DuneTiger
County Cricketer
The Great Australian Rebuild
The Fallout from Cape Town
After what can only be described as an embarrassment to the entire nation of Australia after the antics of David Warner, Steve Smith and co. in Cape Town, Cricket Australia has listened to the people's call for heads to roll. James Sutherland announced that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft would be banned from representing Australia. However in this world, the ban was not temporary, but a permanent ban, ending the trio's international careers overnight. The rest of the XI from that Cape Town test would all be handed initial 12 month bans, subject to be changed in future.
Australia's First Tour
All this of course led to a complete overhaul of the playing staff for Australia. Australia would forfeit their final match against South Africa, leading to a South African series win 3-1, and Australia needing to rebuild their entire squad from the ground up.
They would first travel to England for a 5 match ODI series, with Aaron Finch being instated as the next ODI captain. And his tenure would start fantastically, winning his 2 matches as captain, against all the odds. A last wicket partnership from Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson would see Australia win on the 2nd last ball, followed by Maxwell having an all-round dominant performance.
Eoin Morgan would return to his English side to see them smash a world record total, finishing on a mammoth score of 8/450 in what looked like the biggest shift in momentum that would be possible for the English. Australia would fall 190 runs short, and many records would be broken as England brought the series back to 2-1. However this match stuck out like a sore thumb in terms of being such an anomaly, as Australia turned around the won the 4th ODI to claim the series in a low scoring affair. A Jos Buttler led fightback would see England claim the last match to bring the series back to 3-2, but the damage had been done, and somehow against all odds, Justin Langer's first tour... was a success.
JL's First Test
After their success in England, Australia would head to Zimbabwe for a short T20 tri-series against the hosts and Pakistan. And while not anything of note came from this, as Justin Langer's side made the final (losing to Pakistan), Aaron Finch did manage to hit the highest T20I score ever in Harare against a rather uninspiring Zimbabwe attack. So that's fun.
However the real challenge was when they would tour the UAE. Their first test since the disaster of Cape Town. JL was forced to put together a team of players that had rarely seen the baggy green on their heads, and in some cases, never. An the man who would lead this team of inexperienced cricketers, may be the most obscure choice of all. Cameron White would be handed his first test in over 10 years at the ripe age of 35 and only the 5th of his career. As outlandish as this appointment was, it was an never meant to be a long term appointment. He'd led Victoria beautifully in red ball cricket over the years, and had enough international experience in the white ball that the Australian selectors felt that he was the man. And so Cameron White and his team of perhaps unqualified man set off to Dubai with everyone, and I mean everyone... expecting the worst.
And to perhaps nobodies surprise the batting collapsed, Marnus Labuschagne a shining light on debut with a well made 66, but Pakistan would take control of the match bowling Australia out for 191 in their first innings. Pakistan would remain mainly in control of the match despite some fantastic bowling from debutant and Pakistani at birth Fawad Ahmed and a swashbuckling 97 from Glenn Maxwell, Pakistan would require 270 to win the match. And Australia would give Pakistan an almighty scare, but 24 year old Babar Azam would hit a brilliant 4th innings hundred, supported beautifully by debutant, Bilal Asif and guided Pakistan to victory.
The second test would see another debutant for Australia as Travis Head would be selected to replace Peter Handscomb and the decision paid off as Travis Head would make 61 in his first test innings, and with Matt Renshaw making 76, Australia put another below par, but at least respectable total of 237. But the innings had collapsed again, being at 3/170 at one point. However this time Pakistan would not capitalise on their bowling efforts, as the new Australian spin twins of Fawad Ahmed and Jon Holland would claim 7 wickets to bowl Pakistan out for just 182, before an Aaron Finch new ball assault would see Australia lead by 139 at the end of day 2. On day 3 it was time for the captain, plucked out of thin air, to repay the faith of the Australian selectors, making his first test hundred in his 6th test match, 2nd as captain, and at 35 years of age. Cameron White would pile on 168 runs, leading Australia to a lead of 524. Pakistan would be skittled for 194, and again, Australia against the odds, had pulled off a remarkable victory. And not only had they just won a test match, they absolutely humiliated Pakistan.
A 3 match T20I series followed which Pakistan would win 2-1. However the signs were there that Australia may be a wounded animal, but this animal still had some serious fight in it.
So, where are we now?
Australia now gets to play their first matches at home since Cape Town, with a 3 match ODI series, and a single T20 against South Africa. Followed by one of the biggest series on the calendar when India come down to tour for 4 Tests, 3 ODI's and 3 T20I's.
The domestic season will be extremely important for players on the fringes, as there have never been more spots up for grabs in the Australian test team. The domestic season will be based on IRL results up until the test series begins. From than on I will either use cricbox or Total Cricket Scorer 10 to simulate domestic games, while playing the international games myself on Cricket 24.
Obviously, this won't be the most realistic thing in the world, I mean it already hasn't been. But its just for fun, and everyone is welcome to enjoy the ride or not.
