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by Anthony Sharwood

03 Dec 01:18pm

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Filed under: Ashes, Australian Cricket Team, Cricket, World Cup Bid

55 comments

The really great thing about us Australians is that we don’t let bad things get us down.

Trust us. Any moment now green shoots will sprout from his shirt.

A World Cup for Qatar? No worries. It’ll probably save us all a bunch of stadium renovations we didn’t need anyway. Not to mention that we might actually move towards an economy built on more stable foundations than the questionable benefits of global events we host every quarter century or so.

Three for two against the Poms in the cricket? She’ll be right. We’ll be 3/94 by lunch once Huss and Watto have dug in.

Yes, just as the eucalypt renews itself after a fire has burnt it half to death, so too, do we Australians often produce our best after a good, bloody kick in the teeth.

Football Federation Australia will now, you’d hope, take a good look at itself and concentrate its efforts on important things like the ailing A-League rather than some pie-in-the-sky World Cup.

And Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, you’d hope, will return to batting school.

This is primarily a cricket blog, so I welcome your thoughts on what the Aussies need to score to be competitive, especially with hot weather forecast for Adelaide for the weekend and England likely to make a motza.

But if you’d like to comment on the Australian aptitude for renewal, by all means, cut loose.

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418Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself

353"Gifting", "journey" and other words we hate

311Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking

259Who murdered the Arts degree?

246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...

231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

230South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.

224The most laughable, err, spoof since Einfeld

55 comments

Show oldest | newest first

- iansand says:
  
  12:34pm | 03/12/10
  
  In the olden days, when cricket was a part time job and cricketers had real world jobs, Ponting (as an example) would have resigned about 4 years ago. Now cricketers hang on desperately until they are pried out with a crowbar because they know they will never earn this sort of money again.
  
  Reply
- rufus says:
  
  12:46pm | 03/12/10
  
  Of course Australia can get a competitive score. As Hussey and Haddin showed in Brisbane, the England bowlers are not much better on a flat track than ours are. The question is, why so many flat tracks? Surely not because the authorities at each ground want each match to go the distance to get the crowds in? But that would be self-defeating - crowds will eventually stop coming to watch bat-a-thon drudgery.
  
  I guess this blog will see the usual posts calling for Clarke and Ponting and others to be dropped, despite Clarke being our best batter over the past year or so, and despite Ponting having more wins as captain than any other. Change the tape, you ignorant knockers, the old one is boring.
  
  Reply
Markus says:

01:40pm | 03/12/10

Clarke is averaging under 30runs in about his last 12 innings, well below where he should be. I wouldn’t call for his head yet, but will call for him to pull it out of his own behind.

And most wins as captain just Ponting has been in the job too long.
I wanted to punch the journalist who wrote that Ponting had surpassed Waugh as our most successful captain, despite the fact his win percentage was 10% higher even before Australia’s recent deadful run.
Shifter says:

04:44pm | 03/12/10

@Markus - why wouldn’t you call for his head? This the the exact problem with the Australian cricket team, they carry under-performing players in the side in the hope they will come good.

Why should these cricketers be given time in the national team, at the expense of in form players in the domestic competition, whilst the national side is consistently not winning matches? Let them rediscover their form in a lower competition, and then by all means bring them back.

Johnson’s been dropped for not dominating tests, which is fair enough but Clarke and North’s insipid recent batting surely rates them lower than other batsmen tearing up the Shield, if only for a test or two.
Horthy says:

05:15pm | 03/12/10

Excuse me, “batter” ?
- Eno The Wonderdog says:
  
  12:54pm | 03/12/10
  
  ..and four fer 96 just after lunch.. good game this..
  
