Australia Cricket / Frank Gregan / 13 March 2012 /

They're not quite the side of the late nineties but under Michael Clarke, this young Australian team looks to be on the way up and victory over the West Indies in all formats could be on the cards, says Frank Gregan.

These days you're on dodgy ground if you choose to stereotype but mention the word 'Australian' to a cricket fan and it's unlikely he or she will conjure up images of a jolly swagman sitting by the billabong under the shade of a coulibah tree.

They're much more likely to think of a slightly brash chap who enjoys swearing at the Poms. That's what they are and let's not forget, their supporters can be just as spiteful as the players! They may have moved Bruce and Sheila off the grass and into the Hill stand but you can take the boy out of Kings Cross but you can't... well you get the gist.

The Aussies have been a bit quiet of late as their team went through a transition phase. It was only four months ago that they were skittled out for 47 against the South Africans and the rest of the cricketing world did a conga whilst laughing their socks off at the team that we all love to see get their comeuppance. We forget of course that Australia bounced back and drew that Test series, having already won the one day series 2-1.

It's not some bitter and twisted thing, there's no malice or desire to see any serious fall from grace come to the Aussie team or their supporters. It's just that they have been so good for so long that we are all sick to death of them. And let's face it, if anyone knows how to rub salt in the wounds, it's an Aussie cricket nut.

The bad news for the rest of the world is that they seem to be getting their act back together. They head into a five game ODI series against the West Indies in decent form and full of confidence. It's been said that after a long hard summer this tour is the last thing that the Aussies need but Shane Watson, who will skipper the one-day side, disagrees. https://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2012/content/story/556767.html

There's a lot of cricket to be played. Five 50 over games, two T20s and three Test matches packed into a six week period and it can't be denied that the Australian players have had a gruelling schedule. But after only managing to share the spoils with New Zealand in the two tests that make up the Trans-Tasman trophy, they got themselves back on track with a convincing Test series victory against India and followed that up by winning the Commonwealth Bank series best-of-three final against Sri Lanka.

Reverting to the stereotype, it's a given that an Australian doesn't need much encouragement to be optimistic; none of that half-full nonsense, a mere dribble in the bottom of the glass is a cause for celebration. Australia were always going to be strong at home against an Indian side that travels about as well as a baby with colic. But in order to return to the days when they ruled the cricketing world, our colonial cousins have to start dominating on foreign soil.

The final trait of our stereotypical Aussie is that he doesn't suffer fools. If the West Indies produce lacklustre and laid back performances against Shane Watson's men in the one day series, they will be shown no mercy. A 5-0 whitewash could well be on the cards and many Betfairians think this is the probable outcome with odds in the region of [4.2] likely to be the best available.

So there you have it, the stereotypical Aussie cricketer. Loud, arrogant, pretentious and a bully. We all know that not a word of that is true, they're nothing of the sort, they just happen to be very competitive, ultra professional and very talented. They're winners and the bad news for the rest of the cricketing world is that they could soon be back to their very best. Oh joy!

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: