Hackwatch #2

Robert Craddock, a self styled ‘cricket journalist’ of Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, seems to have taken it upon himself to try and galvanise the Aussie cricketing populace with a rather timid slating of England’s preparation.

Whereas in previous years (Think Pedalo etc) England’s lack of preparation and professionalism had the Aussies justifiably chuckling into their tinnies, this tours winning start has got the hacks scrabbling for the moral high ground. Craddock criticises the Poms for not going out and socialising. Fancy passing up the delights of sporting Australia where a night out involves getting completely trollied, taking drugs, getting into a street brawl or indulging in lewd acts with a team-mates dog – all par for the course for your average Aussie sportsman!

The normally well balanced Aussie hacks, the ones with a chip on both shoulders, are really struggling to land any punches on the touring team so far. Even repeated showings of Harmison’s woeful first ball wide from 2005 seem to do nothing but reflect the dread fear that is creeping across the Aussie sporting psyche.

Having been beaten by New Zealand at Rugby league (again), thumped by England at Rugby Union (again) and now gazing up at the top four test playing nations from a lowly position in the Test Match Championship table, the Aussies find themselves looking to Hockey and Pole-Vaulting for solace.

However, the fact is Australia’s obsession with AFL is seriously limiting their chances of progress in sports that the rest of the world also plays! The talent pool is smaller than most and despite the fantastic facilities, undoubted talent, commitment and sporting ethics throughout the country. Australia will seriously struggle if the sponsors, politicians and administrators continue to plough loads of money and some of their best sportsman into a glorified game of kick and catch that was originated by cricketers to keep fit in their off season. Australia are at a sporting crossroads and it is not a healthy position for a proud sporting nation and something that their journalists would perhaps be better served investigating the reasons behind, instead of pathetic little bleats about England’s supposedly invisible team.

Of course if it really is the case that England are invisible then Australia’s cricket really is in dire straits, I mean fancy their much vaunted state sides and A-team being bettered by a team of nobodies. And heaven help them all if their test team should fail again. They might even need to look in their own backyard to see where the problems lie and that is a most un-Australian thing to do!