  Reply
- GCDude says:
  
  12:57pm | 03/12/10
  
  “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Walt Disney
  
  Reply
- hot tub political machine says:
  
  12:57pm | 03/12/10
  
  It doesn’t matter what Australia scores. 20 wickets in a single match is beyond them. Especially at Adelaide. There can be only one of two results - draw or lose - winning would require International standard bowling
  
  Reply
salo says:

04:12pm | 03/12/10

Come back Monday and tell us how your prediction is going.
Hermano says:

07:28am | 06/12/10

I reckon his prediction is coming along nicely.
hot tub political machine says:

12:22pm | 06/12/10

I’m back. And I think even saying this makes me seem too self-congratulatory….
- Flying Kingswood says:
  
  12:59pm | 03/12/10
  
  Off topic but:
  “It’ll probably save us all a bunch of stadium renovations we didn’t need anyway.”
  
  Coming from Perth and having been to a few AFL games in Melbourne (MCG, Etihad etc) I can say the above statement does not apply to Perth. We really do need to renovate/ rebuild Subiaco Oval/Patersons Stadium and the WA Gov was waiting to get a nice boost from the World Cup bid.
  
  Maybe that is the renewal we need, green seats and all.
  
  Reply
Shifter says:

04:47pm | 03/12/10

Isn’t Etihad great compared to Subi? So much more comfortable watching a game there, and the ground facilities/concessions areas are leagues ahead.

It’s a pity the WAFC was waiting on this bid so the federal government ponied up some cash for a new stadium.
Haywood Jablome says:

05:50pm | 03/12/10

Perth needs a new football/rugby stadium, rather than another AFL ground… I say upgrade Subi to a better size/standard, move cricket to there in the Summer, and knock down the WACA and build proper 40,000 seat Football/rugby ground.
- plev says:
  
  01:07pm | 03/12/10
  
  The FFA bet their entire future on hosting the world cup. The A-league only got as far as it did on hype, and has been in freefall since the hype evaporated. They desperately needed a new injection of hysteria and government money and they failed.
  
  I can’t see the A-League continuing in its current form for very much longer. Once the new 20/20 competition starts up the A-League will be squeezed for attention even more. They’re already falling behind the reborn NBL. You can stick a fork in Australian soccer, it’s done.
  
  Reply
Nafe says:

03:01pm | 03/12/10

Putting the A League behind the NBL is a bit of a stretch. The A League needs one or 2 good marque players ( fowler is doing wonders atm) and some free to air coverage would be a good start. With the old NSL averaging 2k in support at each game, the sport has gone a long way. An Asian cup win next year will also give it a boost.
A Dose of Reality says:

04:09pm | 03/12/10

All those soccer fans need to actually support the game. Rather than sit and watch o/s telecasts that the SBS serves up (because it’s cheap).

With capacity games, the league will be able to expand - TV will run to it and the money will perhaps keep a few players here (or have the journeymen come here a little earlier rather than later in their careers). They might be able to build their own stadiums (like the SANFL did).

But it depends on the soccer fan actually supporting the game. At the moment the soccer fan is waiting aimlessly for the footy fan to all of a sudden abandon footy and take up soccer (which just won’t happen) and has been waiting like this since the ‘70s when Australia first made the cup finals.

World Cup or no - without the soccer fan supporting the game Australian soccer will continue the downward spiral it has been in since the first hoo-haa of the A-League’s formation.
- stephen says:
  
  01:16pm | 03/12/10
  
  Sack Hilditch.
  Hire Hauritz.
  But keep Haddin,
  (Ponting to the bin.)
  
  Reply
- Shawn says:
  
  01:33pm | 03/12/10
  
  Anthony, why do you always write as though you have had 5 beers? It might be because you are writing about sport, but your articles always seem to use language tailored to idiots. You have even taken to soccer bashing in an effort to attract people to your blog.
  You are also one of the most pathetic types of soccer bashers. The ones who dont have the cojones to attack soccer directly, but instead take veiled pot shots at it.
  Try and be less yobbo with you writing.
  
