Australia back, with a smile
The sun will be glinting off the emerald roofs of the Sydney Cricket Ground later today as the players walk out, Australia in their canary yellow pyjamas, India in sky blue. Down Under, the international summer is about to begin.
Even from 10,000 miles away, the moment has resonance. As a schoolboy, I was mesmerised by Channel 9’s cricket theme. As soon as the synthesised strings had died down, I lay there gawping at the Australian sunshine and the toughness of her moustachioed warriors.
Pound for pound, tinny for tinny, their blokes were usually better than ours. Quicker through the air and between the wickets. More elusive in flight or footwork. Sharper in their retorts. ‘‘Lend me your brain, Tufnell,’’ came the yell during the 1990-91 Ashes. ‘‘I’m building an idiot.’’
So it is almost reassuring, in these times of turmoil, to see some of the old rules reestablishing themselves. After a couple of turbulent seasons, Australia are looking like world-beaters again. Over the next seven weeks I expect them to crush India. But not in the loud-mouthed, narrow-eyed way they have grown famous for.
We are witnessing a quiet revolution. In a switch of attitude not seen since Mark Taylor retired more than 20 years ago. Australia have reverted to winning with a smile, rather than the gunslinger scowl favoured by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
Yet from the ashes – or rather the granules of 2018’s sandpaper scandal – a different approach has emerged. The captain appointed to clear up the mess – Tasmanian wicketkeeper Tim Paine – was not a gimleteyed grouch with a caterpillar moustache. Here was a cleanshaven, head-boy sort of character, someone who combined innate authority with a gracious manner.
Paine has built a team in his own image. Where oldschool Australian cricketers often looked like they had been pulled off a sheep station, their descendants are more likely to be floppy-haired hipsters.
Under Paine, Australia no longer give the impression that they want to beat you, then mug you for your beer money. Instead, they seem more likely to put an arm around your shoulder and buy you a consoling coffee. Probably a skinny decaf latte.
The success of this rebirth stems from Paine’s slick double-act with Justin Langer. Himself one of Steve Waugh’s outriders in the early Noughties, Langer has turned himself into a smart and empathetic coach.
The transformation took time. For 18 months after the sandpaper scandal, the team had a punch-drunk look.
England smashed the old enemy 5-0 in 50-over cricket, Pakistan won a test on the neutral ground of Abu Dhabi and, most painfully of all, India claimed a historic first series win in Australia under Virat Kohli, who turned the tables with his aggressive, posturing captaincy.
Out of the agony, a deeper connection developed. Australia have lost only one test since the dead rubber against England at The Oval, while winning their past five. Match by match, they have begun to look increasingly impregnable. And with Kohli due to return home after the first test to await the birth of his first child, it is hard to see India repeating their 2-1 series win from two years ago.
So, with a year to go before England fly out for the Ashes, the omens are less than encouraging for Joe Root and company. But at least, if things go wrong, we can hold on to one reassuring thought: We could not have lost to a better bunch of blokes.