Australian team keeps on embarrassing their nation time and again

There's nothing good about this Aussie team, which time and again has been a source of embarrassment

Australian team keeps on embarrassing their nation time and again

There's nothing good about this Aussie team, which time and again has been a source of embarrassment

The abysmal behaviour of Australian players in the Perth Test has revived horrific visions of the "Ugly Aussies" nomenclature normally associated with teams from that country for the past three decades.

The punishment handed out to Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson at Perth, along with the reprimand to Doug Bollinger in the second Test at Adelaide, has caused considerable soul-searching among lovers of the game and upholders of its spirit in this country.

Shane Watson's (left) behaviour after dismissing West Indies skipper Chris Gayle has incensed the Australian media and the fans.

Mike Coward, doyen of Australian cricket writers says in The Australian: "For years they (the Australians) played with arrogance and a sense of entitlement to victory and all the privileges that go with it. Now they have lost their invincibility, opponents loudly question their credentials.

u00a0Coward writes, "this irks those accustomed to constant success as was the case here, frustrations abound and raw emotions are exposed. Furthermore few members of this team feel insecure and therefore are fractious and vulnerable.

"It was regrettable Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson so seriously lowered the tone of the match. Whatever role the edgy Sulieman Benn played in last Thursday's unseemly fracas, Haddin's lording it over the West Indian spinner in such a manner was as culturally insensitive as it was provocative. It beggars belief that within a few hours of the negative publicity inevitably attracted by that contretemps, Shane Watson mocked Chris Gayle after taking his wicket.

"Players and followers everywhere cringed when Watson stood before Gayle and screamed at him in the manner of a demented juvenile. That he could show so little respect for an opponent, let alone a Test captain, reflects abysmally on Watson and compels one to question the level of education within this team."

"One can only presume Watson has little knowledge or appreciation of the culture of Test cricket and its traditional values, and the venerated position of a Test captain. Such histrionics may not alienate many at a Twenty20 jamboree but they are unacceptable in the Test match arena."

Touchu00e9.
In the same newspaper, senior cricket writer Malcolm Conn laments: "Despite Australia talking up the spirit of cricket for much of the past decade, four players have been fined or reprimanded over the past fortnight for failing to uphold it."

The Telegraph newspaper thunders in an editorial: "Bad behaviour isn't relative. It doesn't matter what some West Indian cricketers may have been thought by their opponents; this in no way excuses the churlish and at times completely embarrassing antics so far this summer from the Australian team."

The editorial postulates: "We seem to go through this cycle every few years or so. The Australian team does something bad or steps over the line, then is called on it and various promises are offered that it'll never happen again.

"And then it does, and the cycle repeats again (sic). It's as though there is no collective or institutionalised memory available to our cricketers, who are cursed to endlessly go through the same series of shameful lapses and sincere apologies."

Although Cricket Australia has been curiously silent on the issue, fans are incensed.

A newspaper reader fumes: "As an Australian, I am writing to the people of the West Indies to apologise for the appalling behaviour of our cricketers u2014 especially Shane Watson. I can assure you all that there are many people in this country who are deeply ashamed of some of our cricketers behaving like spoiled 10-year olds, throwing tantrums when they do not get their way. Many of us believe that this sort of rude, swaggering, aggressive conduct has been tolerated by officials and team captains for way too long and has brought the game into disrepute.'

Another reader bristles: "While I cringed as we watched Shane Watson's "celebration" at dismissing Chris Gayle, my 74-year old mother, who would happily spend five days at a Test match, observed: "What a ghastly man."

Couldn't have put it better myself. Well done Shane. You have cemented your place in history as a true national embarrassment."

Yet another letter-writer wonders: "When is Cricket Australia going to get serious about inappropriate on-field behaviour from players representing our country?" He says if the match referee does not suspend players from future Tests, Cricket Australia needs to "demonstrate some leadership and do so. A fine of 15 per cent of the match fee is not an appropriate response.

Another reader is less circumspect. He seethes: "The Australian cricket team is no place for immature oafs who indulge in childish and objectionable behaviour. I suggest Cricket Australia tells Mr Watson to take some time off, go away and grow up. He then might be a person fit to represent his country."

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