Malcolm Conn says Australia's resurgence shows rebuilding is a myth

THE turmoil and resurgence of Australian cricket's last 12 months highlights that rebuilding is a myth, writes Malcolm Conn.

Captain Michael Clarke and new vice-captain Brad Haddin speaks during Australian training. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

THE turmoil of Australia's last 12 months highlights that rebuilding is a myth.

It shows that the sacking of Simon Katich two years ago for the sake of generational change was a dumb thing to do, creating instability at a time when Australia needed a steady hand.

All the forward planning to revamp the team for these back-to-back Ashes series came to nothing.

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Reality and desperation collided when Chris Rogers, now 36, was brought back for the recent Ashes tour.

He played well, scoring an emotional century at Durham and averaging 40 for the series.

Likewise Brad Haddin, 36, rightly won back his place in the Test side from Matthew Wade, a decade his junior.

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Haddin claimed a series record 29 dismissals in England and was a central figure with his batting in the first Test at Brisbane's Gabba when Australia was in trouble, again, on the first day.

At 34 Ryan Harris is Australia's best fast bowler. At 32 Mitchell Johnson has never bowled faster, two years after it appeared he would fade away.

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George Bailey, 31, became the oldest Australian batsman to debut in 34 years.

These players highlight that the future is now.

Simply pick the best team available and let young players do the hard yarns to earn their place.

That is certainly a philosophy which coach and selector Darren Lehmann could relate to. He did not become a regular Test player until he was 32.

The revolving door of the past year has seen 25 players, more than two full teams, play in the 13 Tests during that period with Peter Siddle the only constant.

Not surprisingly, when Michael Clarke named an unchanged team yesterday it was the first time in a year he had been handed the same side for consecutive Tests by the selectors.News_Image_File: Batsman Chris Rogers talks to Australia coach Darren Lehmann. Picture: Adam Head

Clarke made the point that it was a good feeling.

The team that will walk onto the Adelaide Oval for the start of the second Test has only four players in their 20s, David Warner, 26, Steve Smith, 24, Siddle, 28, and Nathan Lyon, 26.

Twenty-somethings such as Wade, Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja have been given opportunities and found wanting.

History suggests they will probably come again and be better players for their exile.

Some very fine players from Australia's recent, dominant past took years to establish themselves.

Matthew Hayden went seven years before he was a regular and Justin Langer was eight years into his career before being recalled to open the batting with the big Queenslander for the last Test of the 2001 Ashes tour. They were aged 30 or close.

This accidental pairing became the most successful Australian opening partnership of all time and second in the history of the game to West Indians Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes.

Damien Martyn was out of the Test team for six years before becoming an important and underrated part of one of this country's great teams. He too was almost 30 before he became a regular.

So let's celebrate stability, success, and making the baggy green cap as difficult to obtain as possible. That hasn't always been the case in the recent past.