The Australian cricket team has plenty of promise but is yet to deliver, writes Robert Craddock

AUSTRALIA’S young Test team have some highly promising threads but the tapestry is yet to be fully woven, writes Robert Craddock.

Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell.

THE Australian cricket team must beat Bangladesh in Chittagong this week to avoid its worst form slump in 31 years.

Four losses in its past five series would be the inexcusable bottom line if Australia fails to square the two Test series this week and that’s as bad as it had been for Australia since the grim years of the mid-1980s.

Back then Australia lost four series in a row to the West Indies (twice), England and New Zealand but there were excuses of sorts because Rod Marsh, Greg Chappell and Dennis Lillee had just retired and a busload of topliners quit Australian cricket to be part of a rebel troupe to South Africa.

SECOND TEST: Smith admits Wade’s time may be up

Chastening numbers can sneak up on you in cricket.

Former Test quick Rodney Hogg on Sunday tweeted the Australian cricket team were like Collingwood – “a lot of great talk but not much delivery with results.’’

A provocative point but a fair one.

Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell.

Collingwood have been going nowhere for six years but every major press conference sells hope with as much zest as that telephone company cold caller who offers you a deal you simply can’t refuse.

Australian cricket knows this feeling.

Glenn Maxwell has been going to take over the world for how long? Usman Khawaja has been blowing hot and cold for years. James Pattinson has been the tornado putting red marks on the radar but somehow missing shore.

Matthew Wade has been widely lauded as an improving gloveman – then lets 30 byes through in the first Test.

Australia’s young Test team have some highly promising threads but the tapestry is yet to be fully woven.

Collingwood football team is very similar to Australian cricket team. A lot of great talk but not much delivery with results.

— Rodney Hogg (@RMHogg) September 2, 2017

Expectations have fallen. We know that because if they give a yelp this week and beat Bangladesh there will be an element of surprise about it.

Who would have thought it would come to that ... Australia having a “surprise’’ victory over Bangladesh.

Wade’s predicament sums up the dangers in Australia’s contract payment system which rewards players far too handsomely for being mediocre.

Wade was reportedly one of the big climbers in this year’s contract rankings with a deal understood to be around a $1 million a year.

Australian batsman Usman Khawaja.

Despite his improved pack packet he is fighting for his future and could be gone for good by this year’s Ashes series.

In the football codes you need to be a genuine star to make $1 million a year but in cricket you make it by elbowing your way into the Test team despite being far from convincing.

The very fact that Australia’s captain and coach declined to commit to playing Wade was a damning statement on his future.

Australia would never have considered such a move with Ian Healy, Rod Marsh or Adam Gilchrist who played 311 Tests between them without a mid-career axing.

As Healy often says, keepers are the drummers in the band. They set the rhythm of the side.

If the keeper goes, the beat goes with him.

These are testing, deceptively desperate times.

Originally published as The Australian cricket team has plenty of promise but is yet to deliver, writes Robert Craddock