Crash! Bang! Walloped!

Adam Collins looks at where Australia can go following their humbling at Trent Bridge with the World Cup one year away

- Adam Collins

The “worst day” Tim Paine has had on a cricket field? Blimey. Granted, they were words the Australian captain said in the immediate aftermath of the most comprehensive trouncing in the history of limited-overs international cricket.

Even so, that this provokes such a strong response from a wicketkeeper who required seven gruelling operations on the same finger that broke time and again when playing the game speaks volumes. Not to mention that only three months ago he was the man left carrying the can after the Cape Town fiasco.

In the back of his mind, he must have always realised there was a possibility of something like this happening when pitting his vastly inexperienced attack against the undisputed best 50-over team on the planet. For both Paine and (coach) Justin Langer, their job is to try and build something meaningful for a year from now when the side returns for their World Cup defence. Expectations were suitably managed ahead of the series, and as the coach said again after the pounding, he knew how big the task was when he signed on to oversee the side in all formats.

The short-term problem that they have, however, is a culture of expectation at home. Understandably so when considering their extraordinary record in the format, saluting in four of the last six World Cups. Even when the Test side has battled, the golden pyjama-plaid plunderers have been able to stay ahead of the game more often than not. There is a degree of understanding after all that has happened but Australian fans aren’t exactly known for their patience, either.

“It’s a pretty sad dressing room,” Langer observed in the aftermath when fronting up to the press. “One thing I will say is that I have been impressed by their camaraderie and preparation.