Australian cricket great Adam Gilchrist believes the national men’s team could be set for a shake-up if the upcoming T20 World Cup and Ashes campaigns are unsuccessful.
Australia presently languishes in seventh on the ICC T20 rankings, having been thrashed by Bangladesh in August.
Similarly, the Test team are under pressure to bounce back from a series defeat to a depleted India on home soil last summer, against an England squad with just one batsman to average over 40.
“There are a number of positions at stake,” Gilchrist told SEN’s Whateley.
“Anyone could see the winter of discontent for Australian cricket and particularly Justin (Langer), his much documented relationship with the team.
“I don’t think people would be overly accepting of just getting to the semi-finals and getting knocked over easily.
“They’ve got to make an impression on this tournament. That, and then the Ashes.
“If the Ashes aren’t retained at a minimum, if not won, there’ll be a few positions up for grabs, a few senior players, because it would mean they haven’t performed.
“And Justin’s position will come under the microscope even further.”
Gilchrist featured in the first T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007, and averaged 41.25 with the bat; Australia progressed to the semi-finals but fell just short of India’s tally of 188.
In the five tournaments since, the national team has been to just one final and another semi-final.
“For some reason, we haven’t been able to do it in Twenty20 cricket consistently, but there’s been a whole lot of historical reasons for that,” Gilchrist explained.
“Not picking the best team, resting players and not having a rhythm up.”
A veteran of 96 Tests and 287 one-day international matches, Gilchrist counted several factors that could add up to this Australian limited overs outfit setting a new high water mark.
“They have the skills in that group of 15 players to be able to threaten for this tournament, (and) the conditions, while subcontinental, are relatively neutral,” he explained.
“(With) the Indian Premier Leagues that have been played there, they’ve all played a lot of cricket in the United Arab Emirates now.
“So as long as they’ve got the atmosphere and the change room feeling right in the little bubble they’re in, which has been challenging, what we’ve read about lately.
“And I suspect all coming in pretty fresh, they’ve given themselves every chance now to be able to get that right.”
Gilchrist acknowledged the pressure cooker environment around Australian teams competing in any format.
“There’s always an expectation Australian cricket teams will be tough and competitive, if not successful,” he reflected.
“I don’t think that’ll ever disappear given how ingrained cricket is in our culture and society, the fabric that binds that all together.
“That’s exciting, that creates opportunity, and long may it continue.”
He doesn’t believe there needs to be a shift in thinking at the grassroots or domestic level for the Twenty20 team to mirror the success of the Test and ODI outfits.
“I think about the successful Twenty20 teams and I still see the core nucleus of players, be it in domestic competitions or internationally, made up predominantly of guys who play all formats,” Gilchrist pondered.
“We’ve got that, we haven’t just got one player that can double up. We’ve got a number down the list there that have been able to be multi-format players, and they’ve been high quality.
“We don’t need to make a wholesale change in the Cricket Australia philosophy about what’s important.
“It’s still just developing really strong foundations to work from as a player, to build the whole player, not just someone who can come in, turn it on once and disappear for good.
“It’s about player development, personal development.
“Without getting too philosophical, I think that’s where Justin has tried to ply his trade, but it’s been challenging recently, for people to see the bigger picture than just results.”
Gilchrist then named the starting XI he would roll out in the first match for points, against South Africa on Saturday night:
1. David Warner
“I know there’s a bit of uncertainty around him and his results, but he hasn’t played any cricket. A lot of them haven’t played much cricket. We can’t really judge how Dave is going on the back of a disgruntled situation with his franchise.
2. Aaron Finch
3. Mitch Marsh
“I think he can have a big impact there, just going in earlier and getting the ball while it’s harder.”
4. Steve Smith
5. Glenn Maxwell
“I have no drama with a little bit of floating there, depending on match situation, Maxwell did a little bit of that in the IPL and was comfortable with that.
“You just have to check whether Smith is happy to be floating around! But you have to do whatever is right for the team.
6. Josh Inglis (wk)
“I think Matthew Wade will start, but I have Inglis in there, so I’ve got a little bit of a difference of opinion and what I expect will happen.
“There’s not a major reason, other than that it’s someone a bit fresh, new and hungry. That eagerness in there might just be the catalyst to spark something.”
7. Marcus Stoinis
“(This part of) the batting line-up could also be a floating opportunity.”
8. Pat Cummins
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Adam Zampa