'Aura lasts 20 minutes, then reality sets in'
Has Australia's image of invincibility been dented in recent months? We asked two men who helped build the machine
Interviews by Nagraj Gollapudi
04-Oct-2008
Under Steve Waugh, Australia became the most formidable outfit in modern cricket, going on to develop a halo of invulnerability thanks largely to the efforts of their champion players, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Waugh himself. Those four are now gone, and so are the likes of Jason Gillespie, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer. How has that affected the public perception of the side? Are they still seen as unbreakable, or as recent series - especially the one against India earlier this year - have shown, do opponents and fans now consider them more fallible? We asked two of the lynchpins of Waugh's side, Matthew Hayden and coach John Buchanan.
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Do you think the current Australian side lacks the aura of invincibility that previous teams had?
Hayden The thing about aura is, it takes a lot of time to develop greatness or perceived greatness. The whole thing about aura is that it's a perception and not necessarily reality.
Hayden The thing about aura is, it takes a lot of time to develop greatness or perceived greatness. The whole thing about aura is that it's a perception and not necessarily reality.
Obviously there has been a change in personnel. We are in a situation where we've got some younger players. We haven't got a McGrath, a Gillespie, or a Warne, Langer or Martyn. It is a development of a new and challenging Australian outfit. It's a matter of whether we are good enough to win series, to put Test match wins together.
Buchanan I agree that the aura has somewhat been diminished by India's performance in Australia earlier this year. And that's why both teams will be a little bit uncertain of each other. This Australian side is different. There is no question about that. For this team, consistency will be defined by how it relates against other Aussie sides previously.
Would you agree that the presence of the likes of McGrath and Warne helped build up that image and put pressure on the opposition?
Hayden It did. But there's way too much made of legends. Legends can be broken down. In fact, Australian sides have been very good at breaking down legends. The thing about aura is, it will last 20 minutes and then the reality sets in, and that's when you really have to put it together, ball after ball after ball after ball. That's how you build pressure and affirm your position in the game.
Hayden It did. But there's way too much made of legends. Legends can be broken down. In fact, Australian sides have been very good at breaking down legends. The thing about aura is, it will last 20 minutes and then the reality sets in, and that's when you really have to put it together, ball after ball after ball after ball. That's how you build pressure and affirm your position in the game.
Have things changed under Ricky Ponting?
Hayden The feeling that Ricky is a different captain compared to his predecessors is completely false. Nothing has changed at all. The way this team goes about its business, no matter who's at the helm, is the same, and that's been the beauty. I've played under four captains and it's been a seamless transition. Every side is the same: it's got the same work ethic, it's got the same delivery of skills, the same expectations among ourselves. That's just the way this side is.
Hayden The feeling that Ricky is a different captain compared to his predecessors is completely false. Nothing has changed at all. The way this team goes about its business, no matter who's at the helm, is the same, and that's been the beauty. I've played under four captains and it's been a seamless transition. Every side is the same: it's got the same work ethic, it's got the same delivery of skills, the same expectations among ourselves. That's just the way this side is.
The perception always has been that we play good, strong, aggressive cricket. You can twist that scenario as much as you like, by taking an incident in isolation and then taking out a perspective as to what it was - and there was a lot of that last summer, rightly or wrongly.
Buchanan Ricky Ponting will remain the key. He is a determined man and has an unshakeable confidence, which will bring out the best from his team-mates.
Is this side vulnerable?
Buchanan This team is definitely not vulnerable. It's quite the opposite. Teams that go into a series thinking they are invincible and unbeatable are the ones that are vulnerable. The Australians are not going into this series as invincibles, but they do have the belief.
Buchanan This team is definitely not vulnerable. It's quite the opposite. Teams that go into a series thinking they are invincible and unbeatable are the ones that are vulnerable. The Australians are not going into this series as invincibles, but they do have the belief.
Hayden I don't think this side is vulnerable. It's all about performances. Anyone who wears the baggy green has got belief. It's not like you're picking rookies to join the squad. You're picking from a great pool of talent and within a great ethos that has had great success. The benchmarks of this side have been the best in the world for a decade or more and to get into this side you have to have some very special and unique qualities. I believe in our qualities, I believe in our presence, and I believe that as Australians we put up a great fight, and that has won us a lot of battles.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo