It is Australia who spearheaded the changes we now take for granted in the Test arena. Eager for results and success Steve Waugh pushed his batsmen to score at more than 4 an over, preferring to lose aggressively than draw meekly. Even before that they had been at the forefront of changes in the field. My father tells me he once saw the West Indies bowl 6 overs in an hour and Lords', but the Australians stormed through their overs.
Their eagerness changed the face of cricket, with Richie Benaud whooping and hollering like a madman upon taking a wicket, and bringing mind games and sledging into what had previously been a very stoic and gentile affair.
Over time, these mindsets brought about a period of dominance that made Australia all but untouchable for over fifteen years. Yet despite this, in the last twelve months something seems to have changed.
In truth, several somethings have changed, with personnel being the most noticeable. It is difficult to take the likes of Warne, Langer, Hayden and McGrath out of a side and replace them instantly, but with them went that air of invicibility and since then there has been a sense that although they are till a class outfit, they are far from untouchable.
The case in point, rather pleasingly is England who have enjoyed a wonderful 12 months against the old enemy, thwarting them in the Ashes, T20 World Cup and until the recent defeat went on an 8 match ODI unbeaten run. Over a pint in the local cricket club I put the case to three Brisbane residents and cricket lovers that come November, England may well be seen as favourites for an Ashes series victory in Australia.
"That's not going to happen," said Merv Bennett as the other two nodded in absolute agreement. "The gap has closed and England have finally figured out how to play the shorter stuff, but an Ashes Test series on Australian soil is a different story."
"Especially when you don't seem to have a plan if Graeme Swann doesn't bowl out whoever you are against," asserted his brother Ted.
I had been prepared for this. If everyone in England is muttering about a lack of firepower in the bowling department you can bet that the Aussies are fully aware and my plan had been to play the Steve Finn card at this point, but I was somewhat beaten to the punch.
"What about the young lad Finn?" inquired an up until this point silent Jordan Bews. "That boy shows some promise. He'll be a fine bowler without a shadow of a doubt. Maybe not this tour but come four years time and we'll have a real cause for worry." He then looked at me almost accusingly and added, "don't you ruin him."
The conversation meandered along for a while, the conclusion being that Australia would have enough to regain the Ashes this year, but this part of the conversation stuck with me for a variety of reasons.
Finn is an interesting young man with great potential, and it is to be hoped that he has a great England future ahead of him. However, at just 21 he needs to be managed well and will need to well looked after as Bews rightly pointed out. More interesting however was how the Aussies responded to him. This article began with an analysis of the traits which had made them so successful; their drive, their hunger, their passion. But there are other traits which go unsung as my conversation revealed. Not only a great knowledge but a love of the game. Whilst their passion on the pitch is there for all to see, but there are plenty of Australians out there who are enjoying the battles with England all the more now for their more even and competitive edge.
They are having to rely more on these latter traits now as the team boasts less talent, but make no mistake they have as much brain as they do heart and England's current run of success will be examined and learnt from in detail. This Ashes series may not have the bluster and swagger of 2005, but it will be the thinking man's game at it's finest.
