Australia / Paul Moon / 10 December 2010 / 1

The form of some of their so-called key players and the injury to Simon Katich have been a big part of Australia's downfall but their problems go far deeper, says Paul Moon.

Within the next few weeks Australian cricket will inevitably accept its demise and despite the pain, some key decisions will have to be made. How they manage the situation will determine how quickly they emerge from the doldrums.

The declining standard of the Australian cricket team is not just about the playing personnel. This country still has a good pool of players to choose from so the selectors need to acknowledge accountability. Mistakes in selection have been the norm for over two years now and it continued in Adelaide. The quality of the team in that game was at a recent history low.

In the past Cricket Australia has always had a robust policy of pruning those approaching their 'sell by date' but this is the first time that a mass cull has been deemed necessary. Those who might have played their last game for the Aussies include Simon Katich (admittedly due to injury), Marcus North, Xavier Doherty and skipper Ricky Ponting (ok, maybe a little less likely) while Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger appear very ordinary.

Ponting has been one of the best cricketers the game has known but it is time for him to accept the respect and thanks of his country and step down. He should remove himself completely from the national scene so the new captain has an open space to develop and work in.

Australia's selectors had identified Michael Clarke as the future Test captain but there are now doubts whether his is a worthy successor. One wonders if he is more concerned with his image and commercial commitments than he is with doing the basics of going out and playing cricket. It's also debatable whether he commands the widespread support needed. His batting average of 27.38 since March does not help matters. Rumours circulate about him irritating certain members of the squad who aspire to play in the next edition IPL, including Mike Hussey and Doug Bollinger. His remark that players should choose between big-money IPL contracts and representing their countries has definitely caused tension.

When rebuilding, there is a desperate need for unity and dropping those whose primary goal is to chase the dollar seems a good idea. This policy would support Clarke's candidature but are there even any other contenders?

There has been some mischief in the Australian press about Marcus North (31) nicking the captaincy but his position as a player is under real threat after an average of 29.38 for this year. The innovative Cameron White (27) would be a better number six and captain with his confident persona and all-action style.

Simon Katich (35) is not aesthetically pleasing on the eye but even his detractors accept the fine job he has done since reinventing himself as an opening bat for Australia. It is unfortunate that at his age and this recent Achilles injury has probably meant he's played his last match.

Apart from some gobbledegook about Kevin Pietersen being suspect to a poor left-hand spinner no one knows why Xavier Doherty played - we look forward to the autobiographies for the answer. This howler fully illustrates the 'fuzzy thinking' of the Aussie selectors.

The bowling enigma of this current Ashes series is Mitchell Johnson. Is he out of form or massively over-rated? In any case it remains a mystery as to what has happened to him. Worryingly for Aussie fans he said "I need to get my head right" and he is right! This year in 18 innings his 29 wickets have cost nearly 40 runs each and in Brisbane he took 0-170. Some senior players still want him to play but surely that is stretching loyalty too far.

This highlights Australia's biggest problems for the remainder of the Ashes in that they have no genuine strike bowlers and without a spinner, one wonders how they can bowl England out twice without conceding just short of a thousand runs in the process. Latest Betfair prices for the 3rd Test in Perth show: Australia [3.1] England [2.76] Draw [3.1].

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1. Ann | 12 December 2010

   England are on the verge of winning the ashes, make no mistake the aussiea cannot win 2 out of the last 3 tests.

   there are question marks over captain Ponting but it does not just lie there .

   there looks to be about 5 changes in the next test.

   Michael Beer a 26 year old left arm spinner who has only 5 first class appearances.

   Phil Hughes is in for Katich , another left hander who scored 415 in 3 tests against South africa last year .

   Steve smith a leg spinner who no doubt will be compared to Shane Warne and has only 2 tests to date .

   Michael Johnson who was voted ICC cricketer of the year in 2009 was dropped for the 2 nd test as 0-170 was hardly inspiring perhaps and little bit of confidence lost there .

   Ben Hilfenhaus will be recalled as he was leading wicket taker in the last ashes.

   Ponting says they were out bowled and out batted and basic skill let them down.

   Ian Chappel says that this is the weakest team he has seen in many a year but injuries to ( Hazlewood/ stark and Pattinson ) would certainly make a difference , he also emphasised too much Gym work and not enough Match fitness to blame.

   Get on England wit hBetfair to win the Ashes we have the Aussies on the ropes / dont let em off the hook

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