Your Post Ashes Questions Answered Here. | Thebigtip

The 6 Test match Aussie summer has drawn to a close. Looking back on where Australia were this time last summer, we were all in a state of mourning, ruing the loss of the urn to the old foe. To say now that 12 months on and the change has been dramatic would still be understating the obvious.

We all wondered, "How could such a devastating fall from grace occur?" Everyone seemed to have an opinion on how and why it happened. Theories were being debated and fingers were being pointed in every direction. It all culminated into an entire review of Cricket Australias performance, policies and procedures from the very top right down to the boot cleaner. What we learnt from the Argus review that change was not only inevitable, it was absolutely necessary.

The CA Board changed, the operating administration changed, the scheduling changed, the selection panel changed, the selection process changed, the coach changed, the coaching staff changed, the captain changed, the playing personell changed and I'm pretty sure the cook, the cleaner and the dressing room victory chant has even changed.

It became pretty obvious that it wasn't just on field performance that needed to be overhauled. The dominant and ruthless culture that the Australian cricket team had become used to had nowhere else to go. hence, the stagnation and lack of regeneration spread right through out the entire camp.

1 year on and it seems eveident that this current crop of test players and fringe players are not only seeking Ashes redemption but are looking to go one better and reclaiming the No 1 mantle that they beleive is rightfully theirs and those post Ashes answers that we have long been seeking are now beginning to reveal themselves.

Q. Should Ricky Ponying have retired gracefully or play on and potentialy be dropped with only a little dignity left?

A. Post Ashes I would have said retire gracefully but I'm not too proud to say that "Punter" has proved me wrong. His decision to play on seemed selfish and the battle to regain form has been long and arduos but Ricky can now say to himself, " I've won that battle". His move down the order has been a master stroke. When the inexperienced top order (minus Shane Watson) has looked shaky at times, he has come in and restored order. His last 8 tests have yeilded 713 runs. Not bad numbers for someone who was within a whisker of being dumped and not having the luxury of being able to walk away when you know it's your time.

Q. Is Hussey the weak link in the batting line up?

A. The jury is still out on this one. He had a cracker of a series in Sri-Lanka earning Man of the Series but a poor series in South Africa and a poor series at home against the Kiwi's made Mr Cricket's days looked numbered. With Khawaja and Hughes not grabbing their opportunities and injuries to Watson and Marsh, he won himself a repreive and showed that he still has runs in him. 368 runs in his last 8 tests at about 31 are not to his lofty standards but he may have just done enough to convince selectors that he is a worthy campaigner. He made 150 n.o in the Sydney test but it wasn't under pressure and it will be interesting to see whether he gets a plane ticket to the Carribean in April.

Q. Can Michael Clarke not only fulfil his batting potential but become a worthy Captain?

A. Clarkey was a man under immense pressure. His reign as captain started reasonably well in Sri-Lanka but 11 tests, 4 series wins, 1167 runs, a triple hundred, a double hundred, 3 centuries and some superb captaincy regarding use of bowlers, field placements and leadership, you can comfortably say yes to this question. His triple hundred in the Sydney test bought him about 5 years worth of "Good bloke" tickets and I am confident that Clarkey is no longer the "pup" more so the "top dog" now. 

Q. Can the Aussie batsmen start making big hundreds again?

A. Well I think we all know the answer to this question. Except for Haddin, in the last 12 months the batsmen have been having their way with opposition bowling attacks and posting some pretty impressive hundreds. Marsh, Clarke and Hussey in Sri-Lanka, Clarke in South Africa, Warner, Clarke and Ponting on home turf. Bring on the Windies in the Carribean and watch for more big numbers on flat pitches. 

Q. Is Brad Haddin the best option with both gloves and bat?

A. A definitive No. Tim Paines injury woes have kept Haddin in the frame. He has been one of the few negatives in Australias resurgance. His keeping has been sub standard and his batting has been irresponsible. He sighted in the press, " the big summer has drained me". Well Haddin, they are not words to be used in public when you have better keepers and better batsmen breathing down your neck. 262 runs in his last 8 tests is below par and I suspect that he will be on the plane to the Carribean with the knowledge that if he misfires, it will be all over.

Q. Can we find an opening combination that will hurt the opposition?

A. An unlikely combination has emerged out of the Ashes ruins. We all believed that Watson and Hughes were going to be the new glamour couple but that didn't work out. Hughes's flawed technique and Watsons injury woes have made way for the Warner / Cowan act. And yes, they can hurt the opposition. Whilst Cowan hasn't posted the big numbers, he looks sound enough to wether any new ball storm while Warner is busy demoralising frontline bowlers with his power and stroke play. The interesting twist to this combo is Watsons fitness. He is a walk up start in any team in world cricket when fit but I suspect Marsh's horror run will keep Cowan / Warner at the top and Watson will slot in at 5 or 6 with Clarke going to 3.

Q. Can we find some quicks that will restore the faith in the quint-essential "Australian fast bowler ?"

A. Another resounding Yes to this question. If you had the job to select a pace attack for the next test series and all quicks in the frame were fit and ready to go, who would you pick? Such is our embarassment of fast bowling riches at the moment, this would be a headache that every selector would like to have. With Mitchell Johnson's form issues and now injury lay off and Doug Bollingers inabilty to maintain pressure at test level, the door was opened and boy, did they come rushing through the door. Pat Cummins, 1 Test before succumbing to injury, 7 wickets and showing enourmous promise. Mitchell Starc was given a crack and took 8 scalps in 3 Tests and also shows alot of potential. The Bolter was James Pattinson. He played 4 tests and took a lazy 25 wickets. Not a bad debut. Ben Hilfenhaus earned a surprise recall for the Indian test series and took a ridiculous 27 wickets in just 4 tests. The work horse Ryan Harris, although vulnerable to injury has proved the worth in his popularity by claiming 10 wickets in his last 3 tests. The standout though was Peter Siddle. The lion hearted and newly crowned spearhead has claimed 36 wickets in his last 8 tests by bowling full, fast and menacingly. Just what the Australian fans want to see.

Q. Can we find a decent spinner that can not just turn a ball but turn a match?

A. The merry go round of slow bowlers used since the departure of Shane Warne has been well documented. Nearly every spinner in Australia has been looked at. But for now, the merry go round has stopped at Nathan Lyon. The only thing that is as impressive as his early career at the moment is the faith of the selectors to persist with him to give him every opportunity. And he is repaying the faith by bowling tight and taking 29 wickets in his 10 tests so far. You are dreaming if you beleive that every spinner should be as good as Warne and if not, then try someone else. at 24 years old, If lyon is given time he could become our second best spinning wicket taker of all time.

The Australian Test Team at the moment looks entirely different to 12 months ago. They look fresh, young, energised, hungry, victorious but most importantly, they look happy and look like that they are rallying around their new skipper and ready to take on the world. Take note England because this crop of players will not rest until that beloved urn is back on Australian soil.