You can hate their attitude on field, despise the sledging, grumble about their dominance and ruthlessness and complain about how boring and monotonous their triumphs have become. They may not have the classiest players going around nor the best of entertainers. But it is impossible not to be awe struck watching the Australians play. Their passion for the game and a win at all costs approach may not make them endearing to all viewers, but then how can you fault a team which can continue to not just compete, but stay at the top of the tree despite a mass exodus of exceptional players? The Aussie commitment and focus while playing any sport, more so in cricket is something that can undoubtedly serve as a role model for any team. The team has had its lows, its fair share of critics and unsavoury incidents have been part and parcel of its history. But nobody can ever claim with any degree of authority that he has seen the Aussies capitulate without a fight even once. Such is the competitive nature and spirit that embodies the men from down under.
Cricket, over the years has seen brilliant entertainers, graceful batsmen and top class bowlers. It has also been graced by many a great team each of them unique in their approach and style. The Australian approach for one has never changed. The tough as nails, never say die approach might have occasionally transgressed the boundary of fair play, but I quote the immortal John Arlott's words where he perfectly describes 'Australianism'- "Australianism" means single-minded determination to win - to win within the laws but, if necessary, to the last limit within them. It means where the 'impossible' is within the realm of what the human body can do, There are Australians who believe that they can do it - and who have succeeded often enough to make us wonder if anything is impossible to them. It means they have never lost a match - particularly a Test match - until the last run is scored or their last wicket down."
The first test at the Gabba against Frank Worell's West Indians in 1960 where Richie Benaud and Alan Davidson brought them brought from the brink to a near win only for the game to end in a dramatic tie, Kline and Mackay's remarkable 110 minute defiance of Hall and Sobers to save the series and in the very next game winning by two wickets are just few instances among many where the Aussie grit comes to the forefront. In the mid 1980's, the Australians went through their worst rut where at one stage they only had a single win in twenty tests. They had lost many great stars and the rebuilding phase was very tough. When Allan Border took over in 1986-87, few thought they had a chance at the World cup in 1987. Remarkably, the unheralded players including Steve Waugh, who was to later lead the world beating Aussie team of the late 90's and early 2000's managed to perform consistently and lifted the trophy. This was a shot in the arm for the Australians. They had the belief once more and Border went on to build a very good side and Mark Taylor inherited it and turned it into a champion side. The Aussies made it a common practice to win when it mattered most. In the world series finals in 1993-94, they had lost to the South Africans in majority of the group games and also the first final. But, magically they picked themselves up and won the last two finals to win the championship. Their test team created history by beating the West Indies in the Caribbean in 1995 to lift the Frank Worell trophy, then the unofficial world championship. Mark Taylor led the side with a not too common flair and panache and the result was some glorious attractive cricket. Terrific fielding became a norm for the Aussies and the world marvelled at their athleticism and skills. Steve Waugh who had been a vital part of the rebuilding phase inherited this team from Taylor and what followed left everyone stunned. He led the team on a record spree of 16 consecutive test wins but was to be denied a 17th courtesy the immortal 281 by VVS Laxman at the Eden Gardens in 2001. Waugh also led the Aussies to a World Cup victory in 1999 when thy looked down and out. He led from the front at Headingley caning the South African attack and scoring 120 invaluable runs to take the Aussies through to the super six stage. In the semi finals against arch rivals South Africa at Edgbaston, they played out of their skins and, in one of the greatest one day internationals played, they qualified for the finals despite the match being tied by virtue of beating South Africa earlier in the tournament. Ricky Ponting took over the leadership of the side and scaled even greater heights. In what was the only blemish in his initial years of captaincy, his side lost the Ashes in England in 2005 in what is probably the greatest series of modern times. The momentum in the series swung back and forth like a pendulum and lasting memories include the brave rearguard effort by Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz which nearly won the series, Shane Warne's remarkable bowling feats and Ricky Ponting's glorious 156 at Old Trafford to keep the rampaging England fast bowlers at bay.
After the heady years, Ponting lost many of the great stars who had made the team almost unbeatable. The legendary openers Hayden and Langer, the classy Damien Martyn, The irreplaceable Warne and McGrath and the greatest keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist were all gone in a matter of a year. It looked like the 1980's all over again as the Aussies struggled in the first couple of series against India and South Africa. But soon they had found their feet. The young guns had started relishing the responsibility and despite couple of setbacks like the loss of the Ashes in 2009, the Australians knew that the team was heading the right way. With a fairly inexperienced squad, Ricky Ponting led the team to victory in the ICC champions trophy in South Africa and even more astonishingly led his team to a triumph in the 7 match ODI series against India in India. The latter victory was ranked by Ponting as one of his best since it was achieved in the absence of 7-8 of his main players. Only the Australians could have withstood the remarkable onslaught by their perennial scourge Sachin Tendulkar who made a brilliant 175 and somehow still triumph in a humdinger at Hyderabad. The extraordinary comeback after being 1-2 down to win the series 4-2 showcased that the Aussies were indeed hard to beat and never to be treated lightly.
The pride of playing for Australia especially wearing the baggy green seems to spur each and every player to give his best at any and every point in the game and hope is never lost till the match is over. This attitude of the Australians to go with their passion for sports makes them a lethal and respected opponent any day. Hats off to them for making the great game highly entertaining and showing time and again that nothing is impossible!
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