The BGT from Australian perspective

Ofcourse, Australia are the happier side for they have won the series quite comfortably in the end after the initial wobble. Does it mean that it is all smooth and efficient within the Australian team? Far from it. Does it mean that they are the absolute unquestioned numero uno in the world? Well, they are number one based on the ICC rankings but they are certainly not the undisputed. The problems within the Australian team runs deeper. They are trying to cover the cracks with some timely introduction of fresh blood. The BGT has thrown more questions than answers for Australia. How was the BGT from Australian perspective?

Cummins has termed the victory as “unreal”. He is a captain, who has won quite a lot in his short career as the captain, the WTC finals win, the ODI 2023 World Cup win, retaining the Ashes in England, winning series in Pakistan. The list is endless. Yet, he says that the victory was unreal. It just shows what winning means for Cummins in particular and Australia in general. Victory defines Australian sport. It is ingrained in them from a very young age. Cummins has achieved so much despite not having the best of players. It says something about his leadership ability.

“Unreal. This was one that a few of us didn’t have,” Cummins said at the post-series presentation. “It’s been an amazing series. [We’re] immensely proud. We’ve spent a lot of time together as a group over the years, so we knew we weren’t at our best at Perth, but it was never as bad as it seems. So you stick tight and double down on what makes us a really good side.”

Positives for Australia

The Australian selectors have definitely unearthed a brilliant prospect in the form of Beau Webster. It is hard to fathom where and why was he being hidden from cricket for so long? Webster looks like someone who is a complete cricketer. Ofcourse, he is only one Test old but that one Test, on such a tricky pitch, he has shown what he is capable of. His batting was solid, something that cannot be said about the incumbent, Mitchell Marsh. His bowling was adequate and his fielding is top-class. For someone with a huge frame, his reflexes are pretty brilliant.

It takes a great deal of athleticism in the slips. Webster has that in abundance. Though he played only at Sydney, Webster was a standout performer for Australia. It was his contribution with the bat that determined the difference between a 2-2 verdict to 3-1 verdict. It can be safely assumed that Marsh has played his final Test match already once Cameroon Green comes back. If Australia feel the need for a specialist batsman, even Green’s spot could be in trouble. That was the impact Webster created in a single game.

Cummin’s captaincy. He is doing something that almost always succeeds. 3 years ago, Australian selectors stuck gold by naming Cummins as the captain.

Negatives for Australia

There were quite a few. For a start, Khawaja could be in for trouble. At 38, he is nearing the end of his career. Australia need a confident and run-making opening batsman for the Ashes series in 2025. Khawaja was all at sea in the series and became Bumrah’s bunny. England does not possess someone of the calibre of Bumrah and Australia are unlikely to offer similar surfaces if England travels with Stone, Archer, Atkinson and Carse.

“To be honest, I was just getting Bumrah-ed,” Khawaja told ABC Sport after Australia regained the BGT in Sydney. “It was friggin’ tough work. It was tough work. People were asking me ‘what’s going on?’ I’m being honest, I’m just getting Bumrah-ed.”

It was tough facing Bumrah on those surfaces but Labuschagne showed that wasn’t impossible. Khawaja was a sitting duck. It is a miracle that his position wasn’t changed even once during the series.

Hazlewood’s continued injury issues. Not long ago, Hazlewood could go on an entire series without breaking down. Now, he has often broken down which meant the successful bowling combination had to be constantly tweaked. One can say that Boland is on hand to take charge but Boland outside of Australia is a different proposition than Boland in Australia. In the last Ashes series, Boland was driven to all parts of the ground. His record in England is abysmal though the sample is too low. Australia need Hazlewood for battles outside of their homeland.

Konstas

I will not count Sam Konstas as a positive because of the way he carries himself on the field. He is the Kohli of Australia in terms of boorish on-field conduct. His batting does not look to be complete. If the ball hits the middle of the bat, unlucky bowler otherwise, Konstas could be had easily. They way he conducted himself on the field was highly irritating. Here is a kid who was brought up the wrong way. His parents were probably ashamed to see him on the field with such an arrogant attitude.

Wrapping up the BGT from Australian perspective

There was a needless controversy at the end of the series. Gavaskar wasn’t invited to present the Border Gavaskar Trophy to Cummins. This was insane, afterall, Gavaskar who was in Australia and whose name is part of the trophy, must have given away the trophy alongwith Border. Reports have emerged that CA told him that if India squared the series at Sydney, he will be invited. Otherwise, he will be ignored. I mean, how childish was it? How does an Indian win and Gavaskar invited for the ceremony be equated?

There were instances where Gavaskar alone gave away the trophy to Indian captains because during those series, Border did not travel to India. CA must know better than ignoring a legend.

BGT Blogs

https://icricketcritique.com/the-bgt-completed/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-bgt-negatives-for-india/