Memo to Australian Cricket Fans - Settle Down

If you have been reading the papers of watching the TV lately, you would be forgiven for thinking the Australian Test Team is a shambles. I actually heard them compared to the Australian team from 1986.

First, some facts. There have been some great players recently exit the stage for Australia. In the last 3 years, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie and Glen McGrath have all played their last test match. Also missing from the side playing right now is Andrew Symonds and Stuart Clark.

The era of dominance that Australia experienced from late 1999 right up until last summer was unprecedented, and unlikely to be repeated. It was predicated on a bowling attacked never bettered in the history of cricket, quite possibly the best #7 batsman ever to play the game, and a settled world class top and middle order that always seemed to get runs. And the tail wagged more than any other side.

But back to that 1986 side. That team that played the last test match of 1986, in which an Australian side was humbled by an innings inside three days by an English team no one rated, was GR Marsh, DC Boon, DM Jones, AR Border, SR Waugh, GRJ Matthews, PR Sleep, TJ Zoehrer, CJ McDermott, MG Hughes & BA Reid. Looking at that, I just think they picked one too many bowlers, and it showed.

Fast forward to 2008. Katich has not proven he has the fighting qualities of Marsh, but he wouldn't be far off on the Test level. Hayden betters Boon, Ponting betters Jones. AB is ahead of Hussey, but not by the length you would think. At that stage Steve Waugh was still an impetuous youngster, and Clarke has him covered. Watson and Matthews is a wash, and while Sleep was the better bowler, White is a better bat. Haddin already has Zoehrer covered. While McDermott, Hughes and Reid all become quality bowlers, none were at this stage. Lee, Siddle and Johnson should be in front.

And that side lost by an innings in Melbourne to an ordinary English side. The 2008 side is playing the best side in the world on their turf, and hasn't lost yet after having the better of the first match.

Australia desperately need to develop a better spinning option than Cameron White, but he is an honest toiler and I'm happy he got a baggy green. Brett Lee is struggling, but cricket isn't all that is going on in his life at the moment.

Amazingly, going into the First Test, the only Australians with Test wickets in India were Simon Katich and Michael Clarke. Looking back at four years ago, McGrath, Gillespie and Kasprowicz all had sub-continental experience and were wily veterans. Even at 32, Lee has never been thought of as such, and with good cause.

Also, the Australian side can't settle. They have now played seven consecutive tests with a change to the side, as Phil Jacques, Chris Rogers, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Stuart Clarke have all played. But the real problem has been with the fourth bowler, as Shaun Tait, Brad Hogg, Stuart MacGill, Beau Casson and Cameron White have all been tried.

The last time the Australian Test Side played that many consecutive tests with a change was in 2005 in England. During this seven match period, Australia have won only two test matches, both in the West Indies. During an eight match period in 2005 which covered series against England and the West Indies, Australia could only win the First Test at Lords and the last three all against the Windies.

It's a bit of a chicken and egg argument, but either way it's not good and the Aussies need stability. Peter Siddle will probably get other chances, but Clark will return when fit. The rest of the team should be left as is for the rest of the Indian series. The selectors will probably get toey about White and Katich, but they should leave them as they are to work through their problems, and especially in White's case, learn. Australian cricket will be richer for it.