Ian Healy believes current woes have nothing on tortured 80s sides

Ian Healy believes Justin Langer can lead a Bob Simpson-style revival in a tortured Test team he insists is better than the one he started in 30 years ago.

Ian Healy believes Justin Langer can lead a Bob Simpson-style revival in a tortured Test team he insists is better than the one he started in 30 years ago.

Test wicket-keeping great Healy was a central figure in reviving Australian cricket from the dark days of the mid-1980s to a prosperous, world beating 1990s but when he joined the side in 1988 they has just broken a four-year winless series streak in Tests.

He sees a great similarity between the two eras and well remembers the cold feeling of a nation of cricket fans taking time to embrace the side as they prospered under the hard-working hand of master coach Simpson.

Allan Border is all man! The former skipper and Bob Simpson famously led Australia out of the mire.

“What former players have got to do is remember how bad we were,’’ Healy said.

“I think this team is better than the team I started in 1988. And I liken the two eras. That is where we are - 1987 was a bit of rebuild in one-day cricket at the World Cup.

“We also won the Ashes in 1989 and no-one would talk to us. We would go into restaurants and bars and no-one would say ‘well done boys’.

“The hard yards this team is putting in will reap great rewards. I think our players are talented. They might not be as confident as they are going to be but hard work will get them there.

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“We have the right man in Justin Langer to really punch that hard work and skill repetition into the team in the way they can get confidence. Exactly like Bob Simpson did to us.

“That is why I am likening this to the mid-to-late 80s. Bad performances need to be minimised - and there are not that many of them at the moment - and the great days will increase in frequency.

Healy has noted the decline in textbook techniques and feels the quirky batting genius of Steve Smith has dragged coaches and young players away from trusted, time honoured methods.

The Australian cricket team after another series loss. Picture: AFP

“I think we have gone off teaching textbook techniques. Steve Smith will do that to you. He has been so successful with his wandering technique. Why do we teach the absolute textbook? I still think the textbook is a great place to start.

“The emphasis on technique has not been as fierce as it was 30, 40, 50 years ago.’’

Healy believes Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns should be strong chances of playing in the first Test against India in Adelaide on December 6.

Bob Simpson and his almost unbeatable team in 1996.

“Whether Renshaw is in the first Test team or not I take my hat off to him because he scores runs at every level he puts in to, making a club hundred on the weekend.

“I would like to see him in but I don’t know the options or how Usman Khawaja is coming up with his injured knee.

“Every time Joe Burns has batted in club cricket he has made a hundred. It is an amazing performance.’’

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Originally published as Ian Healy believes current woes have nothing on tortured 80s sides