  Reply
Ant Sharwood says:

01:56pm | 03/12/10

I make a botanic analogy in a headline and you call me a yobbo?
iansand says:

02:33pm | 03/12/10

Because you did not write “lignotuber” or “epicormoic shoot”.
iansand says:

02:52pm | 03/12/10

Don’t you hate it when you are being a smartarse and you do a typo? “Epicormic”.
Shawn says:

05:17pm | 03/12/10

Anthony, as a writer you shouldnt be replying to anonomous reader comment. At best it makes you look smallfry with nothing better to do with your day. At worst, it makes you look really vain for reading the comments anyway.
The point I was trying to make is your posts always seem to be written in a deliberatly low brow style. All your posts always seem to be about sport, and The Punch is not a sport site.
marley says:

01:01pm | 04/12/10

Golly, has Shawn taken over as editor of The Punch? Why didn’t anyone tell me?

Well, Shawn, as the new editor, maybe you could get the subtitle at the top of the page changed - the one that lists Punch’s various subtopics - viz. religion, climate change, and, umm, sport, actually.
NicoleG says:

04:45pm | 04/12/10

Well Shawn, here’s a tip, and it’s free. Don’t read Ant’s articles. You may not like them, I love them and I’m sure many others do too. Wipe that chip off your shoulder pal. Oh, and if liking Ant’s work and getting laugh out of it makes me a yobbo idiot, I’ll proudly wear that badge. Right, time for another beer.
Flutz says:

05:05pm | 04/12/10

Ummm - The Punch is a news site and sport is part of the news. Anthony is a sports writer, so of course his blogs are going to be about sport. If you don’t like reading about sport, don’t read any of his blogs - simple really.

And I like that he reads the posts and sometimes even replies to them. What I really hate is bloggers who absolutely refuse to read / respond to any comments on any blogs they write. To me that makes them self-important tossers who think their’s is the only opinion there is and no-one else matters.

Keep up the good work Ant. I love your blogs and almost always agree with your view.
Geoff - Brisbane says:

07:11pm | 04/12/10

I agree with Flutz - Its good when writers read and respond to readers comments. Not only does it show commitment to the site, the readers and what ever the hell they wrote about, it allows our questions and complaints to be addressed. How would you like to go to a debate and the host rambles on for 20 minutes then sits on a stool, says nothing and doesnt respond to you.
Lou says:

04:16am | 05/12/10

You are a card, Shawn. Really you are.

Imagine berating a writer for answering the comments on his articles.
Ha, ha, ha.

Haven’t laughed so much since I watched Marcus North’s ‘shot’ to get out yesterday.
- biff says:
  
  01:33pm | 03/12/10
  
  The Australian players will not lose the ashes; the selectors will be held responsible for that. It’s hard to understand why the selectors are reluctant to drop out of form players and give some new talent a go.
  
  Reply
- jane wallace says:
  
  02:36pm | 03/12/10
  
  just drop the whole team for the next test
  
  Reply
marley says:

08:48am | 05/12/10

Keep Hussey and Haddin, and bring in the under 19s. They couldn’t do worse.
- jane wallace says:
  
  02:39pm | 03/12/10
  
  Zurich last night
  World Cup 2022
  Australia 42 for 1
  42 Million dollars for one vote.
  At the Adelaide test
  Ausdtralia 3 wickets for 2 runs
  2 for 3
  who did better
  
  Reply
- Dale says:
  
  02:55pm | 03/12/10
  
  North Ponting and Clarke all out for next test to be replaced by Bailey, Hughes and Alex Keath.
  
  Reply
RT says:

04:14pm | 03/12/10

Bailey and Alex who? Hughes back? The same guy who hasn’t scored big since being dropped 2 years ago?
- Jimbojones says:
  
  02:56pm | 03/12/10
  
  I can recall the hardship for the Aussie side in the 70s and 80s. When collapses would come and go and we watched the Poms take the ashes. I’ve also lived through the years when we became the greatest side in the world, rivaling the great Windies sides of the 80s. I watched Gilchrist smack everybody, everywhere, all the time. Now the cycle has turneed again and we struggle. That’s life…that’s the joy of hagning in for the long haul and cherishing the good times. Still…I wish Gilly was in the middle lighting up the place like a fire cracker on a hot December night.
  
  Reply
Rosie says:

09:18pm | 03/12/10

Yeah those were the days!

