Today, it had been just like a video game at Adelaide on day one.
Graeme Smith was unable to mute for a minute. The Australians unleashed
something vintage against a Proteas attack which boasts with Steyn and Morkel.
But they were made hapless as Warner, Clarke and Hussey mauled the enough famed
South African attack with a rare disdain at a scoring rate of 5 runs an over.
From 55-3 to reach a total of 482-5 on day one requires a special mental
strength and none possesses such unique
mental strength other than the Australians.
At the Gabba, in the first Test, the Proteas started as the
best side in the planet. Their batsmen responded efficiently and their new ball
bowlers had the Australians in the mud at 40-3. But as the day progressed, the
much sizzle and vigour of the South African side fizzled out in front of some
tough Aussies who were bloody-mindedly determined to carry on their fighting
spirit. The Australian response was such a gutsy one that it left the South
Africans baffled with a fragile spirit. Had a day not been washed out by the
rain then the Gabba Test might have gifted the South Africans a shocker of a
defeat!
ED Cowan transformed into a fort with astute judgement in
defence, Michael Clarke injected momentum in the Australian wrecked ship while
Michael Hussey gave Clarke’s momentum more fuel with another hundred. Such sort
of response isn’t the first time from an Australian side but we are used to
watch their immense display of mental strength years after years, decade after
decade with a staggering regularity.
The difference between teams like Australia and the others
is with the psychological makeup. Many teams do respond with guts in trying
circumstances but there is never a regularity. Whereas, the Aussies continue to
spark under adversity again and again.
The reason for this is their unique brain which is well programmed to
carry on the legacy of the never say die attitude. And this brain get’s
programmed courtesy of their unique cricket culture.
Since the origin of
Test cricket, Australia has developed a cricket culture which teaches its
students to become tougher. They tend to build a very good team spirit and
unity within the team which the others can hardly think of. It’s a comment
about their culture and society which is very egalitarian. Their history suggests
that they develop a very good spirit under test conditions which brings out the
best in their nature – a rarity in many cultures on a regular basis. While most
teams bank more on individualisms, Australia cash in on the team’s performance
as a whole. And it’s obvious that a good unit will always give a team of
individualism testing times.
So, it’s not a surprise that the likes of Michael Clarke,
David Warner, ED Cowan, Michael Hussey or Peter Siddle gets charged up whenever
they find the going gets tough because these players are polished and refined
in a very tough sporting culture. The present Australian side might travel
through a transitional period at the moment but it won’t take long to build a
champion unit as the Australians are blessed with good spirit and unity.
These are lessons not only for South Africa but also for the
other nations, struggling to overcome the transitional period, of how to
exhibit will power and unity by not getting overawed by the opposition’s
supremacy. If the Proteas wish to make
the Australians run for their money then they must match Australia’s unique
mental strength otherwise they will again end up as ‘Chokers.’
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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