers are troubled more than before. England probably won’t feel the loss of Broad too much if Bresnan assists Anderson with economic spells. In any case, Bresnan’s bouncers will be whispering past the Aussie ears no matter when they bat.
The scores at the WACA have usually been on the high side in recent times. In the last Test played here, more than 800 runs were scored in the first two innings but there is always something in the wicket for the pacers. An aggressive Aussie mind-set wouldn’t rule out bowling after winning the toss but that call will depend on the look in the eyes of Ponting’s bowlers if he wins the toss. Any sideway glances and Ponting will bat first, hoping to bat only once. The problem, however, is that the English top order seems to be playing in a universe where time simply stops and their defence becomes impregnable. The only promise of change in that universe is the constantly ticking scorecard and the increasing frustration of Ponting. But the Western Australian desert wind carries many surprises.
Fire, ashes and the rest have been with us since man first ventured out to find new things in the playground that is this world. Ponting needs to head out, in his play ground, with a determination that results in 20 English wickets. He has backed Johnson for this Test and having taken eight wickets in an innings at this ground, the left-arm paceman has a strong claim for a spot. Is he the remedy? The barricade that will stem the flood called the English score? Bottom-line: Australia needs to win this game because this pitch is their best shot at picking up 20 wickets.
A distinctly definitive moment in Australian cricket is upon us. The biggest test of this team’s character is now going to be on display on the 16th. Losing the Ashes to England, in Australia, is the stuff that Australian nightmares and English fairytales are made of. Which way will the tide turn? Those men will play hard, with all their hearts, and the pages will turn with each day. In an oddly shaped land called the WACA, a great tale is to be told over the next few days. It will have everything that you can call a wonder of the human spirit. Be warned though. Like all epic battles, this too could break some hearts.
