Things are really heating up in the Ashes. The Aussies are down 0-1 and it looks like the side will need to pull out everything from their reserves to harbour hopes of winning anything from the position that they find themselves in. Add the current scoreline to the lack of selection options that the Aussies have and it is difficult to see how they can win from here.
What should be interesting is to follow what happens in case the Aussies do manage to lose the Ashes this year. That will mean that the captain Ricky Ponting would have become the only Australian captain to do so three times, something that may not augur too well for the selectors and the fans.
In fact, one already feels that he has been given a big chance. If I were to be a selector, I would have probably installed a new captain long time back. Even at the end of the previous Ashes loss in England. Unfortunately, the Aussies have a problem with the lack of those who can be trusted to continue in the side.
There is Michael Clarke but there are too many issues associated with him. For one, there is the batting worry. Every two or three innings, there are a couple of innings that he is left to fend like an ordinary club cricketer. Then, there are issues with his back. For long, the back problem is troubling him a lot and that has left him with no option but to play as a pure batsman and sometime, even with a sore back.
Then, there is the issue of Clarke being too soft. Already, he has had a much-publicised break-up which had caused much concern for him. Then, there were other examples like one in India where he was too shocked to bat after being declared not-out thanks to a no-ball and was dismissed soon after. Then, in the Adelaide Test match, Clarke apologised for not walking and would have caused many jitters amongst those who embody the hardline Aussie approach.
This only means that Ponting gets that extra buffer to continue leading the side. Unfortunately, irrespective of how the next man is, an Ashes loss will only mean one thing – Ponting will need to go irrespective of the magnitude of the tournament that follows next up. Simply put, it cannot get any worse than it already is and it could be the right time for Clarke and Cameron White to take control of the situation.
