Australian cricket - 2012 review

Australia beat Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day Test by an innings and 201 runs in a little more than seven sessions. It was an all-round team effort which was clinical by the Australians once again. This fundamentally has been the mantra that has been working well for the Australians this year: the entire team chipping in to achieve the ultimate victory.

One of the acmes for the Australians this year has been Michael Clarke’s form apart from his prowess as captain. In the golden year that he has been having, he has led from the front, amassing a total of 1595 runs in 11 matches in the whole year at an average of 106.33 in Tests that included 5 scores over 100 – 1 triple century, 3 double-centuries and 1 century. In ODIs, he scored 656 runs at an average of 46.85. Michael Clarke now holds the record for the most number of Test runs by an Australian in a calendar year – a record previously held by Ricky Ponting. His astute declarations throughout the year have been inspiring; they were an indication of his approach to chase victory and give his team enough time to go about striving for it.

Here’s a recap of the year 2012 for the Australians.

Australia vs India – January 2012 (Australia won 4-0)

Barring Virat Kohli, there were hardly any positives for the visitors. After the drubbing in England, India came to Australia hoping to salvage some pride, but it was the same story, only at the hands of another one of their rivals. Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus were the main threats that India had to endure throughout the series, who relentlessly kept their attack on. It was a series the Indians would like to forget along with the one against England.

Triangular ODI Series – February 2012 (Winner – Australia)

The trilateral series between Australia, Sri Lanka and India had home-side Australia dominate the visitors. The Indians were hopeful that the outcome of the ODI series would be different owning the youngsters taking over the mantle, but it didn’t matter too much. Australia won the finals against Sri Lanka, despite Kohli’s heroics which were rendered futile as India missed out on making the finals.

England vs Australia – June-July 2012 (England won 4-0)

Australia went to England for a 5-match ODI series having their No.1 ODI ranking on the line if they were to be whitewashed. On that tour, they were clearly underdone. They didn’t get to complete 2 of the 3 practice games due to rain and went into the series under-prepared and paid the price; they got pounded in 4 of the 5 games with one game being washed out due to rain without a ball being bowled. The Australians, thus, held on to the top spot for a little longer.

Pakistan vs Australia – August (ODIs – Australia, T20s – Pakistan)

Australia perhaps were wary of Ajmal, given his success rate this year and his annihilation of England. Although Ajmal caused quite a bit of trouble for Australia, the Australian batsmen fared quite well, ensuring wins in both the matches they were made to chase, thus winning the series 2-1. The 3-match T20 series was won by Pakistan 2-1, including the tied 2nd game, which Pakistan won in the one-over eliminator. This was supposed to be the lead-up (practice), before the World Twenty20.

World Twenty20 – September 2012 (Australia reached Semifinal)

Australia, led by Shane Watson, was deemed the team to beat at the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. Out of their first 4 wins, he was named Man of the Match in all the four. The team’s youngsters came to the fore and delivered. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins caused all sorts of trouble for the opposition, while Warner and Watson gave the team a solid start at the front. Together, they marched strong till the semifinals, where they succumbed to a very spirited West Indian unit.

Australia vs South Africa – November 2012 (South Africa won 1-0)

The high-profile series between Australia and South Africa last month lived up to the hype and cricket of the highest quality was played by both teams. Records were broken, records were set, but both teams fought so hard that the first two Tests ended in exciting draws. Faf du Plessis had a dream debut as he scored a century and helped his team save the Test! In the third and deciding Test however, South Africa showed exactly why they were the No.1 ranked team in the world: they crushed Australia, thus making a statement and justifying their position at the top.

Australia vs Sri Lanka – December 2012 (Current standing: Australia 2-0)

The Sri Lankans weren’t really expected to cause the Australians too much trouble, but their performances over the two Tests have been abysmal and quite disappointing. The first Test was a good contest at different times, but the second Test was just an abdication to the Australians. By the end of the Test that ended in 7 sessions, 3 of Sri Lanka’s players were injured and doubtful for the next Test in Sydney – Kumar Sangakkara, P. Jayawardene and Welegedara. Sangakkara’s loss would hurt the Sri Lankans as their reliance on him and Jayawardene is very high. Dilshan would need to stand up and play a more responsible role in his absence. The Australians have their tails up at the moment and would look at beginning their 2013 on a winning note.

The Australians on the whole, have had a fair year, winning most of their games played. They have played some very good cricket and have fared quite decently. Although, now begins the real Test, as they head into the next year without their most proficient batsmen – Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting.