This was a wonderful cricketing summer for Australia. Seemingly, the positives ensnared from retaining the Ashes were conducive to the optimistic mindset that saw the Australian Test team thrive in domestic conditions. Captain Tim Paine, who has attracted some warranted and constructive criticism, has done a sterling job and justified his selection. His personal statistics are unflattering and his use of the Decision Review System (DRS) are the subject of much debate. Furthermore, his field placings have become a minor issue with global ramifications: They are more typically reminiscent of the shorter forms of cricket and seem focused on stemming run flow; if more attacking fields, namely catchers were placed more often, dismissals would occur sooner and runs conceded would lessen. The added positive is this would stem chronic and monotonous complaints concerning abysmal overrates due to earlier innings completions. His uncomplicated approach is nonetheless the basis for a positive outlook, nationally and globally.
The positives of Captain Paine are obvious: His personal statistics suggest under performance, but his consistency as leader is impressive: he is reliable behind the stumps, dropping very few catches this season; he is perfectly old-fashioned: very gritty and determined and does the basics very well. It is regrettable that people forget keepers should be selected for ability to keep. Suffice it to say, an ingenious and exceptional player like Adam Gilchrist was a specialist batsman turned keeper; that his standards are regarded as the norm to the extent of mystification says more about collective nostalgia among the cricket crazed masses than a proper understanding of what makes a fine keeper or captain.
Captain Paine has lifted the Australian team from the shame and humiliation of what was arguably its nadir, namely its lowest ebb in the modern era, the “Sandpapergate” Affair, the quagmire of Cape Town and is very slowly fostering winning ways in a manner very reminiscent of former captains, Border, Taylor and Ponting. His style is unassuming and results driven if occasionally unglamorous, but it has hitherto proved effective. The two facets of his captaincy that have attracted and warranted criticism, specifically his poor use of DRS and tendency to place defensive fields which are intent on saving runs rather than having attacking fields of catchers intent on taking wickets. While he is frequently guilty as charged there is evidence to suggest that criticising his captaincy for these flaws is far less warranted than would seem the case.
The conditions and policies governing DRS technology make for something of a bureaucratic bungle. The existence in the international rules of the stipulation of “umpire’s call” has cast aspersions on the match awareness of many a player. This facet exists to give the benefit of the doubt to the standing umpire citing that technology programmed by humans is prone to be biased and hence, fallible. Several former players, most notably, Shane Warne, have stated officials should trust in the technology, as it is the best that is currently available. Furthermore, that it should allow them to rule in the positive or negative, specifically a decision should be ruled “out” or not out and “umpire’s call” needs eliminating.
Currently, the difficulty posed by “umpire’s call” causes many players, more usually captains and keepers to assume which way the standing official will rule, rather than being definite about their challenge. Worse still is it tempts honest players into manipulating a situation so as to extricate a desirable outcome. This second scenario forces the official to trust in their conviction, lending plausibility to the umpires call stipulation. This causes players to “over read” or “second guess” these micro and often pivotal game situations; challenges occur when they should not and are not made when they should be. There is much guessing that occurs making wonderfully capable professionals, like Tim Paine and even South African keeper, Quentin de Kock look foolish casting aspersions on their intuition or match awareness. The above suggestion by Shane Warne of abandoning the condition of “umpire’s call” and ruling out or not out seems practical and preferable on a global scale.
Finally, and arguably of greater importance is the conundrum imposed by Australian selection policies; specifically, the absence of specialist bowlers. This flaw is partially responsible for excessive defensive approaches. The issue of defensive versus attacking fields cannot be entirely attributed to passive leadership, but also poor selection policies. An example this summer was specialist spinner Nathan Lyon lacking a specialist spin partner bowling from the opposite end. Captain Paine was bowling part-time spinners, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head to bridge this gap in expertise. Predictably, far too often their lack of specialisation was exposed in the form of a poor delivery each over and defensive fields reminiscent of shorter formats like 20/20 were then set to limit the damage to the scoring rate. This placed further pressure on Lyon to produce poor deliveries that would induce reckless shots, rather than enabling him to observe the technique of “playing the percentages” via a consistent line and length and ensnaring a wicket by inducing an error.
The Australian fast bowling unit produced a far better offering due to the presence of specialists rather than part-timers and this paid dividends with Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Pattinson. They formed a quartet, after Hazlewood was injured. National selectors need to take note of a what is clearly successful formula for Australian fast bowling and apply this logic to selection of spinners.
It does seem obvious that the tenacity, skill and technique of Nathan Lyon would be complemented and the quality of Australian Test cricket enhanced if gifted young spinners such as Lloyd Pope, Mitchell Swepson or even Adam Zampa were Test considerations. Zampa is particularly worthy of mention as he has good control and classical ability to flight the ball. This would be positive for short and long term purposes: Firstly, The young spinner would be forced to learn the highest form of technique and sustain it over five days teaching that passion and dedication are more important than panache, temerity or public profile; this would also enhance their short format skills via superior discipline. These above facets should result from superlative technique. Secondly, the presence of support will further enhance the contribution and consistency of Lyon. Thirdly, depth in the squad is of the essence as ageing players and those prone to injury will make the likelihood of a mass exodus inevitable and the younger players will then have to resume the role, responsibility and aptitude of senior players.
Hard work, passion, dedication, application and the ensuing mastery of basics and technique should always trump “branding” or ‘star-power’. These modern facets are admittedly necessary, even vital, but should be by-products of quality play and players. The captaincy of Paine is considered by some to be either an unfortunate or happy accident in the modern annals of Australian Test cricket. Alternatively, it is dismissed as a temporary measure till a younger captain is appointed. Truthfully, Captain Paine has been exceptional: He is the proverbial “quiet achiever ” a workhorse and stalwart in a glamorous age. His tenure has proved that results can be attained without unnecessary negative attention. Furthermore, the current Australian Test line up play better as a team than their recent predecessors.
For all reasons stated, Tim Paine needs to remain captain to further improve the current positive state of the Australian Test team which should hopefully have a positive effect on Australian efforts in other formats. Furthermore if the efforts of Paine and Australia continue on their current trajectory, it is is neither exaggeration or wishful thinking to suggest they could capture the scintillating touch that was the trademark of teams Stephen Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
Robert E Melato
Rob's Ramblings 