Cricket Australia Need Not Take Drastic Steps
First of all, Congratulations to the English cricket team for winning the Ashes series on their home turf. Last time they were completely destroyed by the Australian team Down-under. The English team really played well in conditions which were suited for swing bowling & their bowlers exploited it better then the Australian bowlers. In short, the English batsmen played better than their Australian counterpart.
I think the Australian Cricket Board should not bother too much about this huge loss because this Australian team is much better than most cricket teams around the world. There has been huge out-cry against this Australian team just because the Ashes series is considered to be a prestige issue.
Many ex-Australian cricketers have come out bashing the present team in England & these were the same people who thought Australia will beat this English team fair & square but that didn’t happen. The first casualty of this Ashes disaster has been the captain Michael Clarke, the 34 year old probably had to announce retirement because of his bad form with the bat.
Michael Clarke has been a greater player for Australia but in cricket when you are not in a great nick then one has to pay the price. If England had lost the Ashes then probably it could have been curtains for Alastair Cook as well but he is lucky just because the Englishmen have won.
Michael Clarke is just 34 & he has retired from all forms of international cricket. Now he might look this as an opportunity to play in T20 leagues all around the globe but I doubt he would gain much because he has never been a T20 player & has retired from T20 internationals long time back. I would be surprised if he is picked up by any IPL franchise for a big sum.
An ex-Australian captain has been quoted as saying that the Australian board may sack 6 to 7 players from the current team playing in England but I personally don’t think it’s required, but if it does happen then I guess Australia has many backup players. Australia’s A team is currently playing in India & they have beaten the host comprehensively.
