The Hindu : Sport : Australia looking for a 5-0 sweep

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Tuesday, Jan 02, 2007
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Australia looking for a 5-0 sweep

Ted Corbett

SYDNEY: I don't suppose that the relentless outpouring of scorn about everything England will diminish but the Australians may find a moment to reflect that with Justin Langer's decision to retire they will soon find themselves in the same position as the "hapless Poms" were at the start of the Ashes series.

England began without Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones; now Australia will start the Tests against India next southern summer minus Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Damien Martyn and Langer.

It will be fascinating to see how they cope when Matthew Hayden, 35, is partnering the largely untried Phil Jacques, when Stuart Clark has to bowl without McGrath at the other end and when they cannot count on 20-plus wickets a series from Warne.

If the side fails against India — guided by coach Greg Chappell who was with Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee one of the retiring stars in 1984 — there will be mirthless chuckles from wherever the England camp happens to be assembled.

The final bow

All of those on the pension list — apart from Martyn — will take part in the final Ashes Test and they will want to leave with a big performance. McGrath is playing on his home ground, Warne will try to create as wide a margin as possible between him and the advancing Muttiah Muralitharan while Langer's minimum wish is likely to be that he does not receive another blow on the head.

He has been warned already that he faces severe problems if he is hit again. Like the other two who spoke first and retired later — rather than slipping off to Fiji for a month like Martyn — Langer claims he wants to spend more time with his family but as the least famous of the quartet he may find it more difficult to build a future income.

England has reason to be grateful to him because he set the example of hard work, concentration and dedication that turned Andrew Strauss into a fine opening batsman; although this Test is his last chance to prove he learned all the lessons Langer offered while he was with Middlesex at Lord's.

Team effort

There will also be a united effort from the Aussies to be the first side since 1920-21 to whitewash England which faced another barrage of abuse this week. John Buchanan, the Australian coach, set it afire by saying that although Kevin Pietersen claimed to be a team player there was not much evidence. Pietersen says these remarks are hurtful and that he is a team man.

At a New Year party for the players, the press and invited English guests in Darling Harbour where the firework display was a spectacular backdrop, he was noticeably on his own and chose to have lunch with his fiancée Jessica Taylor and two friends rather than go to the team Christmas party in Melbourne.

A team player? Probably not, but I bet England wishes it had another batsman as successful. If England is to take advantage of the retirements when the sides meet again in 2009, it will be better off with Pietersen at the centre of its middle-order.

He has been offered a huge sum to return to the South African team but that would involve a four-year break at the peak of his career. Another century in this Test and Pietersen might think that one day he would be England captain. In Oz in 2011? That would be a remarkable somersault.

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