The Fallout from Cape Town
After what can only be described as an embarrassment to the entire nation of Australia after the antics of David Warner, Steve Smith and co. in Cape Town, Cricket Australia has listened to the people's call for heads to roll. James Sutherland announced that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft would be banned from representing Australia. However in this world, the ban was not temporary, but a permanent ban, ending the trio's international careers overnight. The rest of the XI from that Cape Town test would all be handed initial 12 month bans, subject to be changed in future.
Australia's First Tour
All this of course led to a complete overhaul of the playing staff for Australia. Australia would forfeit their final match against South Africa, leading to a South African series win 3-1, and Australia needing to rebuild their entire squad from the ground up.
They would first travel to England for a 5 match ODI series, with Aaron Finch being instated as the next ODI captain. And his tenure would start fantastically, winning his 2 matches as captain, against all the odds. A last wicket partnership from Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson would see Australia win on the 2nd last ball, followed by Maxwell having an all-round dominant performance.
Eoin Morgan would return to his English side to see them smash a world record total, finishing on a mammoth score of 8/450 in what looked like the biggest shift in momentum that would be possible for the English. Australia would fall 190 runs short, and many records would be broken as England brought the series back to 2-1. However this match stuck out like a sore thumb in terms of being such an anomaly, as Australia turned around the won the 4th ODI to claim the series in a low scoring affair. A Jos Buttler led fightback would see England claim the last match to bring the series back to 3-2, but the damage had been done, and somehow against all odds, Justin Langer's first tour... was a success.
JL's First Test
After their success in England, Australia would head to Zimbabwe for a short T20 tri-series against the hosts and Pakistan. And while not anything of note came from this, as Justin Langer's side made the final (losing to Pakistan), Aaron Finch did manage to hit the highest T20I score ever in Harare against a rather uninspiring Zimbabwe attack. So that's fun.
However the real challenge was when they would tour the UAE. Their first test since the disaster of Cape Town. JL was forced to put together a team of players that had rarely seen the baggy green on their heads, and in some cases, never. An the man who would lead this team of inexperienced cricketers, may be the most obscure choice of all. Cameron White would be handed his first test in over 10 years at the ripe age of 35 and only the 5th of his career. As outlandish as this appointment was, it was an never meant to be a long term appointment. He'd led Victoria beautifully in red ball cricket over the years, and had enough international experience in the white ball that the Australian selectors felt that he was the man. And so Cameron White and his team of perhaps unqualified man set off to Dubai with everyone, and I mean everyone... expecting the worst.
And to perhaps nobodies surprise the batting collapsed, Marnus Labuschagne a shining light on debut with a well made 66, but Pakistan would take control of the match bowling Australia out for 191 in their first innings. Pakistan would remain mainly in control of the match despite some fantastic bowling from debutant and Pakistani at birth Fawad Ahmed and a swashbuckling 97 from Glenn Maxwell, Pakistan would require 270 to win the match. And Australia would give Pakistan an almighty scare, but 24 year old Babar Azam would hit a brilliant 4th innings hundred, supported beautifully by debutant, Bilal Asif and guided Pakistan to victory.
The second test would see another debutant for Australia as Travis Head would be selected to replace Peter Handscomb and the decision paid off as Travis Head would make 61 in his first test innings, and with Matt Renshaw making 76, Australia put another below par, but at least respectable total of 237. But the innings had collapsed again, being at 3/170 at one point. However this time Pakistan would not capitalise on their bowling efforts, as the new Australian spin twins of Fawad Ahmed and Jon Holland would claim 7 wickets to bowl Pakistan out for just 182, before an Aaron Finch new ball assault would see Australia lead by 139 at the end of day 2. On day 3 it was time for the captain, plucked out of thin air, to repay the faith of the Australian selectors, making his first test hundred in his 6th test match, 2nd as captain, and at 35 years of age. Cameron White would pile on 168 runs, leading Australia to a lead of 524. Pakistan would be skittled for 194, and again, Australia against the odds, had pulled off a remarkable victory. And not only had they just won a test match, they absolutely humiliated Pakistan.
A 3 match T20I series followed which Pakistan would win 2-1. However the signs were there that Australia may be a wounded animal, but this animal still had some serious fight in it.
So, where are we now?
Australia now gets to play their first matches at home since Cape Town, with a 3 match ODI series, and a single T20 against South Africa. Followed by one of the biggest series on the calendar when India come down to tour for 4 Tests, 3 ODI's and 3 T20I's.
The domestic season will be extremely important for players on the fringes, as there have never been more spots up for grabs in the Australian test team. The domestic season will be based on IRL results up until the test series begins. From than on I will either use cricbox or Total Cricket Scorer 10 to simulate domestic games, while playing the international games myself on Cricket 24.
Obviously, this won't be the most realistic thing in the world, I mean it already hasn't been. But its just for fun, and everyone is welcome to enjoy the ride or not.
Aaron Finch (c)
