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January 4, 2011Posted on 01/04/2011 in Ashes
Ashes crowds show how times have changed
From Fergus Peace, Australia
The baton has passed in the stands as well
© Getty Images“Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” Ben Hilfenhaus’ final nick behind was ten minutes in the past and the MCG was emptying rapidly. One spectator, wandering down the ramp towards the exit, let loose that most archetypal, uninventive Australian chant, a gesture of defiance to make up for his team’s submission. On the best days, the cry is met with instant, triumphant response. Here, seconds passed and the words subsided before another fan took up the cause and returned an equally solitary “Oi! Oi! Oi!” And his hopeful words too subsided, but not into silence, for there was no silence within a mile of the hallowed turf.
That was ensured by the Barmy Army, whose chants were not gestures of defiance but raucous expressions of triumph, the kind the Australian chant once signified. The baton has been passed, not only on the field but in the stands. It is unlikely to change any time soon. England’s crop of players hardly know what it is to lose to Australia: none have lost the Ashes more than once, five never at all. When they have lost – Headingley in 2009, Perth this year – it has been because England played atrociously and Australia lifted their game.
There is only one dominant team, and it can be seen in the way they carry themselves. Graeme Swann, even when he has been mandated to bowl flat and fast and hold up an end, always walks with a strut and a glimmer in his eye; it is coming. Tim Bresnan, regarded by most Australians as little more than an honest toiler, turns at his mark not in fear of being crashed to the cover boundary, as did Sajid Mahmood, James Anderson and even Matthew Hoggard last tour, but eagerly anticipating the next step in his plan. Chris Tremlett, delivering a series of gems and beating the edge with regularity that can easily frustrate a bowler, smiles and in spite of his professed gentleness enjoys, or at least appreciates, the torment he is giving. Matt Prior thinks everything is out. These are signs of a team used to beating Australia and not looking to the heavens for thanks.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Johnson seems to hope for a wicket rather than expecting one, and not without reason. Steven Smith bowled a good ball during the final session of day two in Melbourne, pitching on middle and leg, turning and bouncing and drawing a cautious defensive prod. What was needed was another twenty such deliveries to induce a mistake; what came was a half-tracker, pummeled to the midwicket boundary. But this crunching boundary, unlike the forward-defensive, went in the air – comfortably wide of the fieldsman, but enough to encourage Smith to bowl similarly next delivery, with similar results. Hilfenhaus avoids this impetuousness but his patience is more resigned than plotting, having accepted that he is likely to bend at least ninety deliveries a day away from the right-hander to be comfortably left, no damage done.
Enough has been written about the failings of the Australian team and the strengths of the English one. In Perth in 2006, when Geraint Jones emerged on a pair, the Barmy Army – never deniers of reality – sang out Living on a Prayer. Late on day three in Melbourne, the scoreboard showing that six Australian wickets had already tumbled, the same song rang from the Army’s ranks, this time as an offering to their vanquished opponents. After so many years of pain, they are enjoying it. And Australia seems to have been almost as successful at forgetting its own greatness as England has been at forgetting the lows they sank too.
Two local members of the crowd, discussing the parlous state of the batting order, offered this: “Apart from Hussey, and maybe Watson, there’s nobody else in that line-up who can score runs.” “Exactly. Although somebody the other day was talking about Ponting, I think?” Walking down from the MCG in a throng of Australian fans, there is no more talk of the cricket, past or present. A boy attempts soccer tricks with a plastic bottle on the footpath. As they approach the train station, a young man asks his friends, “Where to next?” He is not discussing the cricket, but he could be. Where to, indeed. And in a moment of silence, from inside the ground the Barmy Army can still be heard.
Posted by: Richard S at January 4, 2011 9:49 AM
I think, even more noticeable than England being better than Australia, has been the total lack of local support - as visable through a TV anyway. If you blanked out the stadiums and the sunshine and just had the field and the sound you would swear this series was being played in England. Whenever an Englishmen, hits a four or takes a wicket, or whenever an Aussie makes a ricket, there is a massive cheer. You can say what you like about England circa 1993-2003 v Australia, we were rubbish, but we at least cheered our lads on and made the most of any of the crumbs of success that came our way. It doesn't appear that Australians offer their team the same level of support but just sit and sulk. In fact they are worse than that, they actively undermine their own team, with the booing etc. The only player who has been offered decent support was Usman Khawaja.
Posted by: bobocop2010 at January 4, 2011 7:02 PM
As football supporters chant "you only sing when you're winning."
How well this applies to the great cricket loving Aussie supporter. Bloated on a diet of constant success over the past 20 years they have come to take winning for granted and sit now in silence whilst their team struggles. Will the Australian teams fall from grace be as long and deep as that of the previous "world champions," West Indies? I don't think so but at least the West Indian continues to vociferously support his team.
This Oz lot have obviously spat out the dummy.
Posted by: Paul at January 5, 2011 2:51 AM
Bobocop, I think that’s unfair.
