Make the right decision

The Champion’s Trophy is under threat, not from terrorism, but from a possible lack of interest.

News has come through today that Australia may not go to strife-torn Pakistan, and if the world champions withdraw, expect the other ‘Western’ (I hate using that term, it implies division) nations South Africa, England and New Zealand to follow, such is the precedent Australia will set.

Pakistan urgently needs this tournament to boost its fledging cricket side, a shadow of the team that challenged the world during the 90’s. It also needs to show it can host a major tournament ahead of the next World Cup in Asia.

If those nations choose not to go, it will cause a massive division in cricket that has already been widening due to issues such as Zimbabwe and umpiring. The ‘Asian Bloc’ will be there, but the ‘Western’ nations will not.

Australia needs to be there, whether it chooses to send a full strength team or not is another matter (An Australia ‘A’ team would still be competitive), but it needs to show a precedent and its commitment to international cricket by encouraging nations like Pakistan that are struggling with internal strife.

On the other side of the coin, I can empathise with the Australian team’s problems. Pakistan has been a hotbed in the last two years and has been racked by political problems, coming to a head this year with the assassination of Benzair Bhutto and the recent resignation of Pervez Musharraf.

That resignation couldn’t come at a worse time, as Pakistan will now have to pick a new leader as the tournament goes ahead, which could cause even more turmoil. Cricket is just a game, after all, and one to be enjoyed as the great Arthur Morris said.

But for the well being of cricket, I hope Australia can field a team for this tournament to help a nation that desperately needs the support of its fellows.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves

In lieu of England’s loss to South Africa, and KP’s declaration afterwards that if they play like they did in their consolation win they will beat Australia, I must warn England not to get too far ahead of themselves as they count down to the Ashes 2009 already.

To be honest, I actually hadn’t been thinking about that particular series until KP came out with his quote of the week. I found it amazing that England had just lost a series to South Africa, dropping them to fifth on the ICC test rankings, they had a tough series against India approaching, and the next thing on their mind is the Ashes.

This has been a systematic problem of English cricket. Only one opponent seems to matter anymore, and that is Australia, despite the fact that South Africa, India and Sri Lanka are now considered superior cricket teams.

While the Ashes rivalry is the founding block of test cricket, the nations that now play have improved and contributed healthily to modern game.

For England to ignore India, for example, who defeated England in their backyard last year, as a threat, they are sowing seeds for a further drop down the ladder.

The single-minded focus on the Ashes helped England win in 2005, yes. But on the way to that, they restructured their team to find the right combination and beat South Africa in South Africa and knocked off a majority of other competitors to claim 2nd place. Their victory was wildly praised and celebrated and in the ecstasy and overlong glory that followed, England lost their chance to secure their place at the top.

Now that team is looking to 2009 and a lot has changed. KP is now captain, and while aggressive, we have yet to see whether he can marshal his troops and match wits with a strong Australian side. There is no Vaughan. No Trescothick. Several of the players who will play in that series were part of the squad that was humbled in 2006-2007 5-0.

Several of the players have showed glimpses of ability but have failed to follow this through, classic examples being the graceful but spineless Ian Bell and the determined but technically flawed Alastair Cook. And there will be no opponent more relentless on exposing those problems than Australia.

However, both England and Australia have a multitude of test series ahead of them that they should be focusing on instead. Australia has its mind set on what may be a spiteful series in India, followed by home series against New Zealand and the improving South African side. England should be focusing on their visit to India, the West Indies, and a prelude to the Ashes against the mighty Sri Lankas, who will surely be bringing their little pals Murali and Mendis.

Then England can perhaps focus on the Ashes. Australia will only be thinking about hen the time comes to wage war once more in the middle. Until then there are more important things to focus on.