WARNER’S INGENUITY IS KEEPING THE HEAT ON SMITH
Perhaps said with tongue firmly in cheek, Australians believe their cricket captain holds the second most important position in the country behind the prime minister. But, whether you think that’s merely a joke or in fact a revealing insight into Australian culture, Aussie skippers undoubtedly have the type of longevity the nation’s top leader can only dream of.
In a toxic last decade of politics, Australia has had six leadership changes and five different prime ministers (Kevin Rudd had two goes at it). It is as if Australian politics channels the type of volatility that paralysed Pakistani cricket until recently.
Fortunately, Australian cricket doesn’t suffer that same festering instability. New captains are given firm backing and there is a healthy understanding that they will be inserted into the hotseat for some time.
Even during tumultuous periods, Australian captains generally endure. Mark Taylor famously survived a horrific form slump (only just though). It seems Michael Clarke was generally loathed among his teammates, yet he still mustered an overall successful four-year stint as captain which would have stretched further if not for a troublesome back.
Thus, it feels pointless speculating over the short-term future of incumbent captain Steve Smith despite whispers starting ahead of a defining period in his early captaincy reign. Australia have an arduous home stretch against South Africa and a suddenly formidable Pakistan before finishing with a crux tour of India, the site of some of the country’s most pitiful performances.
Barring a complete calamity, like Australia losing the next 10 Tests consecutively, Smith will remain captain for some time yet. Still, despite that apparent safety net, there feels a sense of fragility about Australia, who have copped embarrassing series whitewashes to Sri Lanka and South Africa in Test and ODIs recently.
Accordingly, Smith is feeling the first strains of pressure after enjoying a honeymoon period since taking the reins from Clarke 12 months ago. Fortunately for Smith, Australia’s embarrassing recent efforts were played abroad during the Australian football/rugby league seasons.
In other words, most casual cricket fans were oblivious to Australia’s pathetic efforts, which has taken the sheen off Smith’s fledgling captaincy.
However, with all eyes reverted to the cricket as the weather warms up in Australia, the spotlight will be firmly on Smith if his team start poorly against South Africa. Excuses could be tolerated over losing to an inexperienced Sri Lanka (“the turning pitches were manufactured”) and South Africa
David Warner, Smith’s deputy, has surprisingly matured and his petulance appears to be a thing of the past
(“Australia fielded a second-string attack”), but no luxury will be afforded if they lose at home.
Australian fans expect their team to win at home because they have been spoilt rotten over the years. They are currently riding a hot streak of 18 Tests at home without defeat, including 14 wins. The last time Australia lost a Test on their terrain was in December of 2012; Australia has had three different prime ministers since then.
Smith will be fully aware that Australia need to continue their home dominance if he is to enjoy a much-needed fillip in the gig and flat-bat the discontent that is simmering in the background.
Smith has only been in the top job for one year but already it’s been a rollercoaster ride. In many ways, he had the fortune to take over from Clarke, a polarising figure not just within his team but also publically. The maligned former captain was not particularly liked for a variety of reasons but, undoubtedly, Clarke conjured ingenious strategies, which always earned him brownie points particularly from a gushing Shane Warne, his close friend and influential legendary player-turned-commentator.
Still, despite his penchant for nifty chess moves, Clarke’s departure didn’t cause many tears and there was genuine excitement over the precocious Smith’s appointment.
Taking the job at the tender age of 26 – Australian cricket chiefs generally like selecting captains around the 30 mark – Smith was always going to grow into the job. Heck, he had only been a Test regular for the previous two years before accepting the captaincy.
It was evident right from the beginning that, tactically, Smith was more staid than Clarke but undoubtedly attuned to the heartbeat of the team in a way his predecessor never seemingly understood.
Smith fostered much goodwill within the ranks, which had been often fractured during the Clarke era. Accordingly, Smith didn’t taste defeat in his first 11 Tests as captain, which included seven wins.
Importantly, Smith was moulding a rising team in his image with a bevy of talented pacemen and soon enough Australia regained the No.1 Test ranking after obliterating the Kiwis in New Zealand earlier this year. It seemed inevitable that Australia were on the verge of materialising into a golden era after teasing at certain junctures during the Clarke era.
Astoundingly, it has been mainly downhill since then with Smith’s honeymoon period now a distant memory. Nullifying any speculation, what significantly aided Clarke during his captaincy stint was the lack of an obvious replacement. Testament to that, perennial punching bag Shane Watson was Clarke’s deputy for a period of time.
Smith doesn’t quite have that same luxury. David Warner, Smith’s deputy, has surprisingly matured and his petulance appears a thing of the past. Warner has growing gravitas within Australian cricket and impressively showcased his capabilities during a recent ODI series victory in Sri Lanka, where he filled in for a resting Smith.
As Australia’s long-time provocateur, Warner’s innate tenacity ensures he has a tight leash on the team but his volatility has tempered over the years and you feel he is in control of his emotions these days.
In Sri Lanka, Warner showcased tactical flair which he had developed while marshalling the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Warner seemingly has more natural ingenuity than Smith, adding to a growing belief from some pundits that the flamboyant opener is more suited to the captaincy.
There is no evidence Warner is seeking or even wants the top job. He has publically backed Smith and seems genuine about being a loyal deputy. Still, Warner’s emerging leadership is very real and could be a tempting alternative if things go awry.
So, Steve Smith won’t be taking things for granted even though history tells us he has little to worry about. It shapes as an intriguing period in Australian cricket.