For my mind, Australian supporters would love to get behind the team, but there’s too many deeply unpopular cricketers in this side for them to do so. I think all of Australia would be much more forgiving of the team if the selectors had gone with more youth, instead of clinging to a fading bunch of senior citizens.
Posted by: Wes Horn at January 5, 2011 3:01 AM
I've been watching cricket for 40 years and England has rarely had a good side in that time, so don't get too cocky. Australia is on a downer for the first time in 20 years. It was bound to happen at some point, but it's still disappointing.
England has the potential for a good side, but I'm not convinced. They have to prove it over an extended period. I doubt they can dominate like either Australia or the Windies did during their dream runs. We're talking 15 - 20 years. England have a long haul to match them.
People tend to forget, England only beat Australia by the skin of their teeth in 2005 and 2009. It was no domination.
Posted by: Brax at January 5, 2011 4:36 AM
Do you lot think that the stands have only been full of Pom supporters? The
English are just the loudest and most obnoxious, always have been. Aussies are still supporting their team as hard as ever, though with a lot of disappointment. We are still turning up in record numbers. To the comment that the Aussies are booing their own side.... you do realise that there is a lot of English supporters here & they are the ones doing the unsportmanlike booing?!
Posted by: Ashok Sridharan at January 5, 2011 7:46 AM
@Wes Horn: I agree with most of what you say,except the 'Skin of the teeth' part. Surely, margins of 115 runs and 197 runs don't quite fit the description of winning by the 'skin of the teeth'!
Posted by: Richard S at January 5, 2011 9:53 AM
Wes Horn, why do you have to have success over an extended period to be considered a good side? The 2004 - 2005 England team were a very good side, but they peaked for a short period during the tour of South Africa and then at home against Australia. But that doesn't mean that for that short period they were not a very good side. Good teams may only last one season, broken up by age, injury, retirements or a change of circumstances. To be a great side then a sustained period of success may be required, but even then I'm not sure. The West Indies of 1976-1995 and the Aussies 1995-2005 were not one great side, they were a series of great sides.
Posted by: roly Cooper at January 5, 2011 11:30 PM
Lets not forget that Aussie supporters have to work guys!! Its not an endless party and booze fest on a 6 week holiday in the sun. Of course the Aussies are quiet , there losing to a currently better side. Every pendulum swings and this one has swung to its fullest upon a series placed early due to the world cup in the 3rd wettest Year in Oz history , making it very english like. As the pendulam swings back we will see the results of future years. It will be a long time before there is 20 years of domination by any team if at all given that this is the only 5 test series remaining and focus upon the T20 accelerates. Enjoy what test cricket may be left and have respect for all supporters no matter where they are from.
Posted by: Terry Jones of Australia at January 6, 2011 8:52 PM
Richard S, the reason why Aust supporters are not supporting our side is that Cricket Aust told us that they "are a business". They are here to make money, displaying the best media profile players, not the best talent. I havent met Aust that thinks that our selectors have an idea of what they are doing. Why would you Barrick for a team that is setup to fail to overcome the domination of the last 20 years?
Lets look at the side.
Hughes av 15 in 1st class in last 6 months, so they promote him.
Ponting av 20-25 over 20 innings, so he is injured not sacked.
Clarke scored 200 runs off 10, 500 off 20, lets promote him to captain.
Struggle with bat, so 4 specialist bat & an alrounder that bats lower then our wicky.
Lets have 2 alrounders, but only use them as batsmen. Lets drop spinners that dont do well in India (White, Hauritz), dispite all Aust spinners (inc Warne) failing there.
Best side: Marsh, Kwarja, White, Cosgrove, Hussey, Watson, Haddin, Johnson, Hauritz, Harris, Siddle.
Posted by: Terry Jones of Australia at January 6, 2011 9:04 PM
Ashok Sridharan, Aust only lost 2005 as McGrath was injured, and only Warne fired with the ball (and lets not forget the cheating by the Poms ... the ball tampering that officials looked into ... and found on a different English tour!).
In 2009 it was even until the last match .. what a match, the game was decided by the toss of the coin, whoever won the toss won the match ... the captains should have walked from the coin toss to the media and talk about what a great match it was ... as the game was already over by then.
They say catches win matches ... nope pitches win matches. Just look at WI vs Eng rigged series in WI ... first game WI won ... all matches after that were good parking spaces ... nice and flat ... couldnt score more runs if you tried ... I should have been picked for that side, I would still be batting!
Eng's only real victory against Aust in last 25 years has been this season. No matter what we put on the field Eng would have won as they were better.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 7, 2011 5:35 PM
I think earlier poster is right, way too many deeply unpopular players in the Aussie side.
The aussie selectors seem to be agents for the ECB....odd/bizaree spinning selections, not moving Ponting to 5/6, dropping hauritz, not picking younger players until it was too late.
