Australian team shaken by reaction at home

Years ago a sage described cricket as the most controversial game around.

It might seem a gentle pastime involving a bat and a ball and conducted along lines imposed by carefully written laws and sustained by honoured traditions.

But scrape away the surface and it bears a close resemblance to a bare knuckle brawl.

Romantics might celebrate its glorious moments but cricket also has its darker side. Cricket is played at close quarters with a hard ball. Moreover it is played by humans.

Nothing in the events of the last few days has been likely to force the sage to rethink his view. Instead the game has charged towards an unknown destination. The result could be a purging of the bad blood that has been circulating through the veins of the competing nations. Or it could leave wounds that a statesman alone can heal.

Only one thing is certain. The current confrontation has forced Australia to define itself and most particularly to examine its approach to its national game.

Australia has been startled by the frenzy that has followed a single article critical of the Australian captain and calling for his head.

Widespread outcry

Ordinarily such an opinion might have provoked debate for a day or so before the author was consigned to the madhouse. But this time the row refused to die down.

Newspapers arranged polls on their websites and were overwhelmed by the response. Editors received an avalanche of correspondence.

Past players joined the fray, with several speaking out against the Australian team. It was as if a pressure valve had been released.

Nor was it merely a local dispute between two nations. The story was published prominently in newspapers all over the cricketing world. Much against his will, your correspondent became a cause celebre.

In part this may have been due to the delight the defeated naturally take in seeing their conquerors put under pressure. But it went deeper.

The outpouring revealed the widespread unpopularity of the Australians, a fact the team remains loathe to recognise.

But it has been the reaction at home that has shaken the players. Enraged by an admittedly overstated viewpoint, they expected strong support from the local cricket community. Instead they have been criticised by respected elders from other sporting disciplines, including Herb Elliott, Robert Di Costella and John Bertram. As far as Australian sport is concerned it does not get any bigger. Geoff Lawson and Tom Veivers have also spoken out, proud wearers of the baggy green cap dismayed by the approach of the current team. Others have talked privately of their hurt.

No Australian in his right mind takes any joy from these discomforting developments. Tensions will build between protagonists. Although difficult, it is important to remove the personalities from the debate and to focus on the issues.

Unhappy with attitude

Two facts stand out. A large proportion of Australian cricket lovers were unhappy with the attitude of their team. And the players were unaware of their reputation. After all they spend their time surrounded by sympathisers. But now they know.

Dissatisfaction was not born of some lingering inferiority complex, the anxiety of a new nation to make a good impression.

It was caused by a straightforward dislike of bragging. Australians love sport. Australians love sportsmanship. It is not the same thing.

Over the last few days Ricky Ponting and company have discovered that locals expect more than victory from their representatives.

They had lost touch ... Australia has reclaimed them.

Better days may lie ahead.

News Source : Samachar