If you want to add nuance,the fall guys in landmark victories often are below par. Take two famous Australian triumphs for instance. England in 1948 were war-weakened and the West Indies in 1995 past their use-by date. But it would be impossible even for Duckworth-Lewis to calibrate the scales perfectly,so face value it must be.
Incidentally,it suits Australia fine for England to think that their No.1 problem is Joe Root,the one man who actually stands up for them. Met with that mindset,Australia could pencil in the 2023 Ashes now,except that under Pat Cummins they would not be so presumptuous.
Against England,Australia were irresistible. In Pakistan,as dictated by conditions,they were dogged. They beat Pakistan at their own game. Even two of their three drawn Tests this summer went down to the wire. They all furthered the narrative. To emphasise,in Test cricket a draw is a result. If you don’t believe that,you don’t believe in Test cricket and the whole wide sweep of its canvas.
Most of all,Australia did all this with smiles on their faces. Here was the real revolution. Here was historical antithesis. Here’s the clincher to the argument. When Shaheen Afridi bowled David Warner with a beauty in Lahore,and offered his hand to shake,and Warner accepted it,I rubbed my eyes so hard it was a wonder a genie didn’t appear. I’m sure I wasn’t alone.
If anything,the women’s efforts have been even more wondrous.
Just as they were about to exploit the memorable moment of their Twenty20 World Cup win before an 80,000-strong crowd on the MCG two years ago,the COVID-19 shutters came down. Since,they have been a band of wandering minstrels,playing everywhere but home.
This summer,they’ve had to roll with the punches:the pandemic,the frustration of washouts,program changes at short notice,injury disruptions.
Roll they have. Their Test matches against India and England both were drawn,but the England game waxed and waned until the end as only Test cricket can. It was perhaps the best women’s Test match yet. They’re few enough to remember.
If once you might have sneered at the quality of the opposition;it won’t do now. Here’s the thing. Australia were the first country to take women’s cricket as seriously as men’s,giving them a head start. Now the rest of the world is chasing in earnest and it shows in the standard of play. Women’s cricket has depth at last,but Australia bestride it still.
Their own golden generation is easing into their 30s,but a vibrant new generation is already being unleashed. Besides,captain Meg Lanning is having a Midas and Indian summer. With two weeks to go,she’s even leadingThe Age’s AFLW tipping.
There’s a pall to all this,of course. It’s the untimely deaths of Rod Marsh and Shane Warne,forced again to the forefront of all minds on Wednesday night. It wouldn’t do to trivialise either.
But as I knew them,neither would want anything more now than another good cricket match,another trophy for Australia and another celebration. And let’s face it,now they’re in a position of influence with the true Powers That Be. So c’mon Warnie,c’mon Bacchus. One for the road,please?