I think its hard for English fans to understand why grounds are emoty on day4/5 even if aussies are losing? English/Welsh/opposition fans in UK nearly always turn up even if their side is losing that Test or series (also paid for the ticket). Barmy army can be very annoying but also very funny in short spells, Britis fans (not necessarily just Barmy army) always travel abroad, have tremndous support and also spend a fortune.
I thought this was a great series, exciting, went to 1-1 and then the better side shows over 5 Tests why they won.
Posted by: Jason at January 7, 2011 11:52 PM
Australian selectors should note this for August and moving forward,
S.Marsh, T.Paine(vc), U.Khawaja, C.Ferguson, R.Ponting(c), S.Watson, S.Smith, M.Johnson, C.McKay, P.Siddle and M.Beer.
We lost the Ashes due to Hughes and Clarke bein out of form as with Ponting but Clarke isn't a leader, Tim Paine shows more promise and is well liked plus he's a better wicketkeeper than Haddin and a patient batsman, Hilfy having no bite with the ball, Siddle is one dimensional but has heart, I'd like to see the 6 foot 8 M.Starc get a run being left arm bowler as well if Siddle fails to fire.
Even Hill for Victoria has had a better season than Hughes at the top.
If the selectors played players in form and suited to format then we would be alot better, Haddin for onedayers, Paine for tests.
We will never get another McGrath, Warne and Gilchrist they were one in a century players.
The sooner we blood youth the better, Well done England you played great cricket, Go Aussies
Posted by: Anonymous at January 8, 2011 5:07 PM
He he he, An Aussie calling the English loud and obnoxious ha ha ha
Posted by: Epochery at January 9, 2011 1:42 AM
@Roly Cooper - Please explain to me how this eries is early? Boxing day test and new years test have been played for about 40 years. Looking at the crowds In Melbourne on boxing day teh crowd was 84,000 after the perth win and after day one the home crowd stayed home. Goven that the 2nd and 3rd days were holidays why did no one turn up. Granted with smaller venues in england the frist 4 days of all ashes tests are sold out. Even in the barren years. The fact is that English cricket fans support their team the same cannot be said for our aussie counterparts.
Posted by: Lisa at January 14, 2011 3:43 AM
The reason Aussie supporters aren't here is BECAUSE of the Boring, oh, sorry, Barmy Army. How many more times can we hear "God Save Your Gracious Queen" and "You All Live In A Convict Colony"????? I went to the Brisbane test because last time they separated the Boring Army. Imagine my disappointment when I arrived and they hadn't done it this time. I went to the Sydney test because I live in Sydney. But I will not be going to another Ashes test in england or Australia as long as Cricket Australia pander to the Boring Army. After all, they charge them a whole lot more for tickets than we pay.
Posted by: lisa at January 14, 2011 3:57 AM
bobocop - "As football supporters chant "you only sing when you're winning."
You have obviously not noticed that we don't SING at all, when we are winning or losing. We just want to watch the cricket.
Posted by: Dave T at January 14, 2011 10:46 AM
Bobocop2010 - Spot on!
Posted by: Martin at January 15, 2011 8:31 AM
Brax, Lisa et al. English fans boring and obnoxious? I would say that most of the songs are funny and or witty.
Without the barmy army boys the SCG would have been more like a prison than it actually feels like when inside it.
Roly Cooper...the Aussies have to work? How do you suppose the English fans get there? Correct..by working and saving.
And again to Brax , you are sadly mistaken thinking the English boo the Aussies.I sat in front of a pack of Aussies in the O'Reilly stand on day 3 and they berated their team all day, on occaision not using the term ***kers.
Sadly your team are bad winners and worse losers.
Posted by: Harry G Evans at January 16, 2011 1:27 AM
Follower of this great game for 60 yrs. Great to see poms finally show a bit of form as only for Eng. and Aus. Test cricket would be dead ,,note crowds in Sth Afr. Have been to Uk 3 times and was very impressed with their behavior in Syd Test good all witty at times Army boring as i have heard the same music for 10 years next trip UK lets be a bit more enter prising EG some thing Different..Back on cricket world stage i can remember not so long ago Aust was to strong and bad for world now the inevible has happened and they are still being caned also a few years ago i was really worried about Eng, future but with a bit of Aussie coaching support Alls good plus a few Sth Afr. TASSIE HARRY
Posted by: karthik at January 20, 2011 12:01 PM
all you shutter bugs ...accept that england really deserved what they achieved..
Posted by: Al at January 23, 2011 8:11 PM
Agreed, they deserved it this time but in 2009 it was down to the luck of the final toss, in 2005 it was only because of McGrath's injury. Let's face it, England have only been exceptional on this test tour.
Posted by: Danny at February 24, 2011 2:36 PM
Well done to the poms. Cook was immoveable, the rest of your batsmen bobbed up regulary with big scores (well, not Collingwood), Anderson bowled peaches and Tremlett was like a white Joel Garner.
We were in disarray (well, not Hussey). Limited strikes from our bowlers.
That's sport for you. Enjoy it, well deserved.
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