The Australian team this time look very uncomfortable and unsure of themselves compared to the Poms who look to be just enjoying their cricket. These days I feel myself cringing and hoping the Aussies remain at the crease when they go in to bat and it isn’t a good feeling!

Like you I find myself wishing for Gillchrist, Warne but most of all Dennis Lillee, Ian Chappell, Rod Marsh & good old Dougie Walters. These guys played the game with a cavalier attitude and as a spectator I was relaxed and could relate to the way they approached the game.

The young Michael Clarke was often compared to Walters but not anymore! Bring back the old Michael Clarke and the boys should not worry about losing etc, just get out there and enjoy what they do best! Well it is a start anyway! ! ! !
- TheRealDave says:
  
  03:00pm | 03/12/10
  
  New Australian Team
  
  Hussey (c)
  Haddin (vc)
  9 bowlers
  
  = Win
  
  Reply
Shifter says:

04:55pm | 03/12/10

Watson as one of the bowlers?
- Brian Taylor says:
  
  04:14pm | 03/12/10
  
  6 for 207 lol, go the poms btw, good blog ant.
  
  Reply
- Brian Taylor says:
  
  04:18pm | 03/12/10
  
  oops sorry meant to say 7 for 207 lol
  
  Reply
- Brian Taylor says:
  
  04:48pm | 03/12/10
  
  8 for 226 damn these aussies aregetting out faster than I can type lol
  
  Reply
Mike says:

06:28pm | 03/12/10

I have to laugh at the way that the Australian media has been SO cocky, with headlines like “Poms on the ropes” and now look at them - faces like a wet newspaper with the print smeared all out….just wait until it’s over lads and don’t count your chooks because the Brits might just thrash Australia - again.
- Eno The Wonderdog says:
  
  05:33pm | 03/12/10
  
  Imagine that - the Australians lost the World Cup bid and the Ashes on the SAME DAY!! Quick everyone - buy VB shares!!
  
  Reply
- majid says:
  
  05:35pm | 03/12/10
  
  I always thought that cricket is like vegemite, to appreciate it, you have to be born and grown up with. So that’s why, unfortunately (or fortunately), I don’t get that sport, so I leave the matter to the specialists. But one thing I know for sure is that the poms are losers (in sport anyway…) and they make it worse for themselves by being BAD losers… trying to insinuate that Russia and Qatar bought the votes to host the world cup of soccer… Let me tell you that the world is safer by having England LOSING, do you imagine the amount of supply of beer we need to satisfy their hooligans around the world… without mentioning the number of policemen needed to contain them…
  
  Reply
Mike says:

08:09am | 05/12/10

How about you go to Turkey, or Croatia, or Italy - “The Continent” and take a look at their hooligans (sorry, “fans” with latin passion and hot blood, so it’s alright) where most of them carry knives, so stabbings are plentiful after a game.

Take a look at your own Australian-Croatian fans after the recent tennis - I mean, TENNIS ?! Hardly a hooligan’s paradise ! Hooliganism is not confined to England, and there were certainly some comments on Aussie forums about it being a ‘fix’ and that certain people’s ‘promises’ had not materialised re: “I’ll vote for you if you vote for me”...just like being back in primary school.
marley says:

08:50am | 05/12/10

Problem is, the English hooligans actually prefer to go abroad to cause havoc these days. I wouldn’t want to be the Consul at the British Embassy in Qatar in a few years time. I think he’ll be spending an awful lot of time with the local constabulary. Assuming, of course, that England qualifies.
- PK Nelson says:
  
  05:45pm | 03/12/10
  
  The great thing about us Australians is how great we are at telling everyone how great we are. At this, we are the greatest.
  
  Reply
- Pomathon says:
  
  05:46pm | 03/12/10
  
  Had enough yet Aussies? You’re no good at football and even worse at cricket. Still at least you’ve got Rugby and Netball…but wait you lost at those too!
  For a sporting nation you sure enjoy coming second.
  
