Australia’s collapse against South Africa the latest in string of batting disasters
AS CHAIRMAN of selectors, Rod Marsh promised a batting revolution. Instead, Australia have now plunged to revolting new depths.
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WHEN Rod Marsh first faced the press as national selection chairman there was just one thing baffling him — what’s happened to our Test match batsmen?
Marsh said point blank that for a nation so wealthy in facilities and player depth it was inexcusable for Australia to have such a shallow pool of batsmen to choose from.
He declared he would lead a “back-to-basics revolution”.
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Two and a half years on, as Marsh prepares to depart the job, his sentiments will be identical if not even more profound.
Instead of a revolution, Australia’s batting depth has plunged to revolting new depths.
As inept as the batting line-up was on the recent tour of Sri Lanka and in previous humiliations in England and the UAE — the true low point took place on Friday at the WACA Ground.
Losing 7-45 and then all 10 wickets for 86 runs to completely butcher a matchwinning lead that was there for the taking is simply unforgivable on home soil.
Everything was going Australia’s way in conditions it is most comfortable with.
And then suddenly the wheels fell off. Big time.
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Pre-Test Marsh promised swift and ruthless changes if Australia lost in this series.
Now the likes of Mitchell Marsh and Adam Voges may have just one more innings to save themselves.
Even if they do, it doesn’t change much.
COLLAPSO KINGS
Lost 10-86 to continue a horrid run with the bat that began on the tour of Sri Lanka.
A quick look at the low scores in the Sheffield Shield and the fact most of the willow wielders in the Australia A team average under 40 tell of an even deeper problem.
There’s simply no batting resilience coming through. No fighters anymore, no old fashioned Test match warriors like Justin Langer.
Collapse continues to follow collapse.
When he took over in May 2014, the alarm bells were already ringing for Marsh.
“I don’t think our batting is as good as it should be for a nation of our strength,” he said.
“Technically, I don’t think it’s good enough.
“There has been a period of time where technique hasn’t been taught as well as it could have been.
“We have got to get back to the basics.”
Australian cricket’s failure to learn from its mistakes is a major indictment on the entire system.
Steve Smith’s side could still rally to win this Test, but this is a batting endemic.
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