Australia’s dismal series whitewash defeat in England has been met with apathy, signalling its decline

THE most damning aspect of Australia’s horror tour of England wasn’t necessarily the whitewash or the records which fell, but the distinct lack of interest to the carnage from Australian fans writes RUSSELL GOULD.

Australia players stand dejected after losing their ODI series. Pic: AP

THE sense of near Australia-wide apathy to its national cricket team being routed 5-0 by England for the first time in a over century of competition between the longstanding enemies is damning for the 50-over game.

It will more than likely cost captain Tim Paine his job and continued a worrying decline for the World Cup champions which has been reflected in waning interest too.

Forget that this series was played in the middle of winter a million miles away, out of sight, out of mind, with a host of first choice players missing, and happening in the shadows of the biggest event in sport outside the Olympics, the soccer World Cup.

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Australia's Ashton Agar looks dejected during the T20 loss to England in Birmingham. Pic: AP

Historically, contests between Australia and England, in anything, anywhere — let alone cricket — used to engender more than a modicum of interest at home.

And with national pride at a high, getting behind the Socceroos, hardly any of that has been thrown the cricket team’s way.

The locals got right behind their team with sellout crowds at every match revelling in their new-found dominance.

Australia coach Justin Langer has a tough job on his hands. Pic: AP

Australia, conversely, is a team desperately trying to move away from lingering fallout from the ball-tampering affair, with deposed former captain Steve Smith’s daily habits in New York deemed more interesting than actual cricket matches.

The lack of outcry following the winless series, on the back of 4-1 defeat at home, marks potentially the last legs for one-day cricket, despite moves to try and elevate it back the position it once held.

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Australia's Aaron Finch provided some highlights with the bat. Pic: AFP

The ICC’s newly created one-day league will begin from June next year, to give “greater context” to every match.

A dictated amount of three-game series, there will be no more chances for 5-0 whitewashes, will determine qualification for the next World Cup in 2023.

But before that, there will be two T20 world cups, including one in Australia in 2020, up to 10 domestic 20-over competitions a year around the world featuring a new generation of stars for hire, and more eyeballs on the three-hour six fests than will even cast a passing glance over any 50-over games.

The largest ever cricket survey conducted by the ICC found the T20 game has usurped all others as the form of choice for cricket fans too.

Ashton Agar of Australia is bowled by Chris Jordan. Pic: Getty

Crowds for ODIs have been the continual decline in Australia too — only 14,000 turned up the MCG for a November clash with South Africa in 2016 — as families save their cash, and interest, for the Big Bash and Cricket Australia have not missed that change in spectator direction.

There will be more BBL games than ever before this summer, with 57, and the fixture will extend in to February, the month outgoing CA boss James Sutherland said recently his sport wants to “own” before the footy codes dig their feet in for as many as 10 months.

Conversely, the number of ODIs Australia plays over the next four years drops, and in the recent $1.18 billion pay deal, CA conceded to all 50-over internationals moving off free to air TV for the first time.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell looks dejected on a horror tour. Pic: Getty

That’s not to say winning next year’s World Cup, as defending champions, looking for a sixth title, is not a high priority inside team management, and at CA.

And despite reports suggesting otherwise, the coaching staff and selectors believe their plans to be victorious next year are still on track, despite conceding the effort from the band selected for this tour has been very disappointing and well below expectations.

Smith and David Warner should be back by then. Their comeback could be the storyline the competition needs to get the attention it truly deserves.

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