  Reply
- Drew(Darlinghurst) says:
  
  06:38pm | 03/12/10
  
  Its great to see players on both side again for the Second Test to be wearing the RED RIBBON..(HIV/AIDS awareness)
  
  I think the AIDS COUNCIL OF S.A and CRICKET AUSTRALIA could make the Second Test at the Adelaide Oval as a major Fundraiser for WORLD AIDS DAY. Everyone wearing RED !!
  
  It could become similar to the PINK TEST (5th Test in Sydney..for Breast Cancer awareness..McGrath Foundation)
  
  Just a thought .
  
  Reply
- Raj says:
  
  08:17pm | 03/12/10
  
  Watson needs to play down the order….he played like it is one day cricket…..lack of patience…Haddin to open.
  
  Reply
- S.L says:
  
  08:10am | 04/12/10
  
  As I have written before it is harder to be dropped from the Aussie test team than be picked.
  20/20 overtaking sports such as the A league? Yeah right! Outside internationals nobody watches cricket. The Sheffield Shield final last year there were more players than spectators!
  The A leagues biggest downer is no free to air coverage. Pure and simple that’s what it needs! People watching the Premier League or Serie A etc will watch the A league if its more readily available. You can talk about poor crowds but how many NRL games were played in front of near empty stadiums? More than they care to admit!
  
  Reply
A Dose of Reality says:

04:42pm | 04/12/10

There is no demand for free to air coverage. All the soccer fans watch the English game.

It’s true that NRL games are played to empty stadia - however this is a direct consequence of the NRL “selling out” to the TV network (The VaFL is just about there too, unfortunately). Now the NRL fans watch TV rather than go to the games (If there were no telecast they’d be back at the games).

The inherent difference is that the NRL fans are watching the local game - the soccer fans watch the o/s games. This is why the networks gave up on telecasting the local league in the first place. SBS show the o/s game and get the best of both worlds - all the soccer fans watch SBS and they can buy the o/s games for next to nothing (the English telecast is budgeted to make it’s money in England - it might even budget to sales to Europe, but Australia is an afterthought and the telecast is sold more to increase English club memberships than anything else).

S.L. - as I assume you are a soccer fan, it’s up to you and people like you. If you want to see the game grow - go to the game.
- Punters Pal says:
  
  08:47am | 04/12/10
  
  Although I love football and has been both Sydney FC and Man Utd season ticket holder, I am pleased that we didn’t win the World Cup. It is proved over and over again, that FIFA is the most closed minded, corrupt organisation there is. They believe they are above the law - they will demand the host countries to change their laws, to meet their agenda. They can prosecute anyone for wearing a wrong T-shirt and to avoid paying any tax on the income they make in the host country. It looks now that only countries with the dubious moral code, like Russia and Qatar are likely winners. No doubt the next winners would be China and North Korea.
  
  Reply
- iansand says:
  
  07:26am | 05/12/10
  
  Change the rules. The Poms get one innings. We get two. And Cook has to retire at 50.
  
  Oh for the days when that equation was reversed.
  
  Reply
- acker says:
  
  10:48am | 06/12/10
  
  Shane Watson will be captain of Australia before the end of this series, Ponting will soon join Kim Hughes as an Australian captain sacked during a home test series.
  
  Reply

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iansand says:

rufus says:

Markus says:

Shifter says:

Horthy says:

Eno The Wonderdog says:

GCDude says:

hot tub political machine says:

salo says:

Hermano says:

hot tub political machine says:

Flying Kingswood says:

Shifter says:

Haywood Jablome says:

plev says:

Nafe says:

A Dose of Reality says:

stephen says:

Shawn says:

Ant Sharwood says:

iansand says:

iansand says:

Shawn says:

marley says:

NicoleG says:

Flutz says:

Geoff - Brisbane says:

Lou says:

biff says:

jane wallace says:

marley says:

jane wallace says:

Dale says:

RT says:

Jimbojones says:

Rosie says:

TheRealDave says:

Shifter says:

Brian Taylor says:

Brian Taylor says:

Brian Taylor says:

Mike says:

Eno The Wonderdog says:

majid says:

Mike says:

marley says:

PK Nelson says:

Pomathon says:

Drew(Darlinghurst) says:

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