Published: Aug 01, 2016, 07:02 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 02, 2016, 10:25 AM (IST)
For any international side, it is imperative to have a coach as willing and desperate as its players to succeed over a period of time. With Darren Lehmann as head coach and David Saker as incoming assistant and bowling coach, Australia seem to have ticked not one but two boxes right. By the time Lehmann finishes his tenure as head coach, he would have spent more than six years in the position, which certainly gives further assurance to the thought that Australia have done everything within their power to not only arrest their slide, but have also given hints that hopes from the future are pretty high. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia 2016, 2nd Test at Galle
With a lot of young talent as his disposal with a steady leadership promised by Steven Smith and David Warner, Australia and Lehmann can let go of the worries of frequent changes of the squad. Australia may be the incumbent world No. 1 in Test cricket, but their woes are far from over, and an extended run as head and assistant coaches will give Lehmann and Saker ample time to do what they aim to.
Starting with Test cricket, Australia hold rubbers against India, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka, but their failures in England against the moving ball and against turn in the subcontinent continue to be their biggest worries. ALSO READ: Lyon-O’Keefe pair can be the way ahead for Australia in subcontinent
It is well-documented that Australian batsmen struggle against moving ball, and their bowlers fail to create the same effect in similar conditions whereas their opponents keep chipping away. The last tour of England highlighted Australia’s shortcomings as well as it could; how much have their batsmen and bowlers have improved is something that cannot be determined yet.
Even though Sri Lanka battered Australia in the first Test at Pallekele, there were three prime reasons that underline a heavy defeat for the tourists. First, Australia did not have any answer to a novice’s backlash; maybe Kusal Mendis was just too good during his maiden century. Secondly, they did a terrible job when it came to reviewing umpiring decisions (though Sri Lanka committed almost an equal number of errors). The third (and most important) reason — which surely does not present the first such instance — Australia lost to quality spin.
Australia might have ruled the roost back in their days but the level of competition in international cricket has diversified. England have been unbeatable at home, as are India. Australia seem to be struggling on Sri Lankan wickets and their previous two tours of UAE have showed them repetitively their shortcomings on flat decks that assist spin.
Remember, we are yet to talk about T20Is and ODIs. To face the challenges in Test cricket Lehmann and Saker have an extremely talented squad at their perusal, but coaches cannot make players do what they do on the field. Coaches can only make players prepare to their best — Lehmann is pretty good at it — but the real challenge will be on the field where it is all about players versus their shortcomings.
Seam, swing and spin are three different kinds of thorns in Australia’s flesh; the sooner they pluck them out the better.
Saker’s hiring as Australia’s assistant and bowling coach is a masterstroke nonetheless. His extremely impressive resume has the development of England’s famed bowling attack that is still spitting a lot of venom. His planning in England’s backroom against then No. 1 ranked India 2011 was impeccable and immaculate, and it remained that way throughout his stay.
Sheffield Shield may have been cut to two parts, but the fact that Saker won his first-ever title with Victoria throws a lot of weight behind his credentials as an overall coach. Saker will be proud of his achievements in England; now he has 20-year-olds in Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird and many more to work with, to nurture them for the next decade or so.
At the onset — Saker is yet to join Australia in his coaching capabilities — it appears to be a win-win situation. He will add more to Australia’s firepower in time to come and certainly take them much ahead from where Craig McDermott left.
Succession planning is extremely critical for any cricketing powerhouse to stand out from the rest, and Australia have nailed it. There is Justin Langer, who has had a tryst with the coaching side successfully leading them in the Tri-Nation Series 2016 in West Indies. There are Graeme Hick — yes, from England, but working in Australian cricket for past few years — and Greg Blewett, who can step up as well.
At the helm is Lehmann, the man to have masterminded England demolition in Ashes 2013-14, to guided Australia to their World Cup win last year. The blemishes, however, resurface as soon as Australia board flights to England or anywhere in Asia. Lehmann, Saker and others around them as support staff will be truly considered successful if these are done away with. With this kind of fortification, this Australian cricket team should at least match the great teams of last decade, if not replicate their feats.
(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
