Feb 16, 2002 12:45 PM
2966 Views
(Updated Feb 16, 2002 12:46 PM)
Till now I thought there is nothing much to write about Australia team. Dont get me wrong, every one of us know what a great team it has been for past few years and what a great captain Steve Waugh has been.
I was shocked to know that Steve Waugh has been dropped from one day team. Probably, one of the decisions which no one including the press, public and experts recommended. It is really difficult to understand what went wrong for Australia in the recent tri series. All the best players were available fresh from a destructive win over South Africa in the test series. But for a change, the Australia team looked like India, big names but no team efforts.
One thing that stood out was New Zealand's approach. It would be fair enough to say that every time these two teams met, New Zealand looked more consistent and aggressive. And to blame Steve Waugh and sack him for another team's brilliant efforts is ridiculous. And how can anyone discount the team's victory over South Africa even in One Dayers? If he were to be sacked, he should have been sacked after the India-Australia series, in which Australia lost the series after being in the strongest possible position.
I believe Australian board got itself in a precarious position. Who will they make the captain in one dayers? Shane Warne or Gilchrist or Ponting. If one has to look for a true successor, Gilchrist would be ideal choice. But he is too gentle a man for an Australian. Shane Warne is a brilliant bowler, but am not very sure of his leading capabilities. Ricky Ponting is a brilliant cricketer, but too aggressive and has a habit of abusing every one in the opposition without any respect.
I believe, the Australian board wanted to take the same step as they took when sacking Mark Taylor from one day side. The only difference is Taylor had a long pathetic run, something similar to what Sourav is having these days in tests and there was only Steve Waugh waiting in wings for the captaincy.
All said and done, Australian board has taken a very harsh decision and has done something similar to what Indian Board is known for.
