HOW WE FIX IT

LET’S FIND SOME CHARACTER Australia has always played on the edge and played with spirit. Australian sides played with character, passion and a sense of larrikin fun. Occasionally, Australia pushed it too far. But we were still the most popular team in the world because we never pretended to be something we weren’t. We played the Australian way — hard and tough but, above all, fairly. We enforced our personalities on the game. At the moment the players are too scared to be themselves and too afraid to express themselves in case they overstep the mark. They are pretending to be something they are not. That’s coming from the top. Let’s see some character and passion from our players as we know they care. PICK AND STICK The pressure is so high on the players right now. They don’t want to make a mistake. When you are going out and playing for your spot all the time, you don’t play with any freedom. They need to be able to take risks and be aggressive. I want the selectors to stick to a core eight players, the ones they believe are the best. And back them. There will always be a couple of spots up for grabs, or an injury here or there, but pick your core and stick with them. Tell them you are sticking with them. When you’re not winning you constantly search for the right combinations. Just bat people in their right position and support them. KEEP IT SIMPLE Cricket is a very simple sport but it’s getting so complicated. I heard the most ridiculous thing the other day from a player. Every day they go to the ground they are asked how they slept, for how many hours and to rate out of 10 how they are feeling. I’m all for change if it’s for the better. But these guys are getting told everything and being treated like children. They are not thinking for themselves. No wonder there is no match awareness. I hope they decide to get back to the basics. Fast bowlers go and bowl in the nets, get match-fit, get match-hardened. Batsmen too. You might not look as good in your speedos, but you’ll be match-fit. MOVE ON FROM HOWARD I think Pat Howard had some great ideas, I just don’t think they were suited to cricket. He was good at thinking differently and pushing the boundaries. But doing things differently just because they haven’t been done before isn’t necessarily right. And in cricket, you can’t reinvent the wheel. If you want to be a better bowler, then bowl more. If you want to be a better batsman, you have to face more balls. I don’t think he quite grasped what needed to be done. WE NEED LEADERSHIP Spending more money on coaches is important at Sheffield Shield and grade cricket level, too. But I would be spending more money developing leadership — cricket leadership. We are searching for a real leader. Get Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor, Allan Border — guys who have been great leaders, get them involved. I believe Aaron Finch could be a good leader, if he’s allowed to be. The captain has to be in charge, it has to be his team. I want to see the captain say: “I’m in charge, this is our style of play, come with me.” I don’t want the coach front and centre saying what the team is doing.