Are Australia Running Scared? (Written by a Pom) | Thebigtip

No is probably the short answer to that question. As a sporting nation being afraid is the one emotion that rarely, if ever, goes through the Australian psyche on the sporting field. The question should probably be; is Ricky Ponting scared of losing his third Ashes Series as captain? The answer to this; undoubtedly yes. 

Over the past few days there have been a series of statements and comments emerging from the Australian camp which,are uncharacteristic of an Australian side prior to an Ashes series. Of course we English are used to the Glenn McGrath style predictions of 5-0 hammerings and clean sweeps, yet, we are not used to these coming from the skipper himself. In the past Ricky Ponting has been a model of restraint by comparison to the great fast bowler when asked to make his predictions; yet this has not stopped him from pronouncing a clean sweep in the upcoming 2010/11 Ashes series an 'absolute possibility'. 

Other things that are absolute possibilities include (in no particular order); Bangladesh winning the ODI World Cup next year, Virender Sehwag becoming a dour Boycott like batsman and Bermuda becoming a test playing nation. Joking aside, we appreciate that the media, being what it is, probably led Ponting into that answer by asking something along the lines of 'do you believe that a clean sweep is a possibility for this year's Ashes?' However recent form and the fact that any reasonably objective observer can see that England and Australia are two well matched sides suggesting that this mooted clean sweep is just as unlikely. In fact it would be a surprise altogether if this series was anything other than keenly contested and closely fought. 

In truth you can forgive Ponting this most bullish of statements as an early attempt at mind games or merely answering a leading question, yet, the sheer volume of Ashes comments coming from the Australian camp through as disparate sources as Shane Watson and Michael Clarke indicates that, if not scared, the prospect of an Ashes series is certainly playing on their mind. What is truly remarkable though is that these comments are coming prior to a test series against the number one side in the world, India. In fact many cricket followers, with all the Ashes hype that is bouncing around, are probably unaware that this is even scheduled which when you consider India's many talents is a shame and a surprise. Only 5 years ago an Australia India series was considered to be the pinnacle of the game and it was notoriously difficult to go there and win (something that even in all the previous Australian pomp they managed just once in the past 15 years). Perhaps it says as much about the irrelevancy of India's current number one status than anything else, but nevertheless, it is strange.

Simply from a professional point of view, again something that Australian cricket has consistently led the world in, this Ashes focus is unusual. Delving into the recent past once more it is impossible to think of another time when Australia were indulging in mind games this early. When Australia had the wood over England any questions related to the Ashes when it was not the next series were brusquely dealt with by Ponting, not even on the whole deigning to answer the question. This casual indifference to a forthcoming Ashes series did more to indicate the Australian position of power than anything else ever did - something which has not escaped the notice of the English players. Steve Finn, England's new fast bowling talent, summed it up perfectly by suggesting that more than anything else this 'chat' was a compliment to the England team and then neatly played the previously Australian card of claiming that England were concentrating on Pakistan and would worry about Australia closer to the time. 

We